When 5fm's Sureshnie Rider was awarded R100 000 she decided to give it to a cause close to her heart: young people. Winner of 2011's MTN Y'ello Rose award, Rider decided to split the money between the Chatsworth Youth Centre and Gugu Mahlangu's tuition at Rhodes University.
"I work with a nonprofit organisation called Agang Sechaba Trust. They facilitate bursaries and scholarships," said Rider, "When they presented Gugu's story to me it was an absolute yes to begin this legacy." The MTN Y'ello Rose award is given to women who are making an impact in their field, such as Rider has done at 5fm.
Her Weekend Top 40 show recently won the commercial weekend radio show of the year at the MTN Radio Awards. She remembers the moment when she broke the news to Mahlangu. "I was extremely emotional, and I remember calling her and us both crying," she recalled. "For me it reminded me of my tough journey financially and having to pay my technikon fees.
"Gugu has always been bright academically and is already shining in her second year of study at Rhodes." Rider is hoping to take this initiative to corporations to show them the value it can bring to students like Mahlangu. "She is fully aware as well that on her first job she starts to contribute to the education of another student and in this way the legacy lives on."
The manager of the Chatsworth Youth Centre to which Rider donated almost R20 000 in equipment said it meant a lot to them.
Photo Caption: GENEROUS: 5fm DJ Sureshnie Rider likes making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.
By Lerato Mbangeni
Article Source: The STAR