Self-funding does not mean students have to let go of their dreams

There are some things that may appear to be little issues, but if not addressed properly and with care, they will almost certainly prevent you from achieving your goal. One of these issues is paying for your own studies.

Students must realise that paying school fees, accommodation and other necessities during your academic career is not an easy task. Some people might believe that, if you are paying your way through university, you must have a lot of money. But this is not necessarily true.

Obtaining funds is difficult. However, this does not imply that you are less worthy because you did not receive a scholarship.

The truth is that everyone wants to seize an opportunity.

In 2019, the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) announced the EMoS scholarship, and, unfortunately, I missed the event. As a result, the scholarship application window was closed. However, I could still apply to the university if I wanted to study as a private student.

Earning money requires creativity

I desperately needed the scholarship programme and realised I could not wait another year because time was running out to study and graduate. Even though the Tanzanian government provides loans to students who wish to study at NM-AIST, I did not meet the eligibility criteria at the time.

So, to register, I had to do everything in my power to come up with the money.

Before I started, I had about US$1,000 in savings, which covered nearly 25% of my annual fees at NM-AIST. Being officially registered at the institution gave me the green light to begin my journey toward completing the degree programmes. However, the inverse was true. It signalled a fresh struggle for me to stay afloat.

Because I do not have a job, I must do some temporary tasks like being a middleman selling products, playing sports for money, or doing anything else that is moral for payment.

Being self-funded can have positive and negative consequences. I have had a lot of experience with both. The advantage is that it allows you to better manage your time.

It is true that being a self-funded student comes with a lot of challenges, but you can manage them if you are organised, even if your concentration in class has been shattered. For example, while preparing for exams I received an e-mail to pay the outstanding course fees and accommodation to be able to write the exams. Having planned ahead, I could deal with this kind of challenge.

Cooking at home

You can become demoralised at times. Out of the 37 students in our class, just two do not have a scholarship. When the others say their stipend is not enough, you pray for the chance to just have what they have.

To save money, I don’t eat at restaurants. Instead, I cook in the hostel. If you prepare a rough budget for a month, eating at the restaurant costs about US$200 per month, whereas cooking in the hostel costs about US$80 a month.

Holidays will not be a part of your story because you will need to find something to do to earn money during that period. True, we need to unwind and have some fun, but it may not be the best path for you right now. Luxuries must be limited. All you must do is analyse your options and pay attention to the most important ones.

A solar-powered wheelchair is one of the projects I am currently working on. I am doing my case study at Mount Meru Referral Hospital, Arusha, Tanzania.

It is an excellent innovation, particularly for our country. We require wheelchairs that are both affordable and convenient for local users since more than 3.5 million people in Tanzania are disabled. There is still a long way to go because all of this requires money.

I am fighting to get the financial help I need because I need to complete the design as well as write a scientific paper according to the university guidelines. But I am not giving up; I believe tremendous things are on the way.

Despite the challenges, I attempt to enjoy my studies and achieve the highest possible grades to obtain a sufficient skillset that will benefit the community.

Finally, try to use whatever you have, because even a small spark can start a fire. It is sometimes necessary to have a little faith and attitude. I gave myself hope that I would most likely receive the scholarship while I was in school, but it was a dream that did not come true. But that ray of hope has brought me this far.

Florian M Rwegoshora has a bachelor degree in electrical and electronic engineering. He is currently working towards a masters in embedded and mobile systems (EMoS) at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Tanzania.