Young Black South African Women
By Todd HollingsheadThe Salt Lake Tribune
PROVO—Kay Brockbank Webber loved education almost as much as she wanted to help young Black South African women—so she found a way to put the two together.
After returning from an LDS mission to South Africa in 1999, the Utah County woman set up a fund to give the women she met the opportunity to go to college.
The Brockbank Education Fund put one woman in school that year, but six years later 56 Black South African women have benefitted from the program.
Webber passed away unexpectedly a year ago at the age of 68, but her tradition lived on last week.
Nearly 100 people came to Provo for the first-ever Brockbank Education Fund walk-a-thon to raise money for the next group of prospective college students.
"It has changed some of those girls' lives because they've become the support for their family," said Joyce Beazer, one of Webber's sisters.
It shows "what one person can do to make the world a better place for many," added Shirley Paxman, another sister. "This is a great experience and it's going to get bigger every year."
Supporters from Massachusetts, Virginia, and Arizona put on their walking shoes and did laps around Provo's North Park with a goal to raise $1,000 for each woman in the program—the average cost of a year's education per person.
Each year, after a rigorous application and interview process, board members of the fund award loans to nine new women from the South African cities of East London and Mdantsane.
Already, the fund is seeing tangible results.
Zikhena Hlalempini, one of the first graduates of the scholarship program, graduated first in her university class, went on to medical school, and is now a doctor, paying back her scholarship money.
"Having a loan has made a difference," wrote student Nomathamsang Ntwnambi. "Before I got the loan I did not know how I would be able to go to school."
"I lost hope of being able to study due to lack of funds," wrote another, Sinah Seti. "But because of the loan I was able to further my studies."
Since the establishment of the fund, 21 women have finished their advanced schooling.
Kay Brockbank Webber's husband, Robert Webber, said the concept of educating women was always important to his wife, since she grew up with eight sisters and no brothers.
The five remaining Brockbank sisters were all on hand Saturday to put a little more wear and tear on their shoes.
"She'd be thrilled," said Robert Webber. "This is her dream, and her sisters are here. I'm sure she wishes she was doing it. She probably is."
To donate:
Donations can be made to the Brockbank Education Fund, c/o Robert Webber, 123 El Camino Real, Sedona, AZ, 86336-5063, or by going online at brockbankeducationfund.org.