GEORGE NEWS - Tywineesha Stoffels, a learner at Carpe Diem School whose life took a turn for the worse in 2014 when she was seriously injured in a fire, finished school this year and is looking forward to finding a job next year.
Her amazing progress after her injuries has been such that she impressed fellow learners and staff at the school's recent farewell, where she could stand and walk, even if only for short periods.
Tywineesha has already begun applying for positions, says Hester du Plessis, her grandmother with whom she lives.
She celebrated her 18th birthday this year, and for this determined young lady, 2023 has also been a year of achievements and awards that crowned her efforts to rise again and move forward in life after her major setback.
Her grandmother swells with pride over their granddaughter's bronze medal at the Boccia National Championships of the South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled (SASAPD). She participated in the BC2 classification as a member of the Western Cape team.
Tywineesha was also named Eden's 2023 Sportswoman of the Year. According to judges, she had to work very hard for the bronze and demonstrated a wonderful temperament, determination and skill during the championships.
Carpe Diem's head, Elzette Grobler, awarded Tywineesha the Principal's Award this year.
Time for a computer lesson
She was a Grade 3 student at Heidedal Primary when she suffered severe injuries in a house fire in Borcherds. Her father, Ocktavius Piedt, and a policeman who helped evacuate several people from the house found her under one of the beds where she sought shelter. She was admitted to the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town and later moved to Bethesda for rehabilitation before she could go home. The lively nine-year-old girl could no longer walk or speak.
Role model
For Tywineesha, the road to recovery was often exhausting. She says the worst memory she has is the condition she was in right after the fire. "I had to work hard to get better.
" But she is a positive girl, and from where she is now, she is excited about the future. She is not afraid because she loves challenges and looks forward to being able to work.
"I just don't want to sit at home!"
She wants to continue pursuing her love for boccia. "It takes me places. I've been to Cape Town, and next year I'm going to Bloemfontein."
A provincial tournament is held in Bloemfontein in March that she would like to participate in, but she is still looking for sponsors to make it happen.
It was an incredible moment for Tywineesha when she could show everyone at the school's farewell function that she could stand and walk for short periods. One of her teachers, Shelley Resnik, says, "She left everyone breathless with how beautiful she looked and with her progress.
"Even though she is still in a wheelchair, Tywineesha has achieved a lot in her life, more than anyone could expect. She is truly a role model for many."
Head of Carpe Diem School Elzette Grobler hands over the 2023 Principal's Award to Tywineesha.
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