The Old Diocesan Issue 12 - Magazine - Page 38
The long road to opportunity
It often takes more than a Bishops education to set a boy from humble
roots on a path to success. We asked Nassar de Kock, an OD who is helping
to pioneer a different way, to tell us about his journey from the other side
of the M5 up the hill to UCT – and into his first job
I
have often said that Cape
Town’s inequality is divided by
the M5 highway. On one side lie
well-developed suburbs close to
the city; on the other, overcrowded
communities with high crime and
limited opportunity. I grew up on
the other side, in Bonteheuwel.
My family, like many others in
the area, lived on a single income.
No-one in my family had completed
matric. Violence was common, and
though our parents tried their best,
the environment made it difficult
for children to thrive. I was
fortunate to be the youngest
of my siblings, and therefore
somewhat protected – but my
future, as a young boy, did not
look bright. I recently found an
old Grade 6 report of mine; some
of my marks were in the low 20s.
My opportunity to break out
of the cycle came through sport.
I have always loved rugby, and
I used to participate in programmes
run by the JAG Foundation, a nonprofit organisation driving change
in high-risk communities. One
day, the coaches put me through
a series of fitness and skills tests,
and the next thing I knew, I was
awarded a scholarship to attend
Western Province Preparatory
School (Wet Pups), as a boarder.
I was 12 years old, and redoing
Grade 6.
This JAG Foundation intervention
marked the start of a journey that
34 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
would change my life. When
I started at Wet Pups, everything
felt new and unfamiliar, so I kept
mostly to myself. I just wanted
to be back in my comfort zone.
Over time, however, I built strong
friendships that set me up for
the next chapter in my education.
Most of my friends from Wet
Pups went to Bishops after Grade 7.
By then, my school marks had
improved, including 99% for
Nassar at school with parents Nasreen and Marwaan. He is wearing his White
House tie, and displaying rugby, athletics and academic colours on his blazer.
