Twenty-six-year-old Lindile from Soshanguve still gets emotional when recounting how hard it was to pursue her dream of a tertiary education which her parents simply could not afford.

"Waiting to see if the government loan would come through was like watching my dreams being crushed," she recounts.

Lindile also describes her experiences in first year at the Tshwane University of Technology, doing a course in IT, once the government loan had been approved: "Sometimes I had to beg for the money, often waiting and going without food for days before it was paid."

Thanks to her excellent marks, the Tomorrow Trust and Cell C approached Lindile and offered her an opportunity to be one of the beneficiaries of their Girl Child Bursary Fund for the remainder of her studies.

"It was such a surprise; it was magical. It changed my life dramatically," she says.

"They taught me life skills but I also learned two very important lessons: how to be grateful and how important it is to give back."

Currently employed as a junior networking engineer at a leading computer company, Lindile says her success in the workplace was learnt in workshops that she took part in as a Bursary Fund recipient.

"Behaving with humility; learning how to get along in the work place... those are the life skills that I was equipped with.

"I could not have achieved any of this without Cell C and the Tomorrow Trust," she concludes.

Sweety (25) grew up in Pretoria with her single mother and two older siblings. Diligent and with big dreams, she was delighted that the adage that hard work pays off came true in her case.

She was selected in 2013 as a Cell C Girl Child Bursary Fund recipient, when she was in her second year at the Tshwane University of Technology studying IT and specialising in support services.

"I was told they chose me on my marks - I was the top student in my department. Suddenly I was presented with the opportunity to grow myself."

She explains: "It has been wonderful; more than just about fees, accommodation and an allowance. I was given the tools to prepare for life - skills that will last forever. I was helped with my studies, but also taught how to value myself and how to deal with the world. It has been a fantastic experience."

Sweety is currently employed by Cell C where she works in monitoring at Huawei: "Cell C helped me achieve dreams I did not even know I had."

Ongeziwe was born and raised by her single mother in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. After matriculating with excellent marks, the then 17-year old moved to Gauteng to study for an accounting diploma at the University of Johannesburg, completing the course in 2014 and going on to do an advanced diploma in accounting.

"When my mum lost her job, I applied to the Cell C Girl Child Bursary Fund," she explains.

"Being a recipient of the Bursary Fund is a truly amazing opportunity for young women; not only does it focus on academics, but it teaches you about life in general.

"I learnt that I am on a unique journey, that I cannot compare myself to others, and, along with self-worth, I also learnt about budgeting and received psycho-social support as well," she adds.

The now 25-year-old Ongeziwe went on to achieve her honours in accounting -specialising in tax - and works as a tax trainee at a leading auditing firm.

"I want to successfully finish my training contract, do a Master's degree in tax and hopefully stay on with the company as a manager," she says.

Ongeziwe concludes that growing up, she never imagined her world would open up as it has: "Cell C and the Tomorrow Trust literally changed my life."

Twenty-four-year old Tumisang describes the bursary she received from Cell C and the Tomorrow Trust as "a gift that changed the course of my life".

The B Tech honours graduate recounts how she returned home recently to Rustenburg and realised she could have been one of the young women she met- living on a social grant and raising several children. Instead she's living her dream and planning her future.

Life wasn't always easy-she lost her parents at the tender age of three but was lucky enough to be raised by loving relatives.

In 2012, Tumisang began her studies at Tshwane University of Technology, studying IT and specialising in business informatics. She received a loan from the National Finance Aid Scheme in her first year, but her life was transformed during her second year of study when, she says, "The Tomorrow Trust and Cell C found me."

Tumisang was told that they were looking for students who were hardworking, doing well and came from underprivileged backgrounds: "I couldn't believe it. Suddenly, I had all kinds of support - not only academic help but also help with self-development. The women who were my mentors have since become role models."

As part of her university course, she needed practical experience and interned at Cell C as an undergraduate before going on to complete her B Tech honours. Currently, Tumisang works as a management information systems officer at Cell C's IT department.

Patience grew up with one goal in mind - to better herself and then to pay it forward. The 25-year-old law graduate was raised in the Berea Hillbrow Home of Hope for Girls after her mother died when she was 11-years-old. She worked diligently throughout her schooling and enrolled for a law degree at the University of Witwatersrand after matric. During her second year she successfully applied and became a beneficiary of the Cell C Girl Child Bursary Fund.

Patience is currently employed by a leading financial services company as a legislative analyst, working in risk governance and compliance.

"The Bursary Fund gave me the opportunity to make something of my life. They made my dreams possible and helped me to get ahead in life. It's an amazing initiative both in terms of personal development and the pursuit of academic excellence," she says.

Now she's determined to help other young women who are in the same situation she once was in. "For me, the most special part of being a recipient of the Fund is being able to give back and to help other young women who, like me, could benefit from the exposure to life skills and job preparation that the Tomorrow Trust is all about."

With a keen interest in human rights law, Patience says she wants to fight for educational rights for girls. "Paying it forward is a very important concept for me. As you can imagine, being an orphan gives you a very specific perspective of the world. My vision for the future is to make changes in the lives of as many young women as I can. I want to show them that anything is possible."

Limpopo born Eunice is determined to 'pay it forward' after her life was changed, thanks to other people's good deeds. The 26-year-old matriculated in 2008 but was unable to study further as her single mother couldn't afford the tuition fees. Four years later she received a government loan to study at the Tshwane University of Technology but was uncertain if she would be able to continue into her second year as the loan only covered her studies, and money was still an issue.

"Then, out of the blue, I got a call from Tomorrow Trust who told me that Cell C wanted to sponsor me through their Girl Child Bursary Fund." says Eunice.

"It was a day that changed my life."

Eunice soon came to realise that the bursary meant more than just money and appreciated how lucky she was to have received it.

"The people from the Trust came to the campus, did workshops with us and supported us. I could reach them easily and they were always there for me." she says.

"I don't think people realise just what a difference this makes to a student, it is something money cannot buy."

Eunice learnt how to budget, to draw up a CV, prepare for an interview and other skills that will be useful tools throughout her career.

She is currently employed at a leading consultancy as a junior data analyst.

"While I was an intern at Cell C, I fell in love with data analysis and realised it was a career I wanted to pursue.

"I also want to mentor young women as I will be eternally grateful for the opportunities I have been given and it will be my way of giving back," she concludes with a smile.

Twenty-two-year old Angel - employed as a banker at a leading financial institution - is planning on studying for a second degree in the near future. However, at one stage her life was bleak and it didn't appear as if she would even complete high school. That was until the intervention of some good Samaritans and the Cell C Girl Child Bursary Fund.

Tanzanian born Angel grew up in Johannesburg with her single mother. However, when her mother died after a brief illness, Angel found herself homeless and having to fend for herself. Her teachers noticed that something was wrong. Always an A-grade student, Angel's grades had started to drop alarmingly.

Her teacher, Jenny Harrington-Johnson, discovered that she was battling to survive and doing her homework in a garage. So Harrington-Johnson took the young woman into her own home for her matric year. A parent at the school paid for her to start her studies in industrial psychology and international relations at the University of the Witwatersrand. Angel also successfully applied for a Cell C Girl Child Bursary Fund and completed her degree.

She says she can barely believe where life has taken her since being awarded the bursary: "It is the biggest and best gift I could ever have received. Cell C and the Tomorrow Trust have given me more than an education; they've helped me to believe in myself. I used to think 'do I deserve this?' and I was reassured through their mentorship programme that I did indeed deserve it."

Angel says that working with the Tomorrow Trust's counseling psychologist Stacey Rontiris also helped her come to terms with what had happened in her life: "I want to study further and get a second degree but, for now, I'm consolidating what I have learnt and am happy to concentrate on the job that I have and that I love."

A telephone call changed 26-year-old Beauty's life and enabled her to get a degree and dream big about the future.

Her life wasn't always easy. Orphaned at the age of 14, the youngster from Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga, was raised by her uncles. Following matric, she attended the Tshwane University of Technology, after securing a National Financial Aid Scheme loan from the government.

"In my second year at Tshwane, I got a call from the Tomorrow Trust saying that Cell C wanted to sponsor me. They were looking for a student from a disadvantaged background who was doing well academically," she says.

At university Beauty studied IT, specialising in web and applications. Following receipt of her national diploma, she was awarded an internship at Cell C, where her bursary was extended and she went on to get her B Tech degree.

"The Bursary Fund is unique," she says. "It's not just about academics and paying for your studies. They help you grow as they mentor you. You have access to workshops and psychologists and women who show you the way."

Beauty is currently working as an information security officer at Cell C. Her vision for her future includes more studying with a chance to grow her career in security.

"I am so grateful for what I have received from Cell C and the Tomorrow Trust," she says. "Grateful every day."

Zukiswa lives in Gugulethu, Cape Town, and graduated from UCT with a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting. She is doing her articles at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town.

Nhlalala from Gugulethu in Cape Town and graduated from UCT with a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting. Nhlalala is currently completing her Accountancy articles at Nkonki Audit firm in Johannesburg.

Letlhlogonolo from Pretoria has found a home in Cell C's IT department after graduating in BTech IT: Support Services from the Tshwane University of Technology.