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Steph Banda

<div>Hi everyone!
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<div>Steph has earned a place in an MSc Actuarial Science programme at Asia Pacific University in Malaysia starting 13 April 2026. He must secure funds that will allow him to take up his place. This fundraiser supports the initial arrival semester so he can begin the programme he has already earned admission into.
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<div>Steph is not only resilient but he is also disciplined, hardworking, and focused. He has consistently demonstrated the ability to persevere, adapt, and succeed against the odds. Investing in Steph is investing in a person who has already proven that he maximizes every opportunity he gets. He approaches his goals with structure, commitment and accountability. Supporting him is not charity; it is a strategic investment in someone with the determination, strong will, and work ethic to transform his life and give back.
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<div>My name is Iris, and I’m organizing this GoFundMe for my friend Steph, an amazing person from a small rural village in South Africa. I met and became friends with Steph on a farm where I stayed while I was working in South Africa. Over time, I came to deeply admire his resilience, humility, perseverance, and quiet determination.
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<div>Steph’s journey has been shaped by hardship, yet he carries himself with dignity, humility, and unwavering hope.
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<div>He grew up in a remote village with limited educational opportunities, raised by a single unemployed mother. Steph learned early how to persevere through hardship.
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<div>During his secondary schooling, Steph lived with relatives under the promise of better schooling and support. Instead, he found himself in an environment of exploitation, emotional and psychological abuse, where he was overworked and denied the time he needed to study. Even in the face of such difficulty, Steph held onto his goals and remained committed to his education. He refused to give up and managed to complete his secondary education against all odds.
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<div>Steph faced yet another obstacle - accessing university.
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<div>Coming from a poor background, higher education felt almost out of reach. When he eventually got in, his challenges did not end there. Without stable accommodation or food security, he relied on friends while taking part-time jobs and quietly battling anxiety and depression as he tried to hold his life together. Yet, even in this difficult period, he didn’t give up.
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<div>After years of perseverance and hard work, Steph graduated - a milestone that symbolized not just education, but triumph over circumstance. Today Steph has earned a place in the MSc Actuarial Science programme at APU in Malaysia, an opportunity that moves him closer to qualifying as an actuary.
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<div>The programme covers 7 professional exams offered by the IFoA, which will fast-track his route to becoming a qualified actuary.
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<div>The funds will cover:
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<div><strong>Phase 1</strong>
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<div>Funding Breakdown (Arrival Semester)
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<div>• €5,200 - University tuition and registration
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<div>• €2,400 - Student residence
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<div>Total needed: <strong>€7 600</strong>
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<div>This funding secures Steph’s enrolment and allows him to start the programme fully focused only on his studies.
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<div>Qualifying will not only change his own life - but it will also allow him to mentor students from disadvantaged communities and show that technical careers are possible regardless of background.
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<div>By helping him begin, you are helping turn a life-changing opportunity into a reality. Every contribution, no matter the size, moves him one step closer to his goal. Sharing the campaign is equally meaningful.
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<div>Thank you for choosing to be part of his journey.
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