1. What did S&W help you with?

S&W has helped me with my tuition fees. They have paid for my first year and second year of studying. I appreciate that they could not help me with living costs, study resources, transport and other course related expenditures but by paying for my fees, S&W relieved a lot of pressure on me and enabled me to continue with my studies. I was facing expulsion from my course because I could not afford to pay fees, my grades were going down and I was starting to get de-motivated and depressed but S&W came to my rescue.

2. What was your biggest challenge you faced?

I had just got separated from my ex-wife. My decision to study and better myself did not help my short term financial situation.  My biggest challenge was to pay for my fees.  This was followed by my everyday living costs, transport and study resources. My 3rd biggest challenge was not being able to see or contact my children. I need to go to court for my ex-wife to let me see my children but at the moment I can not afford it.

3. How did Schwab & Westheimer help you overcome?

By paying for my fees, S&W addressed my biggest challenge and solved it. Even though I still face challenges in paying for my living costs, transport and study resources, I have hope that I will pay off the debts I have accrued.  S&W gave me hope for the future and an opportunity to have a recognised qualification and a stable career that will secure my finances and my  children's future. For that I am forever thankful. In particular, Paola has been very helpful and patient. There are times when I would lose sleep over my situation but Paola kept me up to date with what was going on with my application. When the decision to pay for my fees came through she was professional, yet friendly and empathic, to quickly communicate to my University and put everything in place.

4. What are your dreams for the future?

For the future I would want to gain experience in the field of social work and hopefully progress into an academia. My ideal job is to be a university lecturer in Social Policy and Social Work. I have the capability, the dedication and the ambition to achieve this dream.
In the short term, I wish I could get some help with my living costs, transport and study resources. I am running out of people I can borrow from!

- Blessing Giwa