Tebello Nyokong, Scientist fighting cancer
Nomsa Angelina De Wee
Simon Mokoena
English
First paragraphs

——


Tebello Nyokong is an important South African Scientist.
-
Her knowledge helps to treat and save people with serious diseases.
1
As a child, Tebello lived with her grandparents in Lesotho. They raised her well.
-
On one day she would watch the sheep, and the next day she would go to school. This was the start of her education.
2
When Tebello watched the sheep, she also noticed the other animals and plants.
-
Tebello was interested in the world around her. She was a curious child.
-
She learned a lot about nature from the plants and animals on the farm.
3
Tebello wanted to study Science at school.
-
They told her not to try. They told her it was too difficult.
-
They said Science was for boys not girls.
-
At first, she listened to them. Her friends at school were doing other subjects.
4
But Tebello really wanted to learn about Science. She knew she could do it.
-
Finally, they let her study the subject.
-
She was happy and she was good at it.
-
She started to study Science just two years before the end of High School!
5
Tebello worked extremely hard to catch up with the other children already in the Science class.
-
She was clever, determined, and she loved studying.
-
She learned all her High School Science in two years and passed the course!
6
Chemistry is a type of Physical Science. It is one area in Science knowledge. It was Tebello’s favourite area of Science.
-
Chemistry experiments are done in a Science laboratory.
-
Tebello knew that she wanted to go to university, to study Chemistry!
7
Tebello enrolled for a Science degree at the University of Lesotho.
-
She was a bright student who worked hard. She spent a lot of time in the laboratory doing experiments.
-
She achieved good results, and won a scholarship to study in Canada.
8
Tebello loved studying Science, but she was sad to leave her family and friends in Africa.
-
She went to Canada because she wanted to learn about Science research there.
-
She wanted to be an expert in her field of Science.
9
Tebello met new friends in Canada.
-
They spoke different languages, but English helped them to communicate well.
-
In Canada, it snowed in the cities like on the mountains of Lesotho.
-
It wasn’t very long before Tebello won another scholarship to continue studying.
10
Next, she went to a university in America. She focussed on scientific research to fight serious diseases.
-
After many years of studying, Tebello returned home. She wanted to use her knowledge to help people in South Africa.
-
Tebello believed in herself.
11
Today, Tebello is a Professor of Science. She has her own Science laboratory and teaches students at university.
-
She researches new ways to help people with serious diseases.
-
Professor Nyokong’s work adds to knowledge about treating and saving people with cancer.
12
Her work adds to Science knowledge that helps us to fight diseases.
-
Her life shows the importance of believing in yourself and not giving up.
-
We need many more Scientists like Professor Tebello Nyokong!
13

——Questions


  1. Name the three countries where Tebello studied. Find them on a map.
  2. As a child, did Tebello pay attention to the world around her? How do you know?
  3. Why did they tell Tebello not to study Science? Do you agree?
14

——Books in this series


  • Andile Mji
  • Asnath Mahapa
  • Bongani Mayosi
  • Charlotte Maxeke
  • Mmantsane Moche Diale
  • Mulalo Doyoyo
  • Tebello Nyokong
  • Tshilidzi Marwala
15

——


This story was created and written in Sesotho as part of the Zenex Ulwazi Lwethu reading materials project in 2020.
16
Attribution CC BY
Your attribution should include the following:
Title: Tebello Nyokong, Scientist fighting cancer
Author/s: Nomsa Angelina De Wee
Translator/s: Nomsa Angelina De Wee
Illustrator/s: Simon Mokoena
Assurer/s: African Storybook
Language: English

© Zenex Foundation - Saide 2024

CC BY includes the following elements:
 BY   – Credit must be given to the creator