A dream come true: Eleven-year-old Dawnetta McLean, who overcame hardship to gain a place at Queen’s College at the last National Grade Six Assessment, had her dream of owning a laptop computer come true yesterday when she received a new Toshiba model from the Mark Benschop Foundation. Benschop, who also gave the child 25 books because of her passion for reading, said the computer was made possible through one of the foundation’s donors in Atlanta, USA. The foundation is also going to offer the girl free computer classes for one month and the transportation cost to travel to and from classes. Through the assistance of Da Silva’s Optical, she will also receive a new pair of glasses. Since Dawnetta’s story was published in Sunday’s edition of this newspaper support for the child has been pouring in. A local company and an organisation in the US have indicated willingness to assist her with a scholarship but nothing has been finalised. An elated Dawnetta, who was accompanied by her mother and aunt, said she was very grateful for the computer and all the help she has already received as well as the promises of support and encouragement. The computer is internet ready and it is hoped she would be assisted in acquiring internet service. In this photograph Dawnetta surfs the internet while Benschop looks on.
