Meet Esther Moses: A Scholar, Athlete, and Future Innovator (RF2023 - Grade 11)

Esther’s story is one of quiet determination and extraordinary promise.

At Park Senior Primary, she was already someone others looked up to—serving as a library monitor, detention monitor, and prefect. She carried responsibility with grace, while also finding joy on the sports field, where she excelled in high jump and netball. By the end of Grade 7, her hard work and spirit were unmistakable: she was named Dux Scholar and Sportswoman of the Year.

But behind these achievements is a young girl shaped by her place in her family. As the middle child—and the only daughter—Esther learned early on to hold her own between two brothers. She jokes that she had to be “tough,” though she’ll also admit she’s a little spoilt. More importantly, she is deeply loved. Her family’s unwavering support has given her something invaluable: the confidence to dream, and the grounding to stay true to herself.

When her primary school principal nominated her for the Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust scholarship, it was a moment that would quietly change the course of her life.

Since then, Esther has embraced every opportunity with both hands. Her days are full—so full, in fact, that this self-proclaimed night owl now finds herself wishing she could get to bed earlier. She balances nine demanding subjects, including AP Mathematics and AP English, while still showing up fully on the sports field as a first team soccer player, high performing athlete and participant in cross country. She lead as a sub-prefect in Term 1, serves as a library trainee monitor, and continues to give back in every space she enters.

And still, Esther excels.

In Term 1 of Grade 11, Esther achieved a 90% average, placing her at the top of her grade. Her love for problem-solving and her willingness to stretch herself beyond the classroom earned her the Dina Goncalves Memorial Trophy in Grade 10—a reflection not just of her ability, but of her curiosity and courage to take on challenges others might shy away from.

It is in the world of STEM, however, that Esther’s imagination truly comes alive.

In Grade 9, she participated in a Science Expo, which led to her selection for the Eskom Science Fair. There, alongside her research partner, she presented a bold idea: “Powering the World on Water,” exploring hydrogen as an alternative fuel. It is the kind of thinking that looks beyond what is, and dares to ask what could be. Their project has since been selected for the South African Youth Water Prize, placing them on a path that could take them all the way to the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize in Sweden.

These experiences have opened doors to new worlds—through opportunities with Investec, University of Pretoria, and MANCOSA, where she has explored virtual reality, robotics, coding, and future career pathways. Yet, in her heart, one hope stands out: to one day walk the campus of the University of Cape Town.

Esther dreams of becoming an actuary or a data scientist—but more than that, she dreams of building something of her own. A tech company that solves real problems. A company that makes life better for others. And alongside that dream is another, equally powerful: to create an educational centre for people experiencing homelessness, so that they, too, can access the kind of opportunity that changes everything.

Because Esther understands, deeply, that opportunity is not something to be taken for granted.

In her quieter moments, she turns to books and art—drawing to relax, and losing herself in stories. Recently, she has found inspiration in African literature, particularly the work of Tsitsi Dangarembga, whose writing explores resilience, identity, and the complexity of growing up.

She is also learning that success is not something achieved alone. Within the Trust, she has found a sisterhood—mentors like Basetsana and Sasha (Ruthie alumnae themselves), who walk alongside her with encouragement and wisdom, and younger girls who now look up to her in turn. In these relationships, Esther is both supported and becoming a source of support.

She has recently applied to be part of the STEM MentHER programme, and as she waits to hear the outcome, she does so with the same quiet hope and determination that has carried her this far.

Above all, Esther carries gratitude in everything she does.

She knows that none of this would be possible without the Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust and her donors, the Rand Water Foundation. Their support has opened doors she once could only imagine. Esther has been given more than an education—she has been given a future filled with possibility.

And she is determined to use it—not just for herself, but for others.

Esther is not only achieving; she is becoming. And her journey is only just beginning.

Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust

ruthfirstjeppetrust@jeppegirls.co.za

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