When life gave him lemons, Enrico de Bruin turned it into a fruit business to fulfil his dream of becoming a doctor. Despite life’s challenges, this former primary school teacher is focused on reaching his lifelong ambition, using his fruit sales to help fund his bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery degree.
De Bruin will never forget the day in 2023 when his mother asked him to buy fruit. He walked to a local street vendor and caught sight of the money the vendor had. “I thought I could do that. I could make [that kind of] money.”
His fruit-selling venture proved to be a great success at the end of 2023 and into early 2024.
“When I got accepted into the medical programme at Stellenbosch University, I figured I’d continue selling fruit to help cover my registration and tuition fees,” he says.
The moment that changed his life
De Bruin, who resides in Macassar in the Western Cape, was overjoyed when he got an email from Stellenbosch University inviting him for an interview on 21 October 2024.
“I was in class teaching a class. I just smiled at my phone as I understood the magnitude of what this could mean.”
Later on the day of the interview, he received his acceptance letter. “I just started jumping and shouting “YES SIR!!!!” It was an incredible feeling man,” he recalls.
De Bruin wanted to be a doctor since he was young. During high school, he spent time shadowing at a local clinic, where he saw firsthand what doctors do. That experience convinced him he could make a real difference in his community as a medical professional.
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“Seeing my mom in the hospital during the latter months of 2023 and early months of 2024 was incredibly difficult. Watching her unwell and ultimately passing away in February 2024 left me feeling lost and helpless.
“However, knowing that I’ll be able to help others on a higher level once I finish my studies gives me hope and purpose moving forward,” De Bruin shares.
Committed to reach the top
The soon-to-be medical student is excited about the journey that awaits him and plans on becoming a brain surgeon.
“I’m really fascinated by the brain. Not because my surname is De Bruin,” he says laughing. “It is such a complex and yet amazing structure. So much of it is unknown and I’m interested in looking in there and resolving whatever problem there is. Neurosurgery is what I want to do when I’m done.”
Embarking on a medical journey can be financially demanding and De Bruin is committed to funding his education.
With annual costs, including accommodation, food, and tuition fees amounting to approximately R200 000, he has explored various avenues to support his aspirations.
“I have applied for bursaries however, most bursaries prioritise first-time university students, meaning, since I already have a degree, most bursaries do not consider me.
“I have applied to NSFAS again. Apart from selling fruit, I am intent on doing Uber to raise funds as well as teach online. I also started a Back-a-Buddy campaign to aid in tuition fees,” he shares.
Fruitful future
De Bruin says his community and the surrounding areas have been very supportive of his fruit-selling business. He offers fruit combos for R100, which include mangoes, pineapples, plums, peaches, and grapes.
“While teaching at the high school, I developed an interest in agriculture because I saw it as a way to help people support themselves. I worked with the Rotary Club to start a school garden before moving to the primary school.
“I’ve always been interested in seeing things grow. This is my second year selling fruit.”
De Bruin invites people to support his business by visiting his Back-a-Buddy page or by reaching out to him on social media platforms like Facebook or TikTok. He can also be contacted via email at enricoangelo7@gmail.com.
This article was first published by our sister publication, Food For Mzansi.
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