Rasethe’s perseverance offers a ray of hope for young women

Rosina Rasethe from Mamaila Kolobetona, Limpopo, almost gave up on school when she fell pregnant at the age of 15.

But the encouraging words of her younger brother ensured that despite the hardships she faced she studied towards her dream of becoming a social worker after working years as a G4S security guard.

“I’m very proud of myself. I’m glad God gave me the strength and that I found myself. I was on a journey of self-discovery and I have reaped the rewards,” Rasethe said.

The 48-year-old, who graduated last week from Unisa with an honours degree in social work, said she first dropped out of school when her father died in the 1980s because of the financial crisis her family faced.

“We did not have any money to even buy me a pencil or pay R1 for my school fees,” she recalled.

It is this hardship and facing a teenage pregnancy in poverty that inspired her to study social work in 2014.

“I grew up not even knowing what a sanitary pad was. I want pregnant girls to look at me and not feel like there is no hope or future for them. I have suffered a lot, I hope that my work in social work will allow me to fight for poor families,” said Rasethe.

The mother of two girls, Rasethe said she finished matric at the age of 24 after dropping out in grade 7.

“My mother was working at a farm in our village and could not look after my child. So, I stayed at home raising my first born for six years. By the time I went to start grade 8, my own little sister was starting the same grade,” she said.

She would drop her child off at primary school and then proceed to school with her sister.

“Even though I passed high school with a university entrance, I never thought university was a place for me. I thought it was a place for geniuses.” 

Rasethe said her biggest challenge during her studies were fees and time.

“Before getting National Student Financial Aid Scheme funding, I had to take four modules a year, which meant it took me three years to finish just one year of my course. My eldest daughter was also in nursing school so it was very difficult financially,” she said.

After working 12-hour night shifts she would go to do her practical school work at Unisa.

“I did not even know what eight hours of sleep were during that time. My youngest daughter and I would study together and I told myself that I would have to finish my degree.

Rasethe is hoping to get a job as a social worker and also plans on doing her master’s degree in social work.