Growing up I wanted to be a social worker because I grew up in a poor family. We lived in a small shack with no food. My mother was not working and my grandfather worked as a gardener. He only worked for 2days a week, we were suffering a lot. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a social worker to help the needy children.

I passed my Matric in 2008, pity I didn’t apply for tertiary education. I went to CPUT, but I was too late. The social worker course was already full so I had to come up with plan B. I applied for a Public Management course and I was accepted. During my second year, I realised that this was not what I wanted.

I started partying and hanging out guys. One the guys I hung out with thought I was in love with him. I must’ve given him the wrong impression. One day he forced himself on me, and then bang…I was pregnant.

I was sitting at home, miserable and depressed, when a neighbour told me about Ethafeni. She told me that attending the courses will help me cope and boost myself esteem. Being here has shown me that I want to be a Rape Counsellor to help other rape survivors.

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Submitted at a Write4Life Workshop at Etafeni Day Care Centre.