From Struggle to Strength: My Journey as a Woman Rebuilding Through Education

My name is Itumeleng Emelly Kocha, and I come from the beautiful mountain kingdom of Lesotho. I am a mother of four amazing kids, and everything I do now — every small step I take — is for them and for the woman I am still becoming.

Growing up, I lost my parents when I was still very young. That moment changed my life forever. I had to grow up fast, learn how to survive, and make difficult choices at an age when I should have been carefree. Life taught me resilience early, but it also taught me compassion — especially for people who struggle quietly, just trying to make it from one day to the next.

In 2019, I started a small brickmaking business back home in Lesotho. I had no capital, just determination and hope. My first order gave me a start, but it was far from easy. Then COVID-19 came and forced me to close my business. I tried to restart in 2021, but debts had already piled up. By 2022, I had no choice but to shut it down completely. With my children by my side, I decided to go to South Africa, hoping for a fresh start.

But life there wasn’t what I expected. When our visas expired, I suddenly found myself living as an undocumented immigrant. That’s when I truly understood the pain and fear many migrants face daily. My children couldn’t go to school because I couldn’t afford private schools that accepted students without proper documents. I couldn’t get decent work — only jobs that paid very little, often under unfair conditions.

There were days I worked as a housemaid, other days on farms. I opened a small carwash using someone else’s name because I didn’t have legal documents to register it. I was constantly afraid of police or being taken advantage of, yet I had to keep going because I had mouths to feed. Even simple things like getting WiFi, opening a bank account, or buying something on lay-buy were impossible.

One of the hardest moments was in 2024 when I went to a public hospital to give birth. I was charged far more than I could afford and wasn’t allowed to leave for three days until my partner found the money to pay. It was humiliating and painful — not because of poverty, but because of powerlessness.

These experiences shaped me deeply. I realized how many migrants, especially women and children, live in silence — invisible to systems meant to protect people. I started thinking: How can I be part of the change?

That’s when education came back into my life. I decided to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science through the University of the People, with hopes of combining health and technology to support vulnerable communities — especially migrants and undocumented women. I want to understand the systems that fail us and build solutions that work for people like me.

Joining World Pulse feels like a new beginning. I want to connect with women who also turned pain into purpose. I believe in the power of storytelling — not just to heal ourselves, but to light the way for others.

My vision is to one day create a community support network for undocumented women and mothers in Southern Africa — a safe space where they can access information, share experiences, and find support without fear.

I am still learning, still growing, and still finding my place. But through it all, one thing is clear: education, courage, and sisterhood can rebuild even the most broken stories.

Thank you, World Pulse, for giving women like me a voice. 🌸

Itumeleng Emelly Kocha