Phumza
Photo Credit: Phumza

Phumza Mpoyiya shared that she has witnessed more violence, loss and trauma than a young woman should but it’s now the driving force behind her making a difference for girls in her community.

 

Nyanga, South Africa (03 September 2023) – Phumza Mpoyiya has a dream that is driving her to push through her painful past and use it to help young women much like herself. That dream – to become a social worker.

Born in Nyanga, Phumza has been exposed to more violence than the average woman her age. Her hometown known as the murder capital of South Africa, is riddled with gender-based violence and rape. She is witnessing how this over-exposure is having a devastating effect on the lives of young women. Women are dropping out of school, turning to substance abuse or taking their lives.

“5 years ago, I found myself in the same situation, being a young girl who had experienced and witnessed more violence than any child or person ever should. When my cousin was murdered, I wanted to give up. It was around this time that some girls in the community told me about a project called “The Mbokodo Project” which was being run by a non-profit organisation that worked in our local community called Justice Desk Africa.”

The Mbokodo Project (which translates to The Rock Project from isiXhosa), is a project that focuses on empowering young girl survivors of rape and violence by offering them empowerment workshops. These workshops include learning about human rights, understanding the law and how to access it, mental health care and support and how to become community leaders. The workshops also teach these survivors self-defence and gives them access to trauma counselling through a full-time social worker.

“At first, I was very skeptical, but I joined one session to see what it was all about – and since then, I never looked back. I was surrounded by so much love and support that it was overwhelming. The biggest impact for me was always the mental healthcare part of the project. When I joined the project, I was assigned a trauma counsellor who I could meet with at every session, as well as had many extra sessions with the organisation’s social worker. They continue to support me through my trauma and have taught me many ways that I can take care of my mental health, especially if I was ever triggered. The counselling part of the project was life-changing for me – and so as the years went by, I encouraged as many girls as possible to use the counselling services too.”

Phumza graduated from the project at the end of 2021 and was invited to come back as an “Amagorhakazi”. The Amagorhakazi are former project participants who mentor new young ladies who join the project.

“The area that I am responsible for is working with the trauma counsellors to select, schedule and take girls to their counselling sessions throughout the day. I received training from our Social Worker, Lilitha, which equipped me to provide peer support to the Mbokodo girls when a counsellor is not available or when they reach out in the community.”

Having this support has inspired Phumza to take the path of becoming a social worker herself. Her hope is to help as many young ladies as she can.

“Now, I want nothing more on earth than to be that person, someone who can counsel and support other girls like me who have experienced violence, in order to help them grow from “victim to victor”.”

The best news came when Phumza was accepted to study for a Higher Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills at SACAP (The South African College of Applied Psychology) in Cape Town, South Africa.

Her hopes and dreams are enough to make real change within her community, now she just needs the support to get through her studies.

“Coming from a poverty-stricken township, I cannot afford the fees to study, and so my plan is to work part-time and study part-time which is an option given by SACAP to complete your qualification over two years. Once I graduate from SACAP, I will then also be eligible to apply to study further to become a social worker (which takes 4 years).

In total for the two years of study at SACAP, I would need to raise R70 000 to cover the fees for my first and second year. I am currently working part-time at a call center, and my family are also trying to assist me to raise funds to pay the tuition.”

Phumza set up a crowdfund on GivenGain in the hope of getting a helping hand in achieving her dream, because it would not only help her, but her community too.

“I know that there must be a wonderful human or company out there who may consider being my sponsor or donating towards my fees. I promise that with this support, you will not just be investing in me, but in my entire community.”

The Justice Desk Africa is an award-winning South African human rights non-profit organisation, working to protect women and youth in South Africa.

You can support Phumza’s goal to become a trained counsellor via GivenGain here.


Sources: GivenGain
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About the Author

Tyler Leigh Vivier is a writer for Good Things Guy.

Her passion is to spread good news across South Africa with a big focus on environmental issues, animal welfare and social upliftment. Outside of Good Things Guy, she is an avid reader and lover of tea.

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