Separated from her children and facing hardship alone, Ms. K found a path forward through support and skills training. Now, she’s ready to build a farm, reunite her family, and reclaim her dream.
South Africa (30 July 2025) – When Ms. K left her small village and travelled to Cape Town, she carried more than just a suitcase; she carried the weight of being a mother, a daughter, a provider, and a dreamer. Ending up pregnant and separated from her three children, she now has determination and a plan to rebuild her life.
At first, life in the city offered more hardship than hope. A job in Stellenbosch came and went, support systems disappeared, and Ms. K soon found herself alone, facing a difficult pregnancy and an uncertain future.
“I didn’t have food; I didn’t have anything,” she recalled. “I thought about ending the pregnancy because I was afraid I would die.”
But Ms. K is not someone who gives up. At every junction, she chose to fight forward. When she was referred to Khethani Women Wellness, a conversation shifted her course.
With the support of The Empathologist Foundation, Ms. K enrolled in a skills programme through Work4ALiving.
“Just before I gave birth, I was put in contact with The Empathologist Foundation and was able to go to school and do my training. I did my computer studies and administration course, and it brought me light. I was seeing only darkness everywhere. I was thinking; what am I going to do in this life? I came here for a better life but I’m still in darkness. It gave me light, going to school. Now I know how to operate computers, I loved learning that.”
Just before giving birth, she completed her training. On 3 November, her baby boy arrived, on the very same day as her birthday.
“I think sometimes things are meant to be,” she smiled.
Today, her son is growing fast and Ms. K is working again. The Empathologist Foundation and Khethani continue to support her with transport, food vouchers, and job placement assistance. But her eyes remain fixed on the horizon, on the life she dreams of, a life that includes her children.
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“I don’t want a big house, just enough for me and my kids. To take my kids from my parents’ house and bring them to stay with me on my farm. Then I think my life will go smoothly, I will be the happiest woman in the world.”
She has land at home. She has a plan. What she needs now is a little push, a small bridge to carry her from survival to sustainability.
Whether it’s baby food, rent, school shoes, or startup capital for chickens and seedlings, every contribution counts. Each one brings her closer to her children and the farm she has dreamed of. And for Ms. K, that dream isn’t just about income, it’s about identity, dignity, and healing.
“Sometimes in life we face difficulties,” she says, “but we must be strong. We must prove that we can create a better life tomorrow.”
Together, we can help her do just that.
The foundation set up a crowdfunding campaign and it was successful, raising over R37,000 towards getting Ms. K back on her feet and reunited with her family.
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