Download PDFI am Tyreesha Benjamin, an 18-year-old born and bred in Kliptown, Johannesburg. I am from a sing-parented household with my mother a strong figure in my life. I have younger siblings who also live with me in the dusty streets of Kliptown.
Faced with socio-economic challenges, Kliptown is a challenging place to grow up in, there is a lot of gun violence, widespread teenage pregnancy. Despite these challenges, I passed my matric with the opportunity to do a bachelor’s degree.
Although I could not secure a place in a Bachelor of Education programme, I have a passion for education and teaching. I am currently enrolled for a degree in Government Administration and Development.
I am also a part of PUSH (Persevere Until Something Happens), which helps orphaned and vulnerable children in Kliptown and surrounding areas. PUSH has exposed me to the Powergirls Programme that has helped produce me into the young lady that I am.
This article was submitted as part of the Imbila Yesu publication produced daily for the duration of the Winter School in 2025 (15-19 June 2025). It appeared in Edition 1, released on 15 June 2025. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the author and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
