Here is the latter half of Mapaseka’s story!
(If you missed it, you can read the first half of the story here: [Link])
Looking into Future
Looking ahead, I’d love to hear more about your long-term goals if you have.
Not really—I was honestly shocked by the workload when I got here. There’s just so much going on all the time: classes, exams, presentations, internships. So right now, I haven’t really had the space to think ahead. My main focus is just to get through this Master’s program and do my best. But I’m sure things will come up.
You’re clearly putting everything into this right now. I’ll definitely be looking out for more updates in the future. Moving on, if you could imagine the best possible future for women and girls in Lesotho, what would that look like?
It would look like a future where women are empowered, where they have confidence, and where they collaborate. A future with less competition, where one realizes that being the smartest person in the room is not an achievement. I believe it’s important to always be surrounded by people who know more than you. It should be normal to frequently seek knowledge—it’s fulfilling and exciting to learn new things every day.
That’s exactly what you’re embodying yourself—your commitment to continuous learning is truly inspiring. I’m sure it gives hope and courage to so many other women as well.
Motivation and Message
With everything you’ve been through, you continue to push forward. What keeps you going?
What keeps me motivated, first and foremost, is my child. I want to be a great example for her. She’s also in school, so we have a kind of friendly competition—she’ll show me her grades, and I’ll show her mine. I want her to see that I’m working hard and have the courage to take on challenges that others might shy away from. Through that, I hope to inspire her to strive to be the best version of herself.
Your daughter must be so proud of you!
Additionally, I’m driven by my mother. I’ve always looked up to her and I want to be as great an example for my child as she has been for me. There’s a point in life where you want your parents to be proud of you, especially as they age. I often think about how I can give my mother that proud moment. I want her to feel that all of her hard work as a single mother, all the sacrifices she made for me, were worth it.
It’s so powerful to see how you’re motivated by both your daughter and your mother.
Lastly, what message would you like to share with young women who are facing struggles similar to yours?
Firstly, be resilient. Challenges will come, but always strive to get back up after any fall. It won’t be easy, but try to become someone your child can look up to. In many ways, we’re working to break generational cycles of trauma. And while raising a child in a single-parent home may not be seen as ideal in society’s eyes, show your child that it’s still possible to thrive.
Believe in yourself, and have the courage to take action. I’m not saying you won’t feel fear—you absolutely will. But do it afraid. Show up anyway. Even with this interview, I could have come up with an excuse and chosen not to do it. But I reminded myself that when you’re in a safe space, you should share your story. You never know who might need to hear it. You never know who you might become an example for.
I sincerely appreciate the depth and openness you’ve shared with us. Your message is incredibly powerful, and I truly admire you—not only as a person, but also as a strong and inspiring mother.
Her story reminds us that we’re not alone in our struggles—and that by showing up, we can become someone’s example.