Life lessons I learnt as a teacher

National Women’s Day, celebrated annually on 9 August, commemorates the 1956 march of approximately 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. In a four-part series, the Northglen News chats to women who are making a difference in their communities. This week, we chat to mother and teacher, Sthembile Buthelezi.

“IF women can change the mindset that there are certain things to be done by women only, I would be so pleased. That mindset demotes their self esteem because they feel their work is to clean and look after children – they forget that they can also go out there and provide, they can also be breadwinners for their families. In order for them to grow, they need to be able to speak out. That is the main thing, because some women are afraid to even speak up,” said Buthelezi.

She started working as an Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher at a Malacca Road crèche in May 2019. As a resident of the Malacca Road Informal Settlement, she was inspired to shape young minds to see that the area they live in does not define them or their future.

“I saw everything that was happening around us, the youngsters didn’t have anything to do. That was the main focus and the main aim was to empower them to see things differently, not to take the area they live in as the end of the road for them. Even though they live in a disadvantaged area, there is still something out there for them,” she said.

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Buthelezi said she’s living proof that anyone can turn their life around. She was a second year Bachelor of Commerce student at UNISA when she fell pregnant with her first child and had to drop out.

“I had to look after my child and find jobs here and there to pay for schooling. Even a drop out can turn their life around. You just have to have a dream,” she said.

While becoming a mother changed Buthelezi’s path in life, she said she is happier working as a teacher.

“I’m actually happier as a teacher because I love working with children. Teaching was my passion when I was growing up, it was my first choice. Accounting was actually my third choice, my second choice was to become a doctor and even then, I wanted to work with children as a paediatrician,” she said.

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Buthelezi is a mother to three children: Siyethemba (15), Ziyanda (10) and Sfundo (7). She said communication is the key to raising empowered children.

“The most important thing as a mother is to speak with your children. Let them understand the difference between wrong and right, so they can treat others well. And don’t stop talking with your children. I am 38 and my mother still talks with me,” she said.

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