Dreams of designing her way to the top
Armed with a qualification in jewellery design and manufacturing, Rofhiwa Mulaudzi (23) is ready to chase after her dreams.
POLOKWANE – The talented woman from Flora Park says even though it was a challenge for her personally to follow and pursue such a rare career path with regards to the narrow minds and stereotypes thrown at her, she persevered. She even went to Italy to advance her skills and education in the field of jewellery design and manufacturing.
“After matric I wanted to study interior design at the University of Johannesburg but unfortunately it did not materialise as my admission point score was not enough. I looked for courses similar to interior design and jewellery designing caught my eye. I was fascinated by it and as I already knew how to draw due to a subject I took in high school I seized the opportunity. I studied three years and in my final year I was selected as one of the top performing learners and had the opportunity to further my studies in Italy for two years. There I learnt more about designing and diamond setting as well as a gemology course,” she said.
Her advice is that people need to find their niches and passions in life and follow them irrespective of what people think.
“Information about different courses and careers which are available must be given to learners while they are still in primary school so they can choose their subjects accordingly. For example, when I was invited to come and speak at a career day at a local primary school I saw a huge gap that needs to be filled. Most learners want to become doctors, lawyers, engineers and all those other traditional professions. Almost all of them didn’t have knowledge of my profession and this is why I believe if valuable information is given to these learners at a young age it will help them to find their niche and passions.”
During her time in Italy Rofhiwa learnt how jewellery has sentimental meaning for them as everyone wears some sort of jewellery for a specific sentimental reason.
“There’s more to the meaning of jewellery in Italy. It is seen more as a need than an accessory compared to South Africa,” she explained.
Rofhiwa added she plans to break into the jewellery design and manufacture market in South Africa by applying the skills and knowledge she learnt abroad locally as our country has many minerals which can be used to make jewellery which can in turn boost the local economy.
She will exhibit her self-made jewellery at an international competition alongside 22 other finalists from around the world. The theme for the competition is jewel with a function and she will showcase a bracelet she designed which can relieve headaches by harnessing massage tools.
