Education Against the Odds: Learning Under Gangsterism!
One Social Worker’s Journey who defied the adversities.
Lilly Maenetja, a Social Worker by profession, was born on the dusty streets of Tembisa, where political unrest served as the primary means of communication within the Township. Due to the township riots, she spent her early years of schooling in the impoverished village of Bakenberg in Limpopo. In 1990, she returned to Tembisa for her high-school education. However, her high school experience was not conducive to learning as gangsters were disrupting the classes; coercing other students into joining their activities. Lilly alluded to her trauma of witnessing her peers being burnt to death due to their involvement in gang activities. Despite gangsters, she persevered as her School Principal played a crucial role in encouraging students to attend classes until she completed her Matric.
What fuelled your determination to pursue a career in social work?
My high school experience ignited a passion to pursue a career in social work, aiming to help eliminate societal evils. Another contributing factor in choosing my career was empowering young women who are often lured by older men with material things. I believe women should be independent and take charge of their lives, as economic dependence on a partner/spouse is a cause of gender-based violence. Additionally, my parents encouraged me to prioritise education above all else”
After completing my matriculation, I applied to university, but my application was declined. I enrolled at a Technikon and graduated with a National Diploma in Marketing. Following graduation, I was employed as an Assistant Librarian. It was during this time that my employer financially supported my enrolment in a Social Worker’s program at UNISA.
What informs your approach to community engagement today?
My qualifications as a Social Worker, coupled with my past experiences of learning under compelling circumstances, enable me to engage with many victims affected by societal evils. This background not only fulfils my passion for empowering and mentoring young girls but also equips me to guide them away from being lured by older men with material things and to help them overcome feelings of inferiority
What are the effective strategies needed to address the challenges faced in Townships?
There are high levels of alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancies, and unemployment, which often lead to other problems like GBV and crime. I believe education is a key remedy. Society needs to be equipped with knowledge to make informed decisions. Moreover, both government and private entities should collaborate to address high unemployment rates, which are often linked to increased criminal activities.
Providing various empowerment programs, such as entrepreneurship, welding, carpentry, and baking, can encourage independence among the unemployed. Tackling teenage pregnancy requires a multifaceted approach, empowering girls through various programs and emphasising the importance of prioritising education. The effectiveness of these programs should be evaluated through a developed assessment tool to measure their impact on participants.
Lilly highlighted the misconceptions about life in the Townships. She argued that the environment is often associated with dirtiness, decay, death, drug abuse, danger, failure, informal dwellings, violence, criminality, and underdevelopment. However, the Township community has produced successful leaders, academics, athletes, etc.
