Mbali Ntuli, an 18-year-old girl from Thembelihle, has faced significant challenges in her young life. After losing her mother last year, Mbali took on the responsibility of caring for her father and five younger siblings. With this new role as the primary caregiver, she had to put her own dreams of furthering her education on hold.

The family relies on income from renting out a single room and the children’s support grant to get by. Despite these hardships, Mbali’s resilience remained strong. She was invited to join the Abangani group earlier this year, where she began attending sessions to help cope with her grief. Though she initially had to stop attending to care for her siblings, the facilitators worked with her to arrange one-on-one sessions, providing the emotional support she needed to process the loss of her mother.

During her sessions, Mbali shared her fear of leaving for university, worried about being away from her family. In response, we discussed options for online studies, allowing her to pursue her education while still supporting her father and siblings at home. We assisted her in applying to UNISA, an online university, and helped her secure NASFAS student funding to support her studies.

The support from our program has given Mbali peace of mind, knowing she can study while ensuring her siblings are well cared for. Moving forward, we remain committed to supporting Mbali as she navigates her grief and loss, while providing her with the guidance she needs to make decisions that will lead her to become a successful, independent young woman.

Mbali’s story is one of strength, resilience, and determination—a testament to how even in the face of loss, there is always hope for a brighter future.