BIO – LERATO LEHLEBATHE

My name is Lerato Annie Lehlabathe. I grew up in a small town of Mohales’ Hoek in Lesotho. I studied at St Stephen’s High School and furthered my studies at the National University of Lesotho, graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. My field of specialization is English. I moved to Cape town in 2012 and worked as a domestic worker.

Thereafter, I volunteered in several schools of Khayelitsha as an English teacher: Hopolang Primary, Sosebenza and Sinako High School. I then left teaching and got a full time job as a nanny in Woodstock and Camps Bay where I worked for two families on different days of the week. I also got an amazing opportunity to work with young kids at the French Nursery School when one of the toddlers I was babysitting started schooling.

I have spent most of my time as a baby sitter. I love kids and am proudly a mother of two. During my spare time in the township where I’m staying I run an after-school programme where I assist children with English home work and sometimes take them to the Library for reading. I’m passionate about education. I believe that’s what moves me for it is the weapon that has set me free. For me writing is healing. What inspires my writing is my life experiences and challenges facing young women today. Lerato is a contributing author to the Life Righting Collective’s This is how it is anthology.