​17-year-old foster care beneficiary Tshegofatso Mogale said the counselling she received from the Gauteng Department of Social Development after the death of her mother played an important role in her completing high school education.
Mogale, who obtained two distinctions in History and Life Science, was a learner at Masupatsela High School in Kagiso, West Rand.

"After my mother died. I was lonely and did not want to talk to anyone. My mother was my pillar of strength, but Social Workers from the Krugersdorp Office came to my rescue. They arranged therapy sessions for me to deal with my loss, " she explained.

As a result of the counseling she received, she now wants to pursue a career in Industrial Psychology at the University of Witwatersrand.

“At first, I did not want to go for counselling sessions but in the end, I was able to understand the purpose of it. It was not even easy for me to share what I was going through with my peers,” she said.

After her mother's passing, her unemployed aunt became a guardian to her and her little brother.

Mogale slowly began to accept her loss and paid more attention to her studies with the help from Social Workers.

“I cannot wait to commence with academics and experience life as an independent young person. I thought losing a parent was the end of the world, not knowing that it was the beginning of a new chapter. I want to make sure that my mother is proud of me, and I will always support my little brother in his studies to become a better person”, she added.

“My bags are ready, and Wits University is waiting for me, this is a dream come true for me and my aunt.

My message to foster care beneficiaries is to take their life serious since the government has taken the initiative to assist people like us who are orphans.

Being a foster child did not to limit me, instead it opened opportunities for me, especially for government  programmes” said Mogale.

Mogale encouraged young people to take counselling seriously when they have challenges.