Rethabile Mphutlane, Rise Up’s South Africa Project Coordinator, learned early on about life’s challenges and the opportunities presented by education while growing up in her home country of Lesotho. After losing her mother at age 13, Rethabile found herself caring for her younger sister while navigating her own path forward.

“I was lucky enough to have had a mother that prioritized education before her passing, which made me understand that education is the tool that I can use to change my life for the better,” she said.

This influence eventually led Rethabile to earn prestigious scholarships for postgraduate studies at one of South Africa’s leading universities.

Rethabile’s personal journey deeply influences her approach at Rise Up, where she brings a decade of experience in the NGO sector. Her work has spanned HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, empowering girls through education, and sexual and reproductive health and rights initiatives. Throughout her career, Rethabile has held a fundamental principle: sustainable change must be community-driven.

“I believe that regardless of background, every child deserves a fair chance to reach her full potential,” said Rethabile. “When young girls are educated, empowered, and supported, they not only transform their own lives, but those of their family members and their communities.” 

Rethabile’s passion for education and her lived experience drives her work at Rise Up, where she will advocate for girls’ education, improved health care access, and new economic opportunities for women and girls across South Africa as we launch our next cohort of leaders in the country.