Life, they say, is not smooth for everyone. Every individual has got something to learn. Our daily experiences give birth to the stories of our lives. This is not any different for Julieth Gudo, who now bears the title of Doctor by no easy means. She really toiled her way through life to reach this height.
LIFE AS A CHILD
Julieth lost both parents at a very young age. This happened, when she was only seven years old. As a result, she had to quit school because there was no one to fund her schooling.
Her academic journey, while still young ended after her completion of grade 7. She could not continue. This left her feeling disappointed. She felt so much left behind, seeing her friends, still in school, while she remained out of school. Her situation grew almost worse, when at age twelve, she was forced into child marriage.
Knowing what future she wanted for herself, and the fact that she had not given up yet on pursuing her education, she was able to escape.
HER RELOCATION TO SOUTH AFRICA
Sadly for her, Julieth lost her grandmother, who served entirely as her guardian. At this point, it appeared and was clear enough to her, that she had nothing left to hold onto, while living in Zimbabwe. Owing to that, she decided then to cross over the border from Zimbabwe to South Africa as a minor, hoping that she would be welcomed and treated nicely.
Her prayers were answered. Fortunately, she ended up in a sanctuary at a refugee centre in Musina, Limpopo, a town in the most northern part of South Africa, where she lived for 8 years.
LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA AS A REFUGEE
While there in South Africa, she still believed that she would go back to school. And as part of the refugee centre's arrangements for all children living there in, they ensured that every child would have quality education. This was in collaboration with humanitarian organisations that had come to their aid regularly to support. This privilege was a life-changing experience for Julieth.
SCHOOLING IN SOUTH AFRICA
Julieth had already lost nine years of schooling, but it was not late yet, she thought. Holding on to the sense of determination to succeed, she chose to start schooling again, this time in Grade 11. She studied hard and passed Grade 12 with distinction.
Following her successful completion of High School, she proceeded on to the University of Limpopo, where she earned her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree certification. It did not stop there. More success doors kept opening to her.
She went on to read her Master of Laws in Commercial Law at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and graduated in 2016.
As if that was not enough, Julieth applied for a PhD studies, and eventually won several external scholarships for her sponsorship. Is that not amazing?
Now, Dr Julieth Gudo, she holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Commercial Law from the University of Cape Town and is currently a Post-doctoral Fellow at the Center for Comparative Law in Africa at the University of Cape Town.
She said cheerfully, “I knew education would liberate me from the consequences of my disadvantaged background. And when I got the opportunity, I just couldn’t let go."
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