Lerato Sono
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Age:
32
Project Name/Description:
Lecturer – University of Pretoria
At the heart of Lerato Sono’s work is a quiet, unwavering promise: no student should feel like they do not belong. As a lecturer at the University of Pretoria, Sono brings more than academic expertise—she brings deep care, lived experience, and a fierce commitment to justice. She says her journey began with a simple desire: to make life better for others. She believed, and still believes, that government can and should serve its people with fairness. But once inside academia, she noticed something deeply troubling—students from disadvantaged backgrounds were being offered access, but not support. That is when her calling became clear. Sono added that she became the mentor she once needed. She walks alongside students who feel like giving up, creates safe spaces for those facing hunger or isolation, and connects graduates to real opportunities. From food banks to WhatsApp mentorship groups, her work is stitched with compassion and purpose. Her biggest challenge? Believing that this kind of care mattered in a system that often prioritises output over people. But she found strength in allies who saw her heart as a strength, not a weakness. The Mandela Washington Fellowship was a moment of affirmation—it told her: “What you do counts.” Today, Lerato is building more than academic success—she’s building belonging, dignity, and hope. Her dream? A future where universities don’t just open doors, but walk with students through them. And if you ask her what she wants to be remembered for, she’ll tell you: “That I cared deeply, truly, and always.”
