Stutter no obstacle for public speaker
Growing up with a stutter, Sisipho Mayo was mocked and bullied by her peers.
But with the help of her mother, she embraced her “uniqueness” and pushed through to become a public speaker and model.
Now that her mother has died, she hopes to pay her back in some way by ensuring her legacy lives on — through her passion for philanthropy.
The 23-year-old, originally from Qonce, now resides in Gqeberha and is an intern at the Coega Development Corporation while she completes her studies.
“I was raised by a single mother — my mother means everything to me.
“Being mocked for my stutter by classmates did not stop me, instead it encouraged me to become a better person,” she said.
She has since launched the Thozama Foundation in honour of her mother.
“The NPO is named after my mother, who was loving, warm-hearted and an open giver to communities.”
In February, Mayo hosted a Valentine’s Day event in Gqeberha, distributing clothes, sanitary towels, stationery and food to the less fortunate at various venues.
One of the beneficiaries was the Eastern Province Children’s Home, where she handed over items she collected.
Mayo said she had chosen Valentine’s Day because she wanted to make the recipients of the parcels feel loved.
Her next event will be on June 16, when she will host a youth empowerment talk in the city.
“Finances are not on my side but I am hoping by June to have raised enough money to finance the hall so that I can fulfil my mother’s wishes,” she said.
“If not, I will move around Nelson Mandela Bay and motivate youth and after delivering my keynotes I will distribute clothes, sanitary towels, stationery and toiletries to the youth that will be joining me on that day.”
Mayo said she had realised that if she did not accept her stutter, no-one else would.
“God created me to [have a] stutter, therefore if I don’t accept it myself then people will not have confidence in me.
“I have overcome stuttering because I am able to do public speaking and I have confidence in my public speaking, something that I thought I would never do because when you are dealing with people you become a role model, meaning you must be able to motivate and advise them.”
Mayo’s modelling career started in 2017 and she went on to win several titles.
Most recently, in February last year, she competed in the Miss Radiant Beauty Pageant SA, at which the participants worked with NGOs, allowing her to combine her passions.