Tetelo's off to Columbia University

Hi there

My name is Tetelo Mashishi and I have been accepted to study for an LLM at Columbia University in New York City. I want to tell you a little a bit about myself because I require your partnership in getting to Columbia.

I grew up in the mineral rich village of Ga-Mashishi in Limpopo, South Africa. From a young age, I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to amplify the voices of host communities and to challenge the status quo of mining in rural host communities. So I headed to University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in 2013 where I studied an LLB and graduated with distinction in 2017.

However, I still wanted to learn more about the mining industry, human rights and the connection between the two in relation to rural host communities. I enrolled for an LLM at Wits and majored in Human Rights and the Marketplace and Prospecting and Mining Law. When I graduated in 2019, most of the questions I had about the connection of human rights and mining corporations were answered. However, when I returned to my village in 2020 after qualifying as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa, I had new question, particularly around climate change and its impact on rural communities. I started asking questions around the impact of climate change on rural communities particularly mining host communities and the transition of rural host communities to clean energy. In my quest for answers, I came across Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment and other resources available at Columbia. I had always dreamt of going to Columbia University, since I heard of it on Gossip Girl, but for a long time I didn’t know why I wanted to go. But after spending some time in my village, I am certain of my why.

I want to go to Columbia as a catalyst for a career in environmental litigation and advocacy. Climate change is no longer a threat to rural communities but a reality. I want to be part of the solution. I have found purpose in serving my community through my non-profit organisation where embark on various community development initiatives but I know that advocating for rural host communities in the issues of climate is more important than ever. For this reason I am asking for your help to get to Columbia. I will not be able to go to Columbia without your generous donations.

Please help me get to Columbia by donating towards my tuition and accommodation.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Email address: [email protected]