Rachel Kolisi, a philanthropist and a wife to Springboks Captain, Siya Kolisi has opened up about her journey of self-discovery, raising confident girls, her work with the Kolisi Foundation, depression, and an attempt to commit suicide!
READ – Pernod Ricard SA Partners With Siya Kolisi & Cheslin Kolbe!
Speaking with Wisdom & Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba Rachel Kolisi said that she felt led to share her story about depression and her parents’ “really” bad divorce which affected her well-being.
Talking about depression, Rachel Kolisi said that a few years ago she got a chance to speak at Church, and she felt led to speak about depression.
“I felt led to share my story about depression and that journey. My parents went through a really bad divorce and this is just my personal story. I know everyone’s struggles are different. With my parents, it was very challenging,” said Rachel Kolisi.
READ – Pernod Ricard SA Partners With Siya Kolisi & Cheslin Kolbe!
Rachel Kolisi said that she lost her way so much and found herself sometimes in not healthy friendship groups.
“I lost my way so much and found myself sometimes in not healthy friendship groups. They’d be like if you are having a tough day let’s have a drink or smoke and that’s the environment I found myself in and it spiraled. Depression does that, it does that to a person where you are like ‘I’m not depressed, I’m fine,” said Rachel Kolisi.
READ – Walter Mokoena Allegedly Siphoned Money From VBS Mutual Bank!
She said that we speak a lot about divorce and she thinks it’s underestimated how it impacts children.
“We hear a lot about divorce and I think it’s underestimated. The impact it has on children. We used to have both parents and now they are separated. When my parents divorced I felt like I was in a hole and I wished someone could drop a ladder. I just remember being stuck in a hole and I tried to commit suicide when I was 15-years-old. I spent 2-3-years cutting myself. Crying for help and just not finding it,” shared Rachel Kolisi.
READ – Pearl Thusi’s Heart Still Bleeding Since She Lost Her Dad A Year-Ago!
Rachel Kolisi said that she’s got amazing people around her for support.
“It’s amazing to see a young woman developing herself and find herself and find her identity. But you feel a lot more of the weight of like I’m a part of somebody’s future, someone writing her future, and see where she’s going. I’m also a white woman in a country where a lot of representation is kind of not happening, and it’s undervalued sometimes,” said Rachel Kolisi.
She said that her journey was also navigating being a white woman to a black daughter, a colored child.
READ – Singer Chomee Denies Receiving R2-Million Funding From NAC!
“It comes with a lot of learning and a lot of understanding. It’s a beautiful journey… I am encouraging my girls to just celebrate who they are,” said Rachel Kolisi.
In her process of healing, Rachel Kolisi said that someone she knew sent her an email encouraging her to think about those that love her and that wh does she thinks she is to just decide she wants to end her life.
You can listen to the entire by clicking [Wisdom & Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba].
READ – It’s A Noxolo Grootboom Day As She Retires After 37-Years Of News!
Speaking about what they do at the Kolisi Foundation, Rachel said that their’s was to amplify the work that others are doing on the ground.
The Kolisi Foundation was founded by Siya and Rachel Kolisi with a vision to change narratives of inequality in South Africa. By working alongside others, adding our story to the stories of communities and individuals who are changing the world. By “remembering the one, one by one” we will impact the nation.
MGOSI.co.za