Dr. Tererai Trent’s life is not simply a story to be told. It is a journey of courage, pain, and hope that continues to ignite change around the world. Born in a remote village in rural Zimbabwe, she grew up in a society where girls were expected to marry young, stay silent, and serve, writes SONIA OKERE
Tererai’s world was shaped by poverty and patriarchy. Yet, within her burned a quiet longing for something more. She dreamed of an education and a life beyond what tradition allowed. That longing became her guide. Against all odds, Tererai turned her suffering into strength and transformed a buried dream into a global movement that now empowers thousands of children and women.
Growing up in Rhodesia
Dr. Tererai Trent was born in 1965 into a cattle-herding family in the rural village of Zvipani, in what was then called Rhodesia. Her early years were marked by war, poverty, and deeply rooted customs that dictated strict gender roles. While her brothers were sent to school, she was expected to stay home and prepare for marriage.
At just 11 years old, Tererai was married off to an older man. By 18, she had given birth to four children. The marriage was abusive. Despite the hardships, she held a fierce desire to be educated. During an interview, Dr. Tererai said:
“When my husband realized I was interested in education, he beat me. He even told me I was worthless, and I believed him.”
At just 11 years old, Tererai was married off to an older man. By 18, she had given birth to four children
Yet, even at a young age, Tererai showed a quiet defiance. Forbidden from attending school, she secretly studied her brother’s books and taught herself to read and write. After Zimbabwe gained independence, many foreigners began visiting rural communities to run sensitization and empowerment programs. One of these visitors would change her life forever.
The dreams buried in a tin
For Dr. Tererai, education seemed like a distant dream, especially for a woman in her community. However, everything began to shift the day a foreign woman came to speak with the women in her village. As the group gathered, the visitor spoke passionately about women’s rights and the power of education. Then she asked a question no one had ever asked before:
“After delivering an excellent speech on the importance of education, she suddenly asked, ‘What are your dreams?’ The other women began to speak, each one sharing what they hoped for in life. But I remained quiet. Deep inside, I felt my dreams were too big, too far-fetched to even say out loud. Then, to my surprise, the woman pointed at me and repeated the question. So I stood up and said, ‘I want to go to America, be educated, and earn a PhD.’
When my husband realized I was interested in education, he beat me. He even told me I was worthless, and I believed him
“She smiled at me with such confidence and warmth. ‘It’s possible,’ she said. ‘If you work hard and keep chasing your dreams, you can achieve them.’ She encouraged all of us to start somewhere, no matter how small.
“Later that day, I rushed to my mother and told her everything. She listened quietly and then said something simple but profound: ‘Write your dreams down, put them in a tin, bury it, and wait for them to come true.’ I wrote down five dreams and buried the tin under a rock. That act marked the beginning of my journey.
“While caring for five children, I began studying through correspondence. It was very challenging, and I failed many exams. Yet I refused to give up. Eventually, I passed the General Educational Development (GED) examination, which was the first milestone toward achieving my dreams.”
Journey to America
In 1998, Tererai and her husband had the opportunity to move to the United States. They arrived with five children, and providing for the family was not easy. While juggling three jobs, she enrolled at Oklahoma State University to study agricultural education. Life was extremely difficult. At one point, her husband was deported and he later died, leaving her to care for the children alone.
While caring for five children, I began studying through correspondence. It was very challenging, and I failed many exams. Yet I refused to give up
According to her, they lived in a dilapidated trailer, and she often picked leftover vegetables and fruits from dumpsters to feed her kids. Due to the overwhelming challenges, her children pleaded with her to return to Zimbabwe. However, she refused to let go of her dreams.
“I refused to go back because I remembered the dreams I buried in my community, and I knew America was the best place to achieve them. I had a promise to fulfill, not just to myself but to every girl who had ever been told she could not.
“Thankfully, God sent helpers who stepped in and assisted us greatly. I also met Mark Trent, a fellow student at Oklahoma State University, who later became my husband. Our relationship brought stability, encouragement, and a sense of partnership I had never known before.”
Becoming a global figure
After completing her master’s degree, Dr. Tererai went on to earn her PhD in 2009 from Western Michigan University. Upon completing her doctorate, she returned to Zimbabwe and unearthed the tin can where she had once buried her dreams. It was a moment of deep fulfillment and joy.
it took 20 years for the dreams she had buried to finally come to life
Her powerful story was featured in the bestselling book Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, which brought her journey to global attention. She was later invited to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where she shared her ambition to give back to her community. Moved by her story, Oprah donated $1.5 million to help Dr. Tererai build schools in Zimbabwe.
A legacy that continues to rise
Today, Dr. Tererai Trent is a visionary who continues to uplift others through education and advocacy. She said it took 20 years for the dreams she had buried to finally come to life. Her fifth dream was to give back to her community and she founded Tererai Trent International, an organization that has helped build 11 schools in rural Zimbabwe and provided access to education for over 6,000 children.
As a keynote speaker, she has addressed global platforms such as the United Nations Global Leaders’ Summit and has spoken in over 60 countries. Her message resonates not only because of her personal achievements but also because of her unwavering commitment to transforming lives.
In her speeches, she often reminds women around the world: “You were never meant to shrink for the comfort of others. You were born to rise.”
Her tireless advocacy has earned her recognition around the world. She was named a UN Women Champion for Quality Education, a title that reflects her mission to uplift girls in the world’s most underserved communities.
In 2017, her story reached new heights when a bronze statue of her was unveiled in New York City as part of the Statues for Equality project. Standing proudly among women like Oprah Winfrey and Jane Goodall, she was honored as one of the world’s most inspirational figures.
One of her books, The Awakened Woman, received the Nautilus Gold Award for Women’s Empowerment and is now used in schools and leadership programs across the globe. Through her words and her work, Dr. Tererai continues to remind the world that no dream is too big and no voice too small to create lasting change.
