From recovery to growth: Letlhogonolo’s investing journey after disability

“If you know what you want, go for it. There’s nothing stopping you from reaching for it.”

Letlhogonolo Modise was just 17 years old when she had a stroke. It was a life-altering event at a time when most young people are dreaming big about their futures. Her recovery took a full decade. 

But during that journey, something shifted: Letlhogonolo started imagining how her experience could help others, especially young people with disabilities who were struggling to find the right support.

“I noticed that there were also other young stroke survivors that were struggling to find facilities that accommodated their types of disabilities,” she says. The aftermath of a stroke can vary dramatically from person to person, and many of the available support systems didn’t meet the complex, individual needs of survivors like her.

Building a community for others to grow

Rather than waiting for someone else to solve it, Letlhogonolo took action. In 2019, just before the pandemic hit, she registered her foundation and started a WhatsApp support group to help others on a similar path. “My support group can be the motivation that other stroke survivors need,” she says. “Because others didn’t have that type of support.”

Her group offered more than just emotional connection. They shared motivation, exercise routines, and practical tools for independence. Over time, the foundation expanded to include people with other types of disabilities too. “I thought, I don’t want to limit myself. Other people with disabilities also deserve support,” she explains.

Through it all, Letlhogonolo’s strength was fuelled by the support of her family, friends and school community, but also by her own determination to keep learning and keep trying. That same mindset is what led her to Franc.

Starting small, investing with intention

Letlhogonolo first heard about investing in 2013 when someone she met shared some reading materials with her. It wasn’t until after graduating years later, in 2022, that she began exploring it again. She started watching personal finance YouTube videos and kept hearing people mention Franc. “I did my research,” she says. “In 2023, I started investing for myself and for my son. I put a debit order on my account so that money could go into the account.”

What appealed to her was the flexibility and accessibility. "At least with the Franc app, there is an opportunity for a person to invest little money. It’s not like I’m asked to invest thousands every month,” she says. For someone juggling responsibilities and uncertainty, Franc’s no minimum policy was key.

She left the money to grow quietly in the background and returned a year later to check in. “I was like wow, okay, I got interest on my investment. I looked at my son’s and I was also impressed. I even took a screenshot!”

It wasn’t just about her own growth anymore. When a friend asked if it really worked, Letlhogonolo shared that screenshot. “She said, ‘I’m convinced now, I’m joining.’”

Investing with disability: breaking down the barriers

Despite the progress she’s made, Letlhogonolo knows many in her community feel excluded from saving and investing. “Amongst the disability community, it’s a stigma,” she says. “Some investments expect you to put in R15,000 just to get started. If you don’t have that kind of money, you think it’s not for you.”

It’s why she believes so strongly in Franc’s approach: "Start small, and then you will get to a point where you can actually get to R15,000." That shift in mindset, from exclusion to possibility, can change someone’s entire trajectory.

Her advice to others? Start with research. “I don’t like making up my mind over things without first checking,” she says. And she encourages others to explore Franc’s Shared Goals for groups too. “If I put in money into the investment, then my friend is gonna be like, ‘No, but she put in money, so I must also.’ It actually motivates people to invest together.”

Dreaming forward

Letlhogonolo is clear about one thing: “Challenges are things we all bump into along the way.” But they don’t have to define you.

Her story is one of persistence, purpose and courage. “I had a stroke and I still went through matric. I got my degree. I recently just graduated from digital marketing,” she says. “I don’t let anything stop me. If I do find a challenge, I always find an alternative route. There must always be a way to get there.”

It’s a message not just for people with disabilities, but for anyone doubting their next step. Whether it’s starting a support group, going back to school, or making your very first investment: there’s always a way.

Want to learn more about how Franc helps everyday South Africans invest with confidence? Explore more real investor stories like Letlhogonolo’s.