Poverty is not hindrance to success

By Tabea Ramatlo

 A number of people are living in poverty and some have managed to escape this stigma. Growth only lies at the heart of poverty reduction. Many people are held back in poverty but there is also a reason to celebrate success and reality.

Many of impoverished children succeed every day because their parents have gone to the trouble of raising their children despite the difficulties created by poverty. Most mothers are single parents, they strive their level best to ensure that their children are well mannered and successful in life. In some cases parents do not take any responsibility for their children. Their abandon their children and focus on their own lives. What is amazing about the upbringing of the person who is going to be mentioned below; is that he comes from a God fearing, hopeful and supportive family.

 His story shows that it is possible to overcome poverty. The reality is not only children whose parents raise them well, pull themselves out of poverty. Like Kagiso, whose mother didn’t do a great job, but he managed to succeed anyway.

Kagiso Magoma is a 28- year old man, from a small village called Madidi in the north west province. Magoma is the first born in his family and, he has two siblings. His mother is an alcoholic. She has three children from different fathers. She is not always around and she has no worries whether her children are fed or have clothes to wear. “I still love my mother but I can’t change her. I thank God for giving me responsible grandparents, whom looked after me. When they died I felt like dying too. They are gone too soon and I still miss them,” says Magoma.

While growing up, he went to a local school. At times he had no food for lunch. It’s one of his clearest memories of growing up poor. He went to school without any shoes and a Jersey because his family could not afford warm clothes for him. He says “It was cold really cold, but I woke up bathed and went to school without any shoes.” It was indeed a difficult day, but I kept my courage and never lost hope. The other students treated him like a joke, made fun of him. Deep down it was painful for him, because he saw the difference between him and the other students.  That he did not have the proper uniform like other students. He felt isolated from the other students, because of where he came from and how he looked amongst other children. His misery at school ended when the educators raised funds to buy him a proper school uniform. Magoma’s life changed for the better, he no longer had to be cold and teased at school. Despite all the challenges that he has faced, he still managed to pass his matric exams and received certificates for debating participation at school.

 These were means that he used to overcome poverty; he worked in people’s gardens and sang on the streets, so that he could save money to get his driver’s license. It took him two years to gather all the money for his driving lessons, as well as the money to book for his license date. Getting his license opened great opportunities for him. Then he registered for the police training with the South African Police Services, where he got training for six months. Today he is a constable at Reitgat police station in Pretoria.

Poverty has had a huge influence in Magoma’s life. He is the breadwinner for his family. The little that he earns, he shares with his family. He has managed to buy a car and has renovated his grandparents’ house. Family is important to him. They keep him on his toes and keep the important things in life in perspective. “My family gives me a very strong support network,” says Magoma. He has been blessed with a daughter, and he vows to give her a better life than he had as a child.

Magoma is an optimistic person and has a positive outlook on life. His advice for anyone who is in a similar situation as his; is that you may be poor, but you as an individual have the power to change your circumstances. Being poor is not a curse and people should count their blessings every day and never take them for granted.  He adds that “many people are too focused on what they don’t have instead of appreciating and being thankful for what they do have.”

Magoma concludes by saying, “If you don’t like something in your life, do something about it. You are the creator of your own happiness.” The quote that he generally lives by is: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference by Reinhold Niebuhr.