This week’s blog post has been written by Teaman Manzini, an accomplished young man who lives in a village just outside of Londolozi. It is significant for two reasons:
First. Teaman never thought he would be able to read or write. At school, he was bullied, broken, and ignored. But he has typed every word of his story below.
Second. There are a few giants amongst us at Londolozi. Serious giants. Glory Manzini, who works in Londolozi’s housekeeping department, is one of them, and she is an integral (and inspiring) part of Teaman’s story:
“My name is Teaman Manzini and I am a boy who was born in a rural village called Cork, in 1987. I grew up in a big family: both parents, four brothers and six sisters.
No-one ever spoke to me and my siblings about education.
When I was 19, both of my parents died, as well as three of my sisters and my grandmother. School became extremely difficult: I was not good at writing and reading because I was traumatised. I lost focus and was not coping at all. It was so difficult to see my friends reading newspapers and books, while I could not.
I started to lose hope and instead focused my attention on girls. It wasn’t long before my girlfriend became pregnant.
I became a father at the age of 21. I didn’t have an education and I was jobless.
I decided to move to Johannesburg to look for a job – I needed to feed my son. After a couple of months I found a job and things started going well for me. I had money. I had parties. I had girls. In fact, life was so good that I forgot about my son. I stopped sending money to my girlfriend so that she could feed my son.
I stopped calling home.
And then I lost my job.
As you know, when the days are dark, friends are few. My decision was to run home with my tail between my legs. Many of my friends had matriculated and many were working. I had neither, and even worse, I had to face my family, including my son, who I had abandoned.
My aunt Glory – who works at Londolozi – was the one who said to me: “Teaman, go and study. Learn computers.”
Glory Manzini at the Londolozi Digital Learning Centre, studying for an online hospitality test (left) and in the Londolozi village on Youth Day (right). On Youth Day this year, Glory was heard saying: “Don’t sit around complaining, if you don’t like something, get up off your behind and do something about it.”
The hug that says it all: at a recent Hazyview Digital Learning Centre Graduation, Teaman embraces Aunty Glory under the Digital Tree of Knowledge as he collects his ICDL and vida e caffe coffee theory certificates.
I was are afraid to study and I still did not understand the importance of learning. My first day at the Good Work Foundation Hazyview Digital Learning Centre was so difficult: I was scared to say something in the classroom and once again, my reading and writing were so far behind.
That’s when I asked for help.
Today I have my International Computer Driving License (ICDL) certificate, and my advanced ICDL in Excel (I am studying for Word at the moment). I have completed an online course in Food & Beverage Management. I have just finished the vida e caffè Barista theory module, and will soon be training baristas in Mpumalanga. I also volunteer as a digital facilitator, helping grade four students from rural schools to improve their english and math’s literacy using apps. I am reading K Sello Duiker’s 13 Cents and I am a member of the Good Work Foundation Media Academy.
I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t believe in goals. I didn’t believe in education.
Now I am proud to say that I believe in myself. My aunt taught me that lesson. She gave me hope. She told me I could make it in life.
Teaman graduating with his ICDL in March, 2014 (left) and at the Hazyview Digital Learning Centre just before setting off to Johannesburg for a month (right).
Teaman with a class of “digital” Grade 4 learners at the Hazyview Digital Learning Centre.
Teaman learning to become a master barista at vida e caffe (left) and with a group of after-school students (right).
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Such a lovely inspiring story. Well done Team an.
Thanks Marinda. Teaman is in the process of setting up his own blog. Hopefully we will be able to share more stories.
Congratulations Teaman, on your fantastic accomplishments! With Aunt Glory’s support and encouragement, you have overcome so much, and managed to turn your life into such a success story. Well done!
Thanks once again for being so supportive Jill. I will definitely pass on your message to Teaman 🙂
Wonderful! Congratulations Teaman
Thanks Wendy!
What a beautiful read.. inspiring!
This was the happiest email I opened today and it brought a tear to my eye! Well done Teaman for your courage and also the Good Work Foundation Support team – and Auntie Glory! Best of luck in the future.
Thanks so much for encouraging feedback Jenny – the team at Londolozi and Good Work Foundation really appreciate it, and I will be sure to pass the message on to the team, as well as to Teaman and Glory.