9 minute read
A STORY OF HOPE with Tuhafeni George Dasilva Hishitelwa
A STORY OF HOPE
Tuhafeni George Dasilva Hishitelwa’s story is remarkable. Born into poverty, Tuhafeni had to provide for himself for most of his childhood and school life. For a long time his life was a struggle, and for a while he was homeless and living in a petrol station. Today he is a successful businessman, motivational speaker, author and owner of Dasilva Investments. This is his story – a story of hope.
MYD: Tuhafeni, can you take us back to the early days, when you left the village?
TH: I was born in a small village close to the border in Oshikango. My mother left me in the custody of my auntie and my grandmother when I was, I think, four months old. I started school at Antonia Primary School. It was hard because we
were fourteen, fifteen grandchildren in one house with my grandmother. It was fourteen or fifteen kilometres from the village to the nearest high school. I left the village with five dollars in my pocket, given to me by my
grandmother, and some traditional spinach that I carried on my shoulder. I was agitated. I was, you know, a bit confused.
I went to the nearby school at Ukunu. There were only shacks and about eighteen or twenty of us from different villages gathered there. We constructed shacks where we then lived. We called it a boys’ hostel.
For Grade 11, I went to Tsumeb, to Etosha Secondary School. It was the same struggle – I remember selling bottles just to have some means. Tsumeb is a big town – people pay rent and for someone from the village, it’s not easy to settle in there. But I always wanted to make an impact. I was passionate about
school. I loved going to school and that was the main thing that drove me throughout my struggles.
WITH TUHAFENI GEORGE DASILVA HISHITELWA
I had very good friendships with all the teachers. I counted all the teachers that had vehicles and over the weekend I used to go and wash their cars and clean their huts for income. I think that helped me become financially wise, because there was no one to pay for me. When I was in Grade 12, I had to pay examination fees. I didn’t have any money and I missed the due date of payment, but there was an extension. I remember it was a Saturday and the Monday was the final extension date – after that, you wouldn’t be able to write the Grade 12 examination and that would be the end. I think it was a luck or coincidence. I was living in an orphanage centre in Tsumeb with some friends, and we went to town, where we passed by a hotel where they were gambling. I had never gambled in my whole life but I had two dollars and I put it into the gambling machine and I won two thousand dollars.
MYD: Wow.
TH: It was wow, but it caused a bit of commotion and conflict with my friends. They wanted us to celebrate that money and you know, buy them drinks and those things. It was not an easy decision, but we had to part ways because I had to pay for my school fees.
I finished Grade 12 and came to Windhoek to study at Polytech in 2011. This was the hardest thing I could ever imagine. Initially I lived with some family relatives, but I was chased out of the house and was homeless in Windhoek for about a month. I used to sleep at the service station. I passed by that service station on my way here. It’s very, very emotional for me.
MYD: I’m sure. What was that like?
TH: It was a very traumatic situation. I look at the street kids now – I was in their shoes. It’s not an easy thing. I didn’t have transport money. I had to walk to Polytech and back. But I was determined.
Whenever I walked to school, I always found those guys at the robots, the men who used to sell vetkoek, and they were my motivation and inspiration.
When I looked at those guys, they inspired me. Even when it’s rainy, they are selling newspapers, they have to make means. It is a hard struggle, but you should never give up, there is always a way out.
MYD: So after you finished tertiary education, you started your own business. Then you started sharing your story with others to motivate people and you wrote your book, The Story of Hope. What inspired you to say, “I’m going to write my story down”?
TH: When you write a book, it’s something that will last for generations. They will always reflect back and read, and they will be inspired. Also, I love writing. I’m passionate about writing and personal development. I want to make an impact in the next person’s life and I think, if they happen to read my book, they can be inspired. MYD: What was it like, the process of writing this book and then publishing it?
TH: It was not easy. People believe that when you write a book, it’s just about typing the words on the computer then you go to print. But it’s a process and it’s also very expensive. I took it upon myself and I wrote the book – there were no funds. I was not sponsored, I had to sponsor myself. It’s a long process. It requires a lot of energy, passion, talent. You’ll be turned down many times, but you need to keep yourself up.
MYD: How did you deal with the rejection?
TH: When I receive an email that my book has been turned down, I don’t take rejection as the end. I believe that for
every one person that rejects me, there are four or five people who are willing to give me a chance.
You can receive a hundred no’s, but if God says yes, then obviously no one will change that fact.
MYD: What has the response been to The Story Of Hope? I believe even our First Lady has given you feedback?
TH: Yes, the First Lady Monica Geingos loved the book. Immediately after she read the book, she responded – because the book talks about the current sufferings or the aspects that are currently going in our society now. I also provided practical steps that people can take if they are going through challenges, because so many people are talented out there but they don’t know which door to knock on or where to go.
MYD: Our series theme is “Spend a Moment in my Reality”. How important do you think compassion is?
TH: Compassion is a broad aspect but I think as a nation, if we start caring for one another, if we start rendering service and caring for one another, we will be able to prosper. If we are compassionate about helping the next person, I don’t think we will have people suffering, because we are all talented in different ways.
MYD: And how would your life have been different if there were more people willing to help you in those difficult moments?
TH: I believe the struggle I went through taught me so many lessons. I used to reflect back on what could have happened if I was from a fancy family or a rich family or had everything I needed. I wouldn’t be sharing a story to inspire the next person out there.
I believe my struggle was meant to be to teach a lesson to the next person: it’s not the end of the road when someone is suffering. They will be able to get up one day.
MYD: Absolutely. It’s a funny thing about life that so often challenges are actually opportunities for us to learn or to grow, but when we in our challenges we don’t like it. None of us like to go through struggles, but it could just be that this is the greatest gift – a blessing for your life because it’s going to teach you something.
TH: Most definitely. I believe you won’t grow if you don’t have challenges. You will be too reluctant and too soft, and then you won’t even think of alternative solutions for the nation.
MYD: What would you say are some of the solutions we need for our nation to grow?
TH: I believe Namibian youth have so much potential. They’ve got so much talent and they have a lot to offer, but some of them are a bit reluctant. I think our education system
teaches us to go to university, get a degree and start working for someone, which is not creating solutions. A solution is to be a creator of employment.
MYD: What would you say has been the highlight of your life so far?
TH: I’ve got plenty. Graduating was one of my best highlights. Launching my book really brought so much happiness to my life. I even shed tears during the launch. It’s a great achievement for me to have a book out there in the market that’s not just there for the sake of selling but for transforming lives and making an impact.
MYD: For anybody out there going through the lowest part of their life, like you went through, what would your advice be?
TH: Because I’m a very Christian person, I would give them Philippians 4:13. It reads, “I can do all things through Christ.” God has given us tools so that whatever challenge you might face, He will not neglect you. He is there for you. He will uplift you and you’ll be a great person. You just need to be focused. You need to be determined. You need to be very, very strategic and have a vision that in two, three years’ time, this is what I want to achieve. One of my mottos when I wake up is that I believe every day is a blessing. The fact that I’m able to get up from bed is a blessing on its own. I am privileged that I can achieve more than the people who are struggling. I just recently visited the state hospital. You see so many people there that are going through difficulties – some are on breathing apparatus. You are privileged. Focus on the good things – this is what I’m passionate about, this is what brings happiness in my life. Troubles like relationship troubles or financial troubles, everything in life passes. It won’t stay the same forever.
Tuhafeni’s follow-up book, Failure is Not an Option, was published in 2019. Both books are available at The Book Den in Windhoek, Radical Book Store in Windhoek West, and at Hafeni Restaurant in Walvis Bay.
