My name is Tsholofelo Gaborokwe, I am 20 years old. I was born in Northern Cape (Kuruman). I live in Kanana Orkney 5195 extension 3. I am living with my family which are my father, mother, two little brothers and my little baby. I started primary school at the age of seven years in 2001 at Kuruman, then in 2002 I went to Mafikeng (the capital city of North West province). Things didn’t go well, and then I came to Kanana to do grade 3 at Selang Thuto primary school in 2003. I completed my primary studies there. I used to dream when I was in primary level, that is why when I went to secondary level I chose science subjects. I attended school at Thuto Tsebo secondary school, when I was in matric I have realized that I cannot be a doctor type because of my performance.I decide to go for nursing because really I liked working with people, I wanted to change people’s life and safe their lives. My silly mistake that I have made is that I didn’t apply early to any institution when the results came out. It was too late to apply. The universities were full so I had to stay at home doing nothing only because I doubted myself.
Future outlooks
After matric I thought it was over with my life and career. I didn’t think of any career except for nursing not until I became an emergency manager student. I am very positive about this course and I am willing to study further and take this course as my future career. I can’t wait to be a qualified emergency manager. I am willing to work hard and get my associated degree at the end of the course... oh God please help me. I see myself going places, country by country, saving people’s lives and making a difference to their lives. I want my country to be proud of me, more especially Kanana Township. I want to change my family’s life from worse to better and I can only achieve in life when I am dedicated, believe in myself and also associate myself with people of a good quality for it is better to be alone than in bad company because change will not come if we wait for other people or some other time. We are the changes that we seek.
Family life
We are a very united family, everything we do, we do it together and we involve each other. When there is a problem we come, sit down and solve the problem. We love, respect, care and trust each other. Those four words keep my family stable and going. Before we eat as a family there is a little prayer we do to thank God for everything he has done to our lives and blesses the food we received and hands that prepared meal. Even if we are close together, we have our own differences and choices, styles and favorites e.g. different food, music, hobbies and movies. Sometimes when I am commanded to do something I am not happy with, I just accept it.
Learning about WDMCC
Being in World Disaster Management Community College (WDMCC) is a very good opportunity for the people who are disadvantaged like those who couldn’t further their studies. When my principal called me, I was wondering what kind of college is that, he told me that there is a college that will take place here in Kanana and it is an online course, everything that I will be doing is online like; tests, assignments and so on and we will be focusing on disaster. I was very excited when I heard that and I didn’t hesitate and I told my principal, Mr. Maloka, that Sir, I am interested and I am definitely going to take this course. When I got home, I thanked God for giving me this opportunity. I believed in this college and indeed there is a progress. I remember the first meeting at Matlhaleng Secondary School, all the principals of Kanana secondary school, KRTC members, Mrs. Jan Paschal, Mrs. Kay Goss, Mr. Dlamini, other members of department of education and the students. We introduced ourselves and told our thoughts about this college. Mrs. Jan and Mrs. Kay explained to us about WDMCC and Every Child Is Ours.
Challenges
The problem I have experienced was that I didn’t know anything about this course. The thing that frustrated me most was that I didn’t know how to use computer, but Mr. Landon taught me the skills and now I can do almost everything on the computer by myself. It took time for other students and I to be comfortable on the computer and it was hard to communicate with each other, but when time went on we got along and we even worked together very well. Mr. Landon’s accent was another problem. He was speaking very quickly and I had to pay attention so that I can get what he was saying, but after two weeks I was fine with the accent. The most challenging thing was the test that we wrote from FEMA because after writing them you don’t get the results, all you get is that 'your score was below and you can try again' or 'congratulations you have passed the test', but it is very exciting when you have passed the tests you feel very proud about it.
First Days
We started by receiving notes via e-mail, and we met as students and discuss notes by ourselves. White Semoisi, our coordinator was the one who was leading us, he was also the one who called the meetings and tell us what was going on. When time goes on we started losing hope because things were not happening like we expected, school was boring and there was no progress. Mr. Landon came and at least things got better because when he explained I understood him very well, then Dr. Zodwa Dlamini helped us too by buying us a printer. We were able to print and get some copies. Mr. Graig Carty helped us too and made things easier by bringing us four computers, things started to be more exciting. We are able to take FEMA online tests. We have got access to the internet and things are going very smooth and soft.
High lights
Creating my own family Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) was a very exciting moment of my life. I have never thought one day I could do such a thing even though I have struggled somewhere, somehow.With the help of Mr. Landon and other students I have managed to complete it. The thing that made me happy is that I have involved my family members too to know and understand what I was dealing with. Now we are prepared for any disaster that may occur. I have got copies of my family plan and I am willing to help others to make their own emergency family plans because helping them will build a resilient community. The creation of Kanana Secondary School EOP is still on progress. In the first meeting, we invited all the stakeholders and they were sharing all their thoughts with us, we chose students who will be the part of the plan. I wish all the schools could have their own EOP too for their safety, Kanana Secondary is very lucky to be the first school to have EOP.
Second Semester
Creation of our college blog was a very good thing because we write our thoughts about what is happening in our school. I have got my memory stick where I store all my work. Mr. Landon did a very good job and I thank you very much. I didn't know if it wasn't for him what I would have done. I now have my student card which contain my id numbers and my e-mail address. People will start to believe me when I say I am a student of WDMCC.
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