23 Jul 2020

Letting one’s physical condition dictate how they live their life is a hindrance to reaching one’s goals and so is playing the sympathy card.

The saying Rome was never a day’s project means anyone can achieve whatever they set out to do, with determination.

Such will power is what got Ms Keofe Dingalo of Dimajwe in Serowe North Constituency to where she is today.

The 50 year-old was born able bodied but tragedy befell her in 1991 when she was hit by a stroke that left her unable to walk.

Ms Dingalo now uses crutches to get around.

The year was bitter-sweet for her because she had just completed a bakery course at RIIC in Kanye through the Remote Area Dwellers Programme (RADP).

Not the one to indulge in self-pity, Ms Dingalo told BOPA she was not about to let her condition dictate how she was to lead her life, after all she had a family to feed.

The single mother of two said she was assisted with an oven to start her business and temporarily employed two others to help her.

“God has always been with me. In 2013 I was again assisted by the Social and community Development through the Poverty Eradication Programme. I benefited P3 000 to start my business,” she said.

Having started as a baker in Dimajwe, Ms Dingalo said she was now an employer, determined to improve her life.

“I was born a hardworking person and believe I am unique. Not many people can survive what I have,” she said.

Ms Dingalo used to cater for Ipelegeng workers before that was put on hold after lockdown. She now supplies Dimajwe primary with bread and  also sells to the community.

With her profit, she was able to buy small stock and extend her house, the place she operates from.

She employs a baker, an attendant and someone who collects fire woods for her when needed.

Like all other businesses, Ms Dingalo’s business was not spared by COVID-19 effects.

Ms Dingalo complained that people living with disability were not afforded the assistance they deserved.

“There should programmes tailor-made for people living with disabilities,” she said.

A devoted Christian, she said ‘Reading the gospel and listening to the word makes my journey in life easy and I feel fulfilled. ENDS