17 Aug 2021

While some business magnates were born with a silver spoon, some started from little or nothing.

One of the self-made is owner of Golden Faith English Medium School in Letlhakeng, the prolific Ms Wame Matsime.

Most would admit that growing up as an orphan is not easy, and the chances of making it in life being slim due to lack of parental guidance especially given that family setups have changed. 

Though growing up without parents has been the toughest challenge in Ms Matsime’s life, she did not despair and put her trust in God to see her through her challenges.

Speaking in an interview recently Ms Matsime said her life would have been a rollercoaster had God not intervened and gave her direction to achieve her dreams. 

Growing up in her home village, Kanye there was an Indian native who helped people with different personal issues including assisting with academic pursuance or business start-up.

“I approached the man and requested for assistance and my desire at the time was to go and study in the United Kingdom but then I was not sure if I wanted to go back to school.”

Ms Matsime said she had second thoughts about school and went back to the man and told him about her desire to open a pre-school and to her shock the man supported her especially that she decided to do something that she loved as he saw great potential in her.

She had nothing, not even a dime to her name but believed God that the stranger would assist her to realise her dream.

Initially she had planned to start a pre-school in Moshaneng, in the outskirts of Kanye but that did not materialise.

She had hoped to open doors for first intake in 2014/15. 

After failing to secure funding from the possible helper she knew that it was upon her to see that her dream lives on. 

She paused and secured government scholarship to pursue Diploma in Accounting at GIPS, upon completion of her studies she worked at ZAC Construction and later at Med Rescue (MRI) Call Centre.

She used part of her small salary to purchase some of the needed equipment and materials to kick-start a fully-fledged pre-school.

Even while at school she used her allowance to buy materials for the school as a way of preparation prior to the commencement of the business.

Such as someone being led by the Spirit of God, she visited Letlhakeng and her spirit convicted her to start the business there.

In 2018 she started her business and remembered the Indian man who assisted her with rental and some equipment needed for the school.

Ms Matsime said the name of the school comes from having nothing but only golden faith and it was God through her faith that her dream became a reality.

She admitted that starting a business without funding can be difficult but she learnt the process and with the help of the local authorities she was able to set up the crèche.

Mr Matsime said nothing comes easy in life but through determination and commitment coupled with faith, she had to think on her feet to realise her dream.

She started with only three children charging P450, a minimal fee that hindered progress.

Undeterred by the situation, she started marketing the school and more parents began to come forth which saw a significant increase intake.

The Golden Faith school owner said in 2019 she applied for the Youth Development Fund,  which funded her to grow her business.

She said with the fund totaling P97 875 she purchased computers, tables, chairs including a movable swimming pool.

Ms Matsime she was looking forward to a great year, but COVID-19 stalled the business.

“I have to admit that ever since COVID-19 started, things were never the same again as it has been challenge after another, but it has been grace that sustained us.”

She said COVID-19 hit her hard as the numbers went down from 40 to 10 and matters were made worse by some of her former workers opening their own school and took 10 of her learners.

She added that she was not shaken about their behaviour as such was part of life.

Ms Matsime said some of the challenges the school experienced included late payments of school fees as some take months without paying despite taking their children to school.

She further said some parents failed to buy toiletry for their children as expected which posed to be a challenge.

Nevertheless, Ms Matsime said she remained hopeful for better days ahead, adding that running a school is no child’s play especially during these trying times.

 

She has great future plans for the school and her intention is to witness Golden Faith become an international school with primary and secondary levels.  ends