I grew up VERY POOR.
Here's the story....
Hi
My name is Abongdoh Maluyane Titus, and I am a young Cameroonian Entrepreneur and the founder of e-Mentor and Softech Ltd.
A few months ago, one of my greatest dreams came true.
I met a president.
And not only that.
He congratulated me for my work and handed me an award.
I made a two-part video on my YouTube channel about my experience receiving the Commonwealth SG Innovation Award, and my time in Kenya. You can watch them through the links below.
Part 1: (Travel Vlog) Receiving the Commonwealth SG's Innovation Award 2023 | Experience in Kenya
Part 2: I met the PRESIDENT OF KENYA | My GENUINE reaction.
But first, let me tell you about myself.
I was born into a low-income family of 8.
Neither of my parents has had a secondary school education.
For most of my life, my father was a taxi driver, and my mother, a farmer.
Growing up in a culture where my parents were always on the brink of being broke, the next meal was all I could ask for. Anything outside that was a luxury.
I had no exposure to the outside world, and consequently, no big dreams to dream of, aside from becoming a farmer, taxi driver, or juvenile delinquent. I experienced severe financial challenges navigating through secondary and high school, as my parents struggled to educate, feed, and shelter my 5 siblings and me with their low-income jobs.
I spent a significant part of my secondary school years out of the classroom as I was always sent home for not having completed my school fees.
As we speak, my academic records for the first academic term of Form 3 and Lower Sixth were never processed because I did not pay the tuition fee until the second term.
I never had textbooks, and when I did, it was only a handful - and usually when I was in an examination class. My parents just could not afford it.
I had no connections growing up. No “godfathers“ or external support.
I knew that if I wanted to get something, I had to get it MYSELF.
I will end the story here. If you want to read more, you can find it on my medium. I wrote it two years ago, so it may be a tad dated.
However, things started to change when I took complete responsibility for myself and my situation.
In the past two years, I have been to 4 African countries.
I have met world leaders including a president.
I have garnered recognition from both national and international news outlets, such as the Commonwealth blog, as well as Cameroon Actuel, Mimi Mefo, and Le Nouveau Cameroun
I own a Software company based in Rwanda.
And I have just started my work.
The reason I am sharing this story with you is not to elicit pity or admiration.
It’s because I think that somehow, you relate. We share a similar experience - in some way, shape, or form.
You have lived a difficult experience. You have endured pain, trauma, hurt, betrayal, and hardship.
You have had a hard life.
I completely understand you.
But things start to change when we decide to intentionally take absolute responsibility for ourselves, and our lives and destinies. To use our pain, and trauma as fuel to create the lives we want.
Last month, we organized a month-long mentorship program called the Career Accelerator, aimed at empowering young professionals on their career paths.
With our wealth of knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development, we helped mentees launch their career trajectories and embark on their quantum leaps.
Here’s what one of the mentees said:
The Career Accelerator Program is all about business!! This is one of the most remarkable modules covered that demystified the concept of a business. Breaking it down from the why to the how. It taught me to reflect not only on the guiding force behind owning a business but also on how to analyze the industry I am interested in, how to use the business model canvas to get a holistic perspective of a business, and how to drop a pitch in a way that leaves the audience wanting for more.
- Nyoh Jonathan Smith
After receiving numerous requests, we have decided to launch the second edition of the Career Accelerator Program (CAP), slated for March 2024.
If you are intentional about career growth, this is not the opportunity you want to miss. Reply to this email with the acronym “CAP“ to learn more and save a spot. Enrolment will close once the first 10 spots have been taken.
Don’t miss this.
Cheers!
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