"My name is Mbongiseni Nxumalo. I’m from Bulandzeni area, northern Hhohho region. In general I am a hard worker, I like learning new things, I’m an interesting character who likes joking around. I am a child of God who likes worshiping, especially in church. I like singing gospel music. If there is one thing I’m not- I’m not a failure. I believe and trust in God. There’s a lot I’ve been through and by God’s grace he’s given me the strength to keep going. Sometimes I wonder where I’d be without that.
We're 8 (siblings) from my mother. And I'm number 2. We lost our parents, I think I was around 15 years old, but I thank God that I managed to look after myself as well as assisting my brothers and sisters where needed. I came to Bulembu in 2015. I worked in different departments here in Bulembu. In 2020 I worked in Bulembu gardens. I was a leader where we farm using God's farming which is farming without the use of fertilizer.
There's one thing I will never forget my Pastor say, ’All those who want jobs, they get them, and once you get it, let that job be a ladder to your success’. And even the word of God emphasizes ‘Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will succeed’. (Proverbs 16:3)
In 2019 I got an opportunity to study teaching in an Eswatini college. I was studying part time as I was still working to support my college tuition. Around 2020, I met Nate and his family. We discussed about my studies, that was when he gave me an opportunity to use his Wi-Fi as it wasn't easy to deal with fees and data respectively. It's really made my studying a little bit easy. I completed at college in 2022. I graduated and received my primary teachers (elementary school) Diploma in the Math and Science department.
I am looking forward to furthering my studies in education. I like the idea of upgrading myself such that I can qualify to be a teacher in high school. If that isn’t possible, I'll just go for a degree which comes with more opportunities.
On the weekends and evenings I’m employed at Abide well, doing the job of collection of receipts, filling them and combining them - it is sort of record keeping. I’m still employed by Bulembu as an assistant teacher at primary school. The greatest part here is that there are things I was unable to do before but now with multiple jobs I make enough income to explore the opportunity of furthering my studies."
