TAMBA DAUDA NARRATES THE STORY OF BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL CARPENTER FROM FAILURE
My name is Tamba Dauda. I am 42 years old. I am a carpenter. I was born and raised in Kono. I went to the Ansarul Primary School in Kono and later proceeded to the Islamic Secondary School in Kono. I sat for my first and second Ordinary Level exams, but I was not able to get my requirements to go to college. I later came to Freetown in 2001 to my uncle who sheltered me for over ten years. Within those years with my uncle, I decided to engage myself at a carpentry shop where I started learning how to make furniture.
For over ten years, I was trained to become a furniture designer by my uncle. I was with him until his demise. After the death of my uncle, I was left with no option but to tighten up my belt and start a new journey. Today, I am proud of being a carpenter.
I can still recall when I came to Freetown, my life was miserable because I was not able to get the requirement to gain admission to the university. Today, as a carpenter, I own a workshop where I am helping to train so many young people from different backgrounds. I have 22 young people in my workshop. I have benefited a lot from my job as a carpenter. I have built two houses here in Freetown and two in Kono. I have two university students, three secondary school students, and two primary pupils that I am currently catering for.
My advice to young people is – to stay focused on the present and don’t worry about the past or future. Do not let negative things from the past affect your present-day happiness. Whatever occurred in the past cannot be altered and you should let it go and move on.
BY MOHAMED AMARA GANDO
