Teach Middle East Magazine May-June 2019 Issue 5 Volume 6 | Page 32

Featured Teacher What is your hope for young people in Africa and globally? What advice do you have for fellow teachers? With Africa, I can say there is unlimited untapped potential. The young people simply need to believe that they can do a lot. They need to know that the only limit to achieving their dreams is themselves. Yes, there are challenges but if they work hard and persevere they have the potential to do great things, they can become famous scientists or anything they wish. I stress this point with my young people because when I was much younger I did not realise the amount of potential I had and so I wasted a lot of time. I encourage my fellow teachers to have passion for your profession. Things may not be good at the moment but the work that you are doing will last for generations to come. Think about the students above all else. Do not think so much about the salary as this may discourage you. The work of a teacher should be celebrated as it is a noble profession. I strongly believe that we teachers hold the answers to many of the situations the world is currently facing. Education uplifts and changes people and we as teachers play a great part in this. My hope for young people across the world is that they take advantage of all the opportunities presented to them. When I was younger I did not have some of the things that are available now. Young people globally need to really harness technology and use it for the greater good of mankind. My wish for young people everywhere is that they enjoy learning and discovering. The world is theirs to explore and I really want them to explore it. I implore young people to work hard, there is a lot they can do but they have to be willing to work hard in order to achieve. What plans do you have after winning the Global Teacher Prize 2019? 32 | May - Jun 2019 | | My plan is to use this prize as a platform to help to improve the state of education in my country and indeed the world. I hope to make my school a model school and equip it with great resources for the benefit of the students, the teachers, the wider community and even other schools. I hope to work at lifting the status of teachers in the world. I also wish to continue my work in the local community by working with community Class Time members, teaching gardening and sustainable farming because food insecurity continues to be a problem. When you are not working, what do you enjoy doing to relax? When I am not teaching, I enjoy quiet meditation and prayers as well as reading. I like jogging and swimming to keep fit. I am also an artist and so in my free time I draw and paint. In the past I have earned extra money from my painting and drawing.