The Journey
To My Success

Robert Ponsian Mwombeki: "Success is everything
I have accomplished so far"

As a teenager, I found myself living with my grandparents in their home in a poor village in Tanzania. My parents had divorced and left the area. What I will describe below is a bit like a Hollywood movie script, like the ones made to thrill westerners and make them appreciate what they have been generously provided with. This is, however, my life to this day.

At the age of 14 I was left alone with my grandparents, helping at home in every way so that we could to survive. I walked 10 km every day to carry water from the river. Then, I went to the forest to collect firewood and, in the meantime, I went to school whenever I could find money. In Tanzania, not even public schools offer free education. You need to pay tuition fees to attend. If you do not have money, they expel you and when you pay them again, they accept you back.

 

I met Father Anastasios at a time in my life when I did not have money to pay for tuition, so I was looking for a job that would pay me to be able to go back to school. I was 14 years old when a missionary group, led by Archimandrite Anastasios, bought a piece of land near my village to build a clinic. They were hiring workers so I left school for the construction site, so I could pay the tuition fees.

I remember Father Anastasios watching me carry dirt and asking me what I was doing there on a school day. I explained to him that I was not going to school because I could not afford the tuition fees so I got a job in the construction site to raise money in order to go back to school. He looked at me for a while and asked: "Do you like school? Do you want to return? I nodded and gave him information about tuition fees and procedures.

Without a second thought, he explained to me who he was, what he was doing there and how he could help me go back to school by paying the tuition fees through donations and sponsorships that the mission received for this very purpose.

My joy for going back to school was beyond words. I was grateful to this man and all I wanted was to do credit to him and thank him for his act of kindness. That's why I talked to him and told him what was going on regarding any difficulty or concern I had. I believe that when a person helps and supports you, you should keep them informed about what is happening to you, otherwise you will be fully responsible when something goes wrong.

By the time I completed my obligations, the night had fallen and since there was no electricity in the house there was no light. It was the only time of the day when everything was calm so I could study, but it wasn't possible because I could not see

As I mentioned in the beginning, my daily routine, apart from school, included carrying water and firewood. This meant that by the time I completed my obligations, the night had fallen and since there was no electricity in the house there was no light. "It was the only time of the day when everything was calm so I could study, but I could not because I could not see." When I spoke to Father Anastasios, he went down town and bought me an oil lamp so that I could study at night. Somehow the years passed and I realised that I was inclined to sciences. I liked biology, physics. I thought that I wanted to become a doctor so that I could, one day, return to my place and offer help to those in need. Or perhaps a civil engineer. To build houses, schools, hospitals and other vital facilities. In my country, these are essentially your choices if you want to study something and be really useful.

However, in the public schools of my country they do not teach sciences, because there are simply no teachers equipped with such knowledge. So if I wanted to continue, I had to enroll in a private school. Father Anastasios was positive again. He asked me to look for a good school that offered the subjects I wanted and not to worry about money.

I confess that there were times I was scared. But giving up was not an option. I knew very well from where I started and I knew where I wanted to go. "I could not give up everything and return to my village with nothing

I took entry exams, got accepted and attended this school for about 1.5 year, until I turned 18. Then came the national entry exams to a university. I attended a state university, in another area, which was unfortunately the centre of turmoil. During a single month, there were often clashes and unrest outside the university, on the streets, everywhere. The risks were too many and it was impossible to concentrate on studying with all that was happening.

It was an especially difficult period. I confess that there were times I was scared. But giving up was not an option. I knew very well from where I started and I knew where I wanted to go. I could not give up everything and return to my village with nothing. I patiently completed the first semester and then I discussed my concerns with Father Anastasios. He told me to find the university I wanted to go to and inform him so as to take care of the tuition fees. And so it was!

A few days later, I was on a bus travelling for 5 hours, to reach the university that would provide me with the degree I wanted. There, I found myself among wealthy classmates who were quite advanced. It was awkward at first, but I studied a lot and struggled to keep up and surpass them. And I did it. I successfully completed my studies with a very good grade fulfilling a life’s dream. You know, I'm the only one in my entire family who managed to go to school and then to university.

But I wanted to continue my studies. The degree did not seem enough to me. I spoke to Father Anastasios and expressed my desire for a master's degree. He asked me to send him my transcript to see how he could help me. A few days later, he informed me that I had been admitted to Frederick University in Cyprus, with a scholarship, to do my master’s degree. Not even in my wildest dreams!

When I began studying at Frederick I discovered a world full of opportunities. And I'm not referring to extreme or elusive things. I'm referring to simple things, such as the kindness and attitude of the instructors towards us

When I first came to the country, I realised, almost immediately, how different our cultures and temperaments are. Everything looked so different here. Much easier. In Cyprus, and in Europe in general, you take a lot of things for granted, as opposed to my own country. There are dozens of opportunities here that can help you improve yourself, make you better. And yet, many people do not see them or refuse to exploit them.

When I began studying at Frederick I discovered a world full of opportunities. And I'm not referring to extreme or elusive things. I'm referring to simple things, such as the kindness and attitude of the instructors towards us. They were willing to help us with our every need and they did not even hesitate to have lunch with us at the cafeteria. You will never see something like this in a school or university in my country. So, for me, the whole experience was a great opportunity to learn more. To become better.

When I finish my studies, I want to go back to my country and pass on everything I learned and experienced to the young people there. Only if young people become educated, learn things, study, will Africa finally become what it deserves to be

I finished my master's degree with honors. First of my class. I succeeded in being granted a PhD scholarship, with which I am continuing my studies.

When I finish my studies I want to go back to my country and pass on everything I learned and experienced to the young people there. To make their world a little bit better and help make our world a little bit better. Only if young people become educated, learn things, study, will Africa finally become what it deserves to be. It is a great feeling to achieve your goals and make your dreams come true, especially if you start from scratch. My own success is that I managed to be where I am today and to continue for more.