Resilience. Is it something you’re born with, or something you can develop? Many of us discover our inner strength when confronted with an enormous challenge. In the face of loss and trauma, William Baartman, Hadijah Ssekulima, and Ronald Snippert have shown immense fortitude. Not only have they fought through hardship, they are now giving back to others.
William Baartman’s life changed forever when a petrol bomb was thrown into his house. Only three years old at the time, the fire killed his younger sister and left him with 75% burns across his body. Bullied as a result, Baartman chose to stay away from the public. But now he’s using his experience to inspire young survivors like him. “I go back to the hospital and I teach children that they can do anything,” Baartman says.
Hadijah Ssekulima learnt how much she was capable of after her husband deserted her. She left her home country of Uganda and came to South Africa with three children in tow. To support her family, Ssekulima gradually built up a laundry business. But two years later, thieves broke in and stole her equipment. Although she had to start again, she persevered to new success and now employs and empowers other women. “I didn’t know my strength until I had no choice but to be strong,” Ssekulima says.
New resolve can be born out of adversity. When gang violence claimed the lives of two of Ronald Snippert’s sons, he could have responded with anger, fear, and hatred. Instead, he chose to spread a message of peace. Today, Snippert mediates between gangs in his neighbourhood, advocating for non-violence. “If I could change one life I think I’ve done my job,” he says.
Despite the struggles they’ve been through, Baartman, Ssekulima, and Snippert are linked by these common threads: their resilience and commitment to uplifting others. So don’t give up. You never know what you can overcome.
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