Fresh out of high school, I had big dreams of furthering my studies, but reality hit hard NSFAS - hadn’t responded. I decided to take a gap year, unsure of where life would lead me. During that year, I got my first job at a crèche in my village. I was so broke that for the first half of 2023, I worked without even getting a stipend. Still, I kept going, believing that one day, something good would come from it.

Later that year, I joined Ikamva Youth in Mahikeng as a volunteer tutor. That’s where I discovered my passion for teaching and realised tutoring could actually be a way to earn an income. Many learners were under-resourced, but one day I met a learner from a more privileged background who attended school in town. She was struggling with Afrikaans and couldn’t always walk to the Ikamva branch, so I offered to tutor her online. She agreed to pay me a small fee, and just like that, my side hustle was born.

Fast-forward to now, I’m a live-in tutor in Leopard Park, one of the most prestigious estates in Mahikeng. I also tutor several other learners from the area online, following a proper schedule. I’m earning an income doing something I love, and I’ve built a reputation that opens even more doors.

What started as an unpaid job at a crèche has turned into a career that’s changing my life. Tutoring has not only given me financial independence but also the joy of making a difference in learners’ lives. This side hustle taught me that sometimes your breakthrough comes from saying “yes” to small beginnings.

By Kgathliso Mokgojwa