Nobody can deny the fact that life is an uphill battle and an adventure in its own right. By the very nature, as life is not a bed of roses, passing through many ups and downs is mandatory and inevitable.
No matter how hard one works, one does not know what the future holds in store. However, life may end up turning out to be either rosy or rocky down the road.
But it is possible get out of the quagmire of poverty through hard work and determination.
More often than not, some people give up hope on life almost immediately and embark on cursing their luck as if it is aneverlasting problem that cannot be eradicated throughout their life. But some of them do not know the fact that they can triumph overpoverty through uphill struggle and continuous hard work. They do not know the fact that leading a meaningless life is the outcome of hard work.
The intended target of this writer is not to talk about the general concept of poverty but to familiarize the regular readers The Ethiopian Herald with the biography of Hawani Marga Gudina, who have changed her life for the better through hard work and dedication.
The Ethiopian Herald journalist had a short stay with Hawani with the purpose of familiarizing her personal and professional life. `
To begin with, Hawani Marga was born and raised in West Shewa,Inchini town. She is twenty four years old. She is the tenth child in the family. She has a heart of gold and always thinks of others before herself. She spared no effort to reach where she is at the present time. But the life challenges that she passed through were a bitter pill to swallow.
In the same way, life was harrowing for her. Poverty was shackling her hands and feet over and over again. But she did not give up hope except struggling with life challenges.
As destiny would have it, Hawani’s father went to meet his maker, while she was a toddler. This was a big blow to her family. She did not know what she had to do. At a loss how to act, she came to Addis Ababa and set in motion hunting for a job. She believes that no matter what the life challenges may be, one can achieve success through hard work with no trouble. This being the case, she embarked on working as a waitress in a certain cafe earning 150 Birr a month.
Though Hawani made an effort day in and day out to pursue her education, she could not materialize her dream. But she did not give up hope. She kept on working around the clock every so often with the motto never say die. She did not give a hoot to what people think and do to darken her future. She was not a nervous wreck. She did not count on anyone. By nature she gives credit where credit is due.
Be that as it may, she kept on working like a dog for long hours and saving money from her earnings. At that specific juncture, she did not have a taste in fashion like her age mates except working day in and day out by the sweat of her brow with the intention of making ends meet and making her bread buttered well.
Having worked as a waitress for more than nine years, she made up her mind to run her own business. In the course of time, four years ago Hawani opened her own restaurant renting a house for 12,000 Birr a month. At this moment in time, she has opened the second branch in the heart of Arat Kilo around Tourist Hotel. The secret behind Hawani’s success story is her mother. It is needless to say, the restaurants are taking everybody by storm at this point in time.
Pertaining to her mother, Hawani said, “Though my mother was poor, she was showering me with excellent pieces of advice from time to time. She was constantly urging me to stand on my feet overcoming life challenges. She is the secret behind my success.”
Hawani’s mother is in charge of the first branch restaurant of her daughter. Besides, Hawani is giving her all for the business she is running at the present time. She has already created job opportunities for more than twenty youths only in the second branch restaurant. She is working hand-in-glove with the employees.
Hawani said relating to the relation she had with her employees, “I encourage them day in and day out to save money and change their lives for the better. Apart from sweet talking them to put aside money, I relate to them my life experience and the challenges I passed through to reach where I am today. Furthermore, I advise them not to be addicted to alcohol and other related aspects. I want my employees to make somebody out of themselves down the road. Nothing shall be impossible with them if they diligently eke a living by the sweat of their brow. Above all I want them to take technical and vocational training”
She continued, “Saving plays a major role in changing the lives of anyone under the sun. Unless one saves money one cannot make a dream become a reality. What is more, unless one has a spending plan, one cannot harvest the fruit of success. By identifying my income and expense, I save my money regularly. I have a plan to open a third branch in the not distant future.”.
She is treating her customers like a king in addition to and providing them with quality and mouthwatering Ethiopian dishes. Hawani’s customers are on the rise at this instance. As a marketing strategy, if customers come in droves to her restaurant, say at lunch, she gladly gives them a discount on the dishes and drinks. ”
By her very nature, she does not degrade a job. At the time when she embarked on working as a waitress, her friends, who harbor scorn for labor, were constantly bursting into laughter. They were giving her the cold shoulder. As she was a determined person and visionary she kept on buckling down turning a blind eye to her friends’ gossip. She was sure that she would be somebody else tomorrow no matter what her friends’ gossip may be. She had helped two of her brothers to pursue university education. As a matter of fact, she had completed Grade eight.
Hawani also advices youngsters to distance themselves from peer pressure and be themselves in addition to spending their time fully at work and turning a blind eye to other pointless things.
She considers her business as her own friend. Being free from addiction has helped Hawani actualize her dreams and catalyze the progress of her business.
At daybreak she goes shopping to purchase all the necessary items for the restaurant. The instant she returns home, she sets in motion preparing breakfast for customers. And later she begins preparing lunch for the restaurant business almost immediately.
The Ethiopian Herald July 7, 2019
BY ADDISALEM MULAT AND AMBO MEKASA
