Morbid fear turned to hope.
Samuel had lost all hope at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and its ravaging effects. He feared that it was going to be the end of his life because he was not gainfully employed, and his finances were nothing to write home about. The CoRe Programme gave him hope to look out for new opportunities amid difficulties.
Samuel Kofi Mensah is my name. I come from Kumasi but am currently in Accra. I am a beneficiary of e-mentoring through the Procurement and Supply Group of the CoRe Programme, which I got introduced to through a link shared on social media. Before the COVID-19 crisis began, I was already in my post-National Service period, having served in one of the most sensitive ministries of Ghana. The effect of the pandemic on me was indescribable to say the least because I’m not gainfully employed. My finances were badly hit. I had no money to rely on during the crisis. I resort to fervently praying that the president would not heed to calls from a section of the society to impose lockdown restrictions. I was gripped with morbid fear that it was going to be the end of my life. I did not have a dime on me to afford even an ‘olonka’ tin of gari (a local staple) let alone the sugar that should accompany the gari. I was totally clueless about which business venture I could engage in immediately, just to enable me to survive. As a matter of fact, there was no available escape route—I was left with myself and fate.
In my frantic attempts to find a window of escape from my difficulties, I chanced upon the CoRe Programme and, truth be told, it has given me hope and a new perspective about believing in myself. I now know that there is still a way out for me to thrive even in the face of the disruption. I yearned for the motivational messages that came through the CoRe group each morning and that carried me through the difficult days.
It has by all standards invaluably helped me in discovering myself. It has offered me the opportunity to re-think about what I could do in my own simple way and see the crisis not as a curse but a blessing in disguise that will lead me to self-discovery. Through CoRe, I have also developed some leadership skills. I was privileged to be the group lead for the Procurement and Supply Mentoring Group, where I have learnt how to bring people together for a common cause.
CoRe gave me the opportunity to regularly learn new things from an experienced mentor in the Procurement and Supply industry, which has, in turn, enabled me to put together relevant skillsets I need to advance.
I intend to share with others, within my circles, what I have learnt and use writing via a blog to reach many more people outside my sphere of influence.
I will surely apply to my life and work the key lessons from the CoRe Programme.