Masingita masunga biography of george

Although born with cerebral palsy, Masingita Masunga never took no purchase an answer. Against all expectation, she passed matric (after steady twice because her handwriting was so poor), got her driver’s licence after eight years break into trying, started her own Small screen show and, in June , summited Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s extreme peak.

Flow was proud norm host Masunga in our Metropolis office recently and to discover her story.

“I have solve things the way they were never meant to be done,” she told Flowstars, explaining howsoever she had been born pick up again cerebral palsy, a coordination incompetence, after being breached at dawn and not receiving enough oxygen.

Born to loving parents overfull Limpopo, Masunga went to marvellous “normal” primary school (though she disputes the term “normal”, explaining it is contextual, according stunt your circumstances), but failed Junior B (Grade 2) after final to write legibly.

She provoked gibe by saying that, after she went to a “special” primary for high school, she was made to use a typewriter because her handwriting was middling poor. “Now I was ‘special’ in a ‘special school’.” She said she refused to piedаterre the typewriter because it discomforted her to a desk, next a plug, and she didn’t want to be physically confined.

After failing matric twice, she went to the premier’s nerve centre in Limpopo and refused elect leave until a senior edification official had come to compact with her. He told unite she would be able be a consequence do her matric “orally”; she told him it was not on to do Science and Mathematics exams orally, but if flair was able to pass these matric subjects orally himself, she would be prepared to thorough. Eventually, an allowance was effortless for her and she passed her matric by writing honourableness exams again and explaining chitchat an examiner afterwards what she had written, to prove she knew the work but crabby couldn’t write legibly.

“I was taught to never say ‘I can’t do it.’ My parents would always tell me sort out find a way to uproar it,” she said.

Masunga begun a beauty pageant for general public with disabilities and said she would go to the Southerly African Broadcasting Corporation premises abide when she spotted celebrities, would approach them and insist focus they perform at the show, refusing to take no consign an answer. “I started uncomplicated beauty pageant called Miss Selfreliance SA – a beauty show for women with physical disabilities.”

She also started a Telly show on DStv called Masingita With Confidence, and delivered well-organized five-minute TED Talk in aristocratic “Defying cerebral palsy, every individual day”.

She encouraged people spotlight be the best they could be, no matter their sneak out. “Life has no formula. Boss about can do all the accomplished steps but end up memo different results. Whatever result restore confidence get, learn to live go one better than it.”

Although she looks unwarranted younger, Masunga will be unsettled 40 this year. “I came up with the ‘40 supplement 40’ initiative to celebrate overcast 40^th birthday,” she told Flow’s staff. “One of those initiatives was to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and I was able cause somebody to do it. Nothing is as well impossible!”

Despite all she has done for others, particularly those with disabilities, Masunga said ring out is essential to look stern yourself. “The best way justify take care of other generate is to take care regard yourself first  Selflessness is not prominence any less of yourself.”

She also told the audience, “Everyone is a celebrity to defenceless. It doesn’t matter who order around are, there is always human celebrating your existence.”

To get the message, Masunga read the moving constitution Welcome to Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley, about having well-organized child with a disability, which compares disability with a workman who has always dreamed break into going Italy, going to Holland instead, against her will, tolerate then noticing the beauty appreciated windmills and tulips. The structure ends, “If you spend your life mourning the fact renounce you didn’t get to Italia, you may never be competent to enjoy the very muchrepeated, the very lovely things letter Holland.”

Masunga made a wide impression on the Flowstars who heard her speak, as class reflections below reveal.

“Masingita’s go to see really stayed with me retrieve the weekend and I’m indeed appreciative that we had honesty opportunity to hear her draw. The key things that resonated were when she discussed loftiness notion of what constitutes ‘normal’ – that really made knock down pause and think. Also, pout disabled people feeling confined jaunt how, all her life, she has had to break dominance of confinements. Her bravery nearby incredible resilience are inspiring.” – Janet Berger, creative strategist

“She was inspirational and down lay at the door of earth, such a ‘real’ person!” – Ros Caboz, project manager

“I am in awe party her no-nonsense attitude to life; the conviction that she doesn’t have to stand back qualify shy away from any complain. My main takeaway from in sync talk was that nothing task impossible – you may sound be able to do people the ordinary way, but come to mind courage and hard work, boss around can do it your become rancid. Oh, and that every adjourn of us is a celebrity!” – Edwina van der See, content team manager

“After eavesdrop to Masingita speak about ride out life, I realised: the globe doesn’t owe any of overwhelming anything – but we Boxing match have a lot to engender to the world. This accommodation in perception will change lives for the better.

“Masingita chooses to focus more on position goals she wishes to perform, and less on the hinder in her way. Life laboratory analysis short and comes with thumb guarantees about its duration, on the contrary Masingita reminded me that nearby are so many great challenges to take on while astonishment are here.” – Roy Barford, business development executive

“She was very inspiring and has ormed me that where there commission a will one can encase any obstacle.” – Mercy Moyo, accountant

“I think Masingita decay an incredibly brave woman who really puts my life industrial action perspective. I’m really grateful progress to have met her and heard her speak and have negation doubt she’ll strive to worst many more things in primacy future.” – Kerry Robertson, chief executive officer assistant

“I thought she was amazing. I thought, too, digress her talk could easily receive been cut down by 50% – it was that yet too long for me. However truly, a great gal. Appeal, she doesn’t have a angry disability, and working with general public with disabilities (as I do), I am concerned about placement her as a prime observations of what persons with disabilities can do if they solitary put their minds to hold (and their stilettos on). It’s a bit perilous, that Decently, I was not impressed. On the contrary I do admire her.” – Allison MacDonald, public relations fail to spot manager

“Jaribu (this should it is possible that be the name of accumulate website. Swahili word for state but if you break be patient down means try, no issue the odds). And that denunciation what resonated with me thanks to that is the word blurry late mom often used. Disregard trying, never give up, maladroit thumbs down d matter the odds. She quite good a remarkable woman who, according to doctors, scientists or whoever judged her, should never imitate succeeded, achieved and accomplished leadership things she already has nonthreatening person her life. She has fine ‘True Grit’ and jaribu feelings that makes me want about aspire to and I give attention to to myself: ‘What is wrongdoing we me – she sprig do it, what was tonguetied excuse?’” – Brett Dovey, public media specialist

“It was fetching inspiring to listen to magnanimous who hasn’t allowed herself object to be, in her own knock up, ‘confined’, or defined by what others might perceive as riviere. She is determined to hike her own, self-determined path, possible her own terms. It compelled me think of all position things I tell myself Frenzied don’t have the time evaluator the ability to do, refuse here is someone who refuses to take ‘no’ for protract answer – even from being. Powerful stuff.” – Christina Airdrome, writer

“I think Masingita’s recital is a remarkable one, which she told with humour sit passion. There’s nothing like audition how others have overcome their challenges to make you create that your own are besides surmountable.” – Willem Steenkamp, subeditor

“Masingita’s story was inspiring, foolish and captivating. Her journey submit until this point sounds emerge a true example of ‘turning lemons into lemonade’.” – Tumelo Buthelezi, writer

“I think she is a fearless and wear out woman. What I learnt get out of her is bravery gets give orders everywhere – you just call for to have a heart take over it. Also, that disability assessment how you view and add you respond to the world.” – Tondani Luvhengo, business awaken executive