Find Your Purpose and Build Your Future

Basil Mabasa (28) From N’wamatatani Village, Limpopo

1 Peter 4:10 “Each of us, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.” 

As a young person, it is important to continuously pause and reflect on our journey to see if we are using the talents that God gave us to the fullest. 6 years ago, I started my company Xisasi Group of Companies. The business was doing well and I was making all the right headlines. The world was looking at a great success story of a young village boy who is making a name for himself.  The first thing I would ask myself in the morning when I wake up was: Which client am I going to put a smile on their face today? I was loving the things I was doing and enjoying. To me this was what God wanted me to do. This was my purpose. 

 

Two years after the establishment of my business, I decided to start a foundation, Xisasi Cancer Foundation, which I named after my late mother who died because of Breast Cancer. When my mom passed away because of Cancer, I made a commitment with myself that I am going to start a cancer foundation one day when I am rich so that I can help more rural women. Three years down the line, I realized that I don’t have to be rich to start doing something for rural women. I used the little resources I have in registering a foundation and asking my friend to come and volunteer their time in running the foundation. I want to change the myth around Cancer. Many people think it’s a death sentence. And many are afraid to go and do different cancer diagnostic tests I started to be involved in community development issues. I started to be a champion in the lives of those less fortunate. I started to connect more with my people. I realized that the key to success in any person’s life is to always take your people up with you. 

 

And here I was now starting to realize my purpose in life. I started to focus more on doing good for my people than focusing on the business. Through the foundation, I have managed to help so many people who wouldn’t be able to help themselves. Now everything has changed. From being a businessman to a social entrepreneur. The first question I ask myself in the morning NOW is: Which person am I going to put a smile on their face today. 

While many Companies start their CSI initiatives when they have millions, I realized that giving back to the community is not about how much you have in the Bank, but how much you have to give from your heart. Social Entrepreneurship is the future. Young people need to use their Entrepreneurship skills to change the situations in their communities.

 

I go around high schools motivating young learners about different life challenges and how to overcome them. I grew up in abject poverty too but that never stopped me from doing great things all of my life. Many young people in let their background define their future. Everything happens for a reason and in most cases a Good Reason. I am also busy going to Hospital’s children’s wards and see what my company can do partnering with other big companies. Many Children’s wards in hospitals are not in a good state. And we try to organize for the walls to be painted, for toys and food to be donated. I have great love for children. And hence over the past 4 years I have helped over 60 community crèches in rural areas obtain external funding. I go into these centers and assist them with administration and help them put their houses in order in terms of financial management. 

I am a firm believer that I belong to my community. And if indeed one day God blesses me with wealth I don’t want to use my wealth to feed my ego, but to feed the hungry. It takes a village to raise a child, but it can take one bad parent to destroy a child. And hence we must do all we can to protect our children. Nelson Mandela had a great love for children and the best way we can remember him is to use the little that we have to help vulnerable children.

 

My company is still doing well with 10 subsidiaries. I am now also the General Secretary at Hlanganani Community Radio.

My Advice is: If things don’t go your way, go their way. I have found my purpose in life. I have successfully evolved from helping clients to helping the poor.