Written by: Admin_SheEvo
“There comes a time in life, A time of death, grief and weeping, And the clock does not stop ticking, For life goes on”
My name is Anathi Kom. I am 22 years old. I am from Butterworth in the Eastern Cape province. I recently graduated from the University of Fort Hare with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Production. I am also the author of the poetry book titled The Tree Of Life. My book is about my life experiences. I come from a poor background. I lost my mother when I was 8 years old and was raised by my grandmother. I was sexually abused at the age of 18, and because of that, I conceived. I learned to forgive and let go so that I could love and care for my daughter. The book aims to heal souls, ignite hope, and teach people the importance of forgiving, letting go, and moving on.
What brought me to writing was finding solace and strength in it. I didn’t feel alone when I wrote on paper and expressed myself. For me, writing was a tool I used to pour out my sorrows and motivate myself through affirmations. Publishing wasn’t the aim initially. However, I entered a short story competition run by Published Afrika Magazine and won third place. The co-founder, Sukoluhle Ntokozo Mdlongwa, read my work and told me that their publishing company would sponsor me under their Adopt-An-Author Programme. They collected my poems and turned them into an anthology, believing that the poems tell stories and aim to heal, which reflect my life experiences.
I published the book when I was 19. On July 31, 2023, I was honored at the 6th African Global Honoree Author’s Awards 2023 for my book. I have also garnered numerous accolades as a result of my writing journey. I have also been part of many books because I have won competitions. An achievement I hold dear is that I was one of 66 poets from 50 different countries to be part of an international poetry book titled Tranquility.
I was awarded the Local Hero of 2023 for the work I do in my community. In 2024, I received a Leadership, Advocacy, and All-Rounder Award from This Girl Wins. I love involving myself in volunteering work; in varsity, I was a Wellness Leader for 2023/24, a Gender-Based unit called Prevention Unit Champion for 2023/24, and a volunteer at the Disability Unit.
I founded two initiatives: Women Empowering Women UFH and Growing Together in Writing UFH. Those programs not only helped me grow but also positively impacted the lives of my fellow students. The Women Empowering Women UFH group was a small initiative aimed at uniting female students at UFH. The group had over 500 participants from East London and Alice campus, where we supported each other with sanitary pads, food, clothes, and motivation. Growing Together In Writing UFH was a monthly poetry competition for UFH students passionate about writing and poetry. It aimed to enhance their literary skills and provide a platform for self-expression. It was a unique opportunity, the first of its kind at school.
What motivates me to volunteer is the saying “Umntu ngumntu ngabantu”. I believe that when we come together and help each other create positive change in our communities, we impact each other’s lives. Volunteering also helps individuals grow and develop by learning to work with others, being teachable, and developing listening skills. Overall, volunteering enables growth, development, learning, unlearning, and self-improvement. Volunteering has helped me discover my passion and capabilities. I’ve become passionate about giving without expecting anything in return. I’ve also realized I can work under pressure without pay, be consistent, and determined.
Volunteering has given me a voice to express my opinions and stand up for what I believe in.
Extract from poem titled: ‘Life Goes On’
Life Goes On ~ By Anathi Kom – Sheevolves.world – African
From: Anathi Kom
Socials: Facebook~ Anathi Kom
