Sophy builds her success through the word of God and hard work
Sophy (Ravengani) Tshivhengwa learned at a young age people need to look out for each other
POLOKWANE – Sophy (Ravengani) Tshivhengwa grew up in a small rural village outside Polokwane, where she learned at a young age people need to look out for each other.
“I came from a very poor family, sometimes not even having food in the morning or for lunch. However, I went to school because I had to get my future set,” she tells Review.
After school she started her dream of going into the beauty world, but was discouraged from doing it and advised that she needed something strong to fall back on.
“My father told me he needed to be represented in the family, so my path changed. I started my national diploma in human resources. So after completion, I learned how to work with people, even if it was not my passion,” she explains.
Sophy says she was happy, but deep inside she had the urge that she needed more. Her need was soon answered, when she started looking at local schools that had the values of Christianity she wanted.
“I would gather the children in the village and look after them, ever since I was little. This was my passion,”
In 2013 she opened her first Anointed Trinity school. Just over five years down the line, she has six of the schools in and around the city.
“It is not something that came easy. Many times I wanted to give up, because starting a school is not something that happens over night and it takes a lot to get it done right,” she says.
She believes her secret to success is the concept that she puts God first in every decision she makes.
She dreams of taking her trinity concept to a tertiary level within five years. She would like to have a college led by God and feels they would make for the best future leaders of the country. She feels this is because they started with a foundation build around the fact that no person can succeed if God does not hold their hand, and show them the way.
When she is not hard at work she spends time with her family or reads stories that inspire her.
Her message to people who come from small villages, is they should go back once they’ve made themselves successful and give back. This is something she lives by in the school, as she asks learners from the schools and their parents to donate food and old clothing once a year to bless people in need.
