_He wrote manuscripts with 48 other kids in one room. Today he teaches in the US and studies for a PhD._
By Emily Setona
QwaQwa – In 2012, Kamohelo Mcdonald Mofokeng sat in an overcrowded classroom at Ipokelleng Secondary School in Mashaeng, 49 learners squeezed into one room, and wrote his first manuscript. People laughed.
Today, at 31, he teaches elementary school in Virginia, United States, has published four books, holds a Master’s degree, and is pursuing a doctorate.
“Where a person begins should never be confused with where that person is capable of going,” Mofokeng said in an exclusive interview with _The Guard_ from Virginia.
Growing up in Fouriesburg, Mofokeng said resources were scarce but ambition wasn’t.
Writing became his escape and his weapon. Even when classmates and adults dismissed his dreams, he kept going. “I did not accept that limitation,” he said.
That stubbornness took him to the University of the Free State, QwaQwa Campus, where he earned a Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching. He taught in South Africa before an opportunity took him across the Atlantic to teach in the US.
Today Mofokeng is three things at once:
* Educator: An elementary school teacher in Virginia.
* Author: 4 published books shaped by Mashaeng, poverty, faith, leadership and resilience.
* Doctoral student: Completing a PhD focused on literacy in the age of AI, social media and technology.
He studies how digital worlds are changing how children read and think.
“I am an educator who teaches children to read and understand the world through language, but I am also an author who uses language to examine society, identity, struggle, hope and human potential,” he said.
His job description is bigger than a classroom. Mofokeng is also: – Advisor to new international teachers in the US – Ambassador for the American College of Education – High-school girls’ soccer coach- After-school tutor.
“I hope to help young people develop confidence, discipline and a belief in their own potential,” he said.
Despite living thousands of kilometres away, Mofokeng says Fouriesburg and Mashaeng are still the centre of his story.
He’s traveled to London, Miami, the Bahamas and Namibia. But he keeps coming back to one truth.”
There are intelligent children in communities such as Mashaeng. There are future teachers, entrepreneurs, scientists, writers, engineers, doctors, artists and leaders sitting in ordinary classrooms right now,” he said.
His final word is for them: “A child’s postcode should not become a prophecy. A small beginning does not require a small ending.”
For Mofokeng, his journey isn’t just about personal success. It’s proof that ambition, education and perseverance can open doors far beyond what you can see from your classroom window.
