EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WHICH YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
I am Captain Kgomotso Phatsima. I am the Founder and President of Dare To Dream. I am among the first female pilots to ever kiss the skies of Botswana with a military aircraft. I am the Author of "Born To Fly- The Story of a Female Military Pilot Rising in Africa". Before I begin our story allow me to quote the most amazing African legend of all time. Education is the engine of personal development and growth . It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of mines, that a child of a farm worker can become a president of a great nation " Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela I grew up from very humble beginings in a small village called Ledumadumane. A village which is a just a stone throw from Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. I used to walk barefoot to school and see aeroplanes passing over my mother's house and from an early young age I knew I was born to fly! I finished my high school with exceptionally flying colours because I knew where I wanted to go. Knowing where you are going is the first step of getting there. I was admitted in South Africa to study piloting, my family did not support my dream, they say it was too risky , way too out of the norm for a girl child from very humble beginnngs to fly aeroplanes! With a 45 year's old difference my mother lamented - we are too poor my child, during our time s girl child could never fly aeroplanes, Go to the university and become a teacher. We truly lived in completely different generations with my mother. Indéed I went to University of Botswana to study Bachelor of Education Science specialising in mathematics and physics. And ultimately became a teacher In April 2009 the Botswana Defence Force decided to enlist it's first female military pilots, and the requirements was any basic degree in science, that very degree that I was reluctant to pursue became a launching pad and a runway towards my flying career and this time around I knew nobody was going to stand on my way. I left home for a year long basic military training. My mother cried! But I told her no mother this is my dream, this is what resonate in my heart. This is what I want!
