The Journey of My Life: My Roots, My Family, and the Path to Hameem S. Hamokssy Tech

📖 Content: In my first article, I talked about my tech journey, but today I want to take you back to the true foundation of my life—my parents. I am incredibly proud of the great work my parents did to get me here, and I will be grateful to them until the end of my life. The Origin of My Parents My father, Sufiyan Yasin, originally came from Mozambique. However, due to the war, he fled and eventually settled in Salima, Malawi. My mother, Sakina Mwamadi, also fled the same war from Mozambique, carrying her three children after her first marriage was broken up by the conflict. My two parents met in Salima, and it was there that their love was born. They had three children together, and I am their third child. Out of the six children my mother has in total, I am Hameem Sufiyan. The name you see me using, Hameem S., the "S" stands for Suphian. My nickname, Hamokssy, is a creative mix of my father’s and mother’s names, and I added "Tech" because of the technology skills I possess today. The Three Brothers: Umar, Daud, and Myself Among our mother’s six children, we are split into two groups. We are three brothers born to my father (her second husband), while the other three siblings are from her first marriage before the war. Between us three: My first brother is Umar Suphian (born Aug 10, 1990). My second brother is Daud Suphian (born Apr 12, 1993). The last born is myself, Hameem Suphian (born Aug 13, 1998). Education and Umar's Hard Work (Salima) My eldest brother, Umar, has always been a hardworking man, and I thank him deeply. I remember during my school years around 2011, he was working at a Mosque in Kachulu, Salima. After I left school at Salima Islamic Center, he took me under his wing. Wherever his work took him, he cared for me. I used to spend my holidays at his place in Kachulu, and he would support me from the salary he received at the center where he was stationed. I stayed with him through 2014 after leaving school, until he eventually left that job due to workplace challenges. The Move to Mangochi and Educational Struggles At that time, I was in Mangochi (my mother's home area) because I wanted to continue my education at Umar Farook Center. However, God had other plans, and I returned home to Salima. During this period, Umar was seeking work in Mangochi. After I returned to Salima, he successfully started a job there from 2015 until mid-2020. In 2018, after Ramadan, I went to live with him in Mangochi from early 2018 to early 2019, usually returning to Salima during the rainy season. I begged him to help me get back into school and Madrassah. When full enrollment proved difficult, I told him, "At least just pay my school fees." We agreed, and I started Form 1 at Ulama Secondary School in Mangochi. Unfortunately, due to various hardships, he couldn't finish paying the fees, and I had to drop out in Form 1. Despite this, he did his best to help me. Seeing that I had no other path there, I returned to my parents in Salima. Daud’s Journey to South Africa (2018) While I was in Mangochi, my second brother, Daud, processed his passport and left for South Africa in September 2018. I am very grateful to my eldest brother, Umar, because I lived with him until Daud reached South Africa. They worked together until their jobs ended due to common workplace circumstances. While in South Africa, Daud worked hard to support our family. He would send money, and I was the one responsible for collecting it and giving it to our parents to run the household, especially during the hunger seasons of those years. He even sent three phones for me, my mother, and my father. At this time, Umar was standing on his own with his job in Mangochi. Daud also sent me Bluetooth headsets, which meant a lot to me as a young man. I lived a life of depending on my elder brothers. The Journey to South Africa (2021) In January or February 2021, I received a call from a friend, Abdu Rasheed from Balaka (Ulongwe), who was already in South Africa. We had met when he was a helper at my brother's house in Mangochi; he saw me like a brother. After his father called him to SA in 2018, he remembered me after two years and offered to help me move there. On the day of my departure, the same vehicle that brought Umar back from Mangochi (after his job ended) was the one that took me from Salima to Mangochi. I stayed with a friend in Mangochi who worked at a Mosque like my brother, and on February 15, 2021, I began my journey to SA. After seven days on the road, I arrived in Hillbrow, South Africa, on February 21. Work Life in SA and Finding Tech Life in SA wasn't easy at first. I worked in a supermarket for a week and five days. After six days of being jobless, I found work in a clothing shop owned by an Indian man for 4-5 months. I then worked for a Nigerian woman for about a year, followed by a year in small shops at Boxer. I am grateful because my female boss there really liked me. Later, I found work at a small Mosque in Devilias. During this time, my first brother, Umar, was also in SA working at the Waterfall Islamic Institute in Midrand, Woodmead. He would visit me often as we lived close by. In 2023, after Ramadan, I left the Mosque job, and Umar helped me find work in Woodmead where he was based. I started in June 2023. Umar’s job ended in January 2026, and he returned to Malawi in February. Currently, my brother Daud and I are still working here as of March 2026. Between 2024 and 2025, I met a friend named Cycondy Wisiki, who taught me computer skills and introduced me to the world of TECH. From his mentorship, I continued to teach myself and build the skills I have today. In the next story, I will post a photo of Cycondy Wisiki as I explain the story of my other three siblings (two brothers and one sister) from my mother’s first marriage.