Owen Langdown, giving Namakwa youth a helping hand

Growing up in the dusty streets of Okiep, Owen Langdown knew he had to work hard to achieve success not only for himself but for the children of Namakwa.

Owen, now 27, is the middle child of five brothers. Raised by a single mother in challenging financial circumstances, he faced many hardships. When Owen went to university, he was certain he wanted to become a teacher. “I did not choose this career; it chose me. I remember coming to university from Okiep, it was my first time in Kimberley. I didn’t know anyone in this strange place which is now my home,” he recalls. He arrived on a Sunday with a few bags and hope in his heart that one day he would be a teacher. During registration, Owen encountered difficulties with his bursary. “I remember going back to my residence room that afternoon and starting to pray,” he says.

On his way to buy a bus ticket home from Shoprite, he was disheartened at the thought of returning home to face everyone who had hope for him. However, a long queue made him turn back. A security officer called him and informed him he was needed on campus. “Upon my arrival on campus, I realized this is what I want to do one day, make a difference in someone’s life through education. That is why I would choose higher education again and again.” In 2014, Owen was head boy of Okiep High School. In 2017, he graduated with his first qualification. In 2022, he received an Award of Excellence in Management from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Sol Plaatje University. That same year, he was appointed Chief Protocol Officer for the university’s graduation ceremonies. Owen wants to see more people from the rural Namakwa region pursuing higher education and standing out despite their circumstances. Part of his job at Sol Plaatje University involves student recruitment. “I aim to bring at least one student every year from the Namakwa region to Sol Plaatje,” he says. He visits schools in Namakwa, speaks to learners, and assists those interested in applying to Sol Plaatje University with their applications and career guidance.

Owen’s biggest supporters are his family and wife. “She reminds me that there is so much more in the future,” he says. The best advice he received was from his late Aunt Dawn, who said, “My kind, so lank jy nog kan leer, hou aan leer en moet nooit stop nie” “My child, as long as you can learn, keep learning and never stop” . Owen lives by this mantra, believing that education is a powerful way to journey through life. For Owen, his job has taught him that despite the effort you put in, people may not always appreciate it as you expect. However, it brings him great joy to be able to change someone’s life through education. A verse he holds dear is Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Seeing a child make a successful change that impacts not only their life but also the lives of those around them is something Owen values deeply. “Education is really something that will continue to open doors for you that you couldn’t even begin to imagine,” he says.

Owen’s biggest role model is himself. “I know people might frown upon this, but I believe if you are your biggest motivation, you will succeed in life,” he asserts. He had to overcome many struggles, including rising from the dusty streets of Okiep. “A small town has the power to hold you if you are not strong and wise enough,” he reflects. During his time at university, he dealt with financial difficulties, surviving on a monthly allowance of R200. The struggle was to make it work with what he had. Not everyone in Namakwa has financial support or guidance, but Owen believes that if you really want to change your life, you have to study hard. “There are people like Owen wanting to help you,” he concludes.

This story was originally published by Horison Gazette on 9 August 2024, written by Morag Coetzee.

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