At 31, Djaludi Bucyana has had his fair share of life’s trials and hustles. After losing most of his family in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, he dropped out of school to help his mother make ends meet. His first job was selling kerosene on the black market in his neighborhood.

Today, he is a senior driver/procurement officer for Conco, a South African high voltage electricity company based in Kigali. However, it was not an easy road to walk, he told Moses Opobo.

How did you land the job at Conco?

I was working at The Manor Hotel as a valet/porter. One day the manager of Conco came to the hotel as a guest, and after dealing with me, he came and told me that he had liked my confidence, smartness, discipline, and trustworthiness.

What was your job description at The Manor Hotel?

A valet parks cars for guests at a hotel, while a porter carries their luggage and shows them around. I was the head valet, and up to now I still work with The Manor Hotel on part time basis whenever my bosses at Conco are on leave.

While at the hotel I also did many different jobs. I was a purchasing officer for about eight months. I used to fill any post that fell vacant until a new employee was hired. I also did airport pickups for guests, but my main job was that of valet.

Tell us about your work at Conco

I am a senior driver and also do procurement for the company. I signed a contract of 13 months with the company, and so far I have spent six months on the job.

You started off by selling kerosene on the street. What happened between then and now?

In 2003 I went to Johannesburg, South Africa to try out my luck after I heard that life there was easier. There, I worked in a street market selling belts, winter caps and gloves, and socks. At one point I also worked as a hair dresser.

However, I lived there for only one year, and decided to return home due to the insecurity and widespread shootings that happened every day. With memories of the Genocide still fresh in my mind, I could not handle life in Johannesburg, so I returned home.

Coming back, I tried to do anything that could bring me a little money. I even went as far as Burundi, where I opened a hair salon and partnered with some locals, but I later pulled out after being cheated, so I packed my bags and headed to Tanzania, where I ventured into the car import business.

As a self-made man; what advice do you have for fellow youth?

Avoid drugs and embrace a culture of reading. They should say no to drugs and short term excitement, and first build a foundation for the future. They should develop love and respect for work, and confidence is also important.

I remember I started with very poor English and communication skills, yet they are very important in the hospitality sector, but I was positive and confident and in the end I improved.

I love my job at Conco because it gives me my livelihood. I was issued with a company car, a Toyota Rav 4 silver edition that will be mine once my contract ends this year.

I started work at The Manor Hotel while young and single, but now I’m a married man with children. Last year, I and my wife were blessed with triplets, but unfortunately one of them passed on, leaving us with two, a girl and a boy. With my small savings I’ve managed to buy a small house in Biryogo, Nyamirambo, and whenever I get some little money, I always try to improve it.