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Watch the video above or get the full story below…
In Oprah Winfrey’s 25 years interviewing extraordinary people, she says that there was one woman who inspired her more than all the celebrities and famous men and women who sat on her couch.
That woman was Tererai Trent.
Tererai was born in a remote village in Zimbabwe and was raised in a mud hut with no electricity or running water at a time when education for girls was virtually unheard of.
Tererai lived her young life surrounded by poverty, raging war and hopelessness, but yet, she was determined to learn. She took her brother’s school books and taught herself to read and write out in the fields where she tended cattle. In fact, she became so proficient that she started doing her brother’s homework for him and when the teacher discovered this he asked her father to send her to school but instead her father married her off in exchange for a cow!! And although she was still a child herself and by the time she was 18 she was already a mother of three, she wouldn’t let her dream of learning die.
One day her own mother told her to write her dreams on a piece of paper and bury them in the ground where they could grow like a seed. So Tererai wrote on a scrap of paper that she would travel to America, earn three degrees and bring her gifts back to her village. She buried the paper in a piece of tin in the field where she watched the cattle graze. And through a “chance” meeting with a woman named Jo Luck who was president and CEO of Heifer International who recognized Tererai’s potential and paved the way for her come to America to get her education, Tererai did go on to receive three degrees: a bachelor’s, master’s and PhD.
Tererai achieved all her dreams and has now become a hero to the women of her country. In fact, on one of her most inspiring shows ever, Oprah awarded Tererai $1.5 million dollars to go back and build schools in her area of Zimbabwe and change the course of destiny for thousands of African girls.
If you have a dream, know that it is “tinogona” which in Tererai’s native language means achievable. Along with the dream, you were given everything you need to make it come true. Whether you bury your dreams in a piece of tin like Tererai or simply in your heart, those dreams are quietly germinating and with your love and belief, they will sprout at the perfect time.
Wishing you overflowing miracles and dreams coming true.
Inspired by Tererai’s story? Please share a comment below…
Good illustration of commitment zeal and enthusiasm
A total inspiration for sure!!
I wanted to help abused people, emotionally, sexually, physically , but I did not believe that it all started with me and I uncover myself from the very abuses, by not identifying them as being personal, but that they are unfolding my dream. Scary but fun. I had to grow up.
What an amazingly miracle in Tererai’s life and what a beautiful, compassionate gift from Oprah. Love and Blessings to both of you on all your days, Elaine
Dearest Debra & Marci,
Thank you for sharing this story and reminder of the power of our dreams. With all the hustle and bustle of daily life and taking care of other it’s so easy to put our dreams aside and forget their power. But throughout my life every time I’ve had a deep powerful ( but also seemingly impossible) dream and buried it deep in my heart and soul, it has manifested in ways unimaginable.
Thank you both for the important work you do and the invaluable reminders you give us of the power each of us has to manifest an incredible life. Love.
Thanks dearest sista….It has been one of my life’s greatest joys to be by your side as you made your dreams come true. Love you! xoxo debsue
Great Inspiring story! Thanks for sharing!
I hope my miracle comes soon I am ready for my life changing opportunity!
This was an inspirational story that I very much needed to read. I have hope now!
Wow! What a wonderful inspirational story! wondering if Terarai is still alive and where she is today? I would love to meet her! Thanks for sharing!!! With Love and so many Blessings to all!
Thank-you for sharing this inspiring story. My dream is that we all remember the brilliant light that we all are – underneath all the layers of conditioning, fears, and forgetting. And that we have the courage to stand up and own and be that light – to be the big candle for others to re-ignite their light by.
Love you guys – for owning and radiating your bright and beautiful lights
This is a beautiful and amazing story on how what we dream of, do come true as it was for Tererai. As the saying goes “What Mind can conceive and believe it can achieve” but we have to take the necessary actions as Tererai did then there comes others like her mother, then, Jo Luck and Oprah in support of her dream. Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story. May God bless you and your readers.
Beautiful and inspiring story. Makes me want to dream more and put those dreams into action. thankyou Annie
I have just read the inspiring book Tererai wrote. She is such a wonderful role model.
I wrote out my dream and buried it and it came true.
I have a dream that I will be able to unify all I have learned and am still uncovering in natural healing, and enable people to understand the way to live healthy harmonious lives with deep reverence for the wonder of life and rekindle love for the planet ,plants sunlight that sustains us. I’m working on it,just need to speed through. Thank you for your lovely inspirations
thank u for sharing the inspirational story.We can all make our dreams come true no matter where we are right now.Dream BIG
Very inspiring one.
I know this story but it’s always great to hear again!
Wow!:) Tks for sharing this inspiring story!:) My dream is to help as many people as I can to heal their childhood traumas, so they can be the brilliant beings they were meant to be, beyond the fears, shame, limiting, self-destructive believes, etc.And- that way we will heal and care MORE about our Earth, too. MY other dream is to make my book more available to the world,because it is about caring and loving our Earth more then what we currently do!
A true journey of inspiration and surrender, getting out of the way and letting the Universe do the rest. What an amazing mama bear to guide in ways of the unknown knowing the rest will be taken care of. The journey went forward to empower the many young aspiring women…. and the rest is herstory in the making…. Miracles
Thank you for sharing that inspiring story. My dream is to elevate poverty.. That story made me look at what I have dreamt about and wished all my life. The day will come.. Because I am a believer and am working on it.