How this simple tweet made people open up on their struggles in relationships, career and family

O jewa ke eng (Sotho language) which means ‘What’s eating you up’ has been trending on Twitter for the past month.

It was first posted by one Keabetswe, a woman who claims to be the founder of OJKFoundation, a non-governmental organization aimed at making South Africa better.

The aim of the tweet was to get people talking on their day to day struggles and most intimate battles that were eating them up.

It got people talking and some of the stories shared were heart-wrenching.

Jobs

A number of netizens talked about their long search for jobs and tarmacking despite having the papers. Some even stated that they had already given up and were seeking alternatives.

“Just Finished My Financial Management Studies and Trying to get a job In the meantime I'm working at the toilets just to make some money. Even though it gets hard as people mock me and see me as a joke.”


“I have a BTech in Construction Management, a NDip in Civil and 4years experience in the construction industry. Yet I have been unemployed since 2017.I feel like my education has failed me.”

“My uncle got his diploma when I was in primary school, he graduated twice when I was in high school. I’m doing my third year and he’s still living in my grandfather’s house unemployed. Being in varsity knowing my uncle is sitting at home with his honours is really discouraging.”

“I've been unemployed for a year and my mom never forgets to remind that people my age are working and have their own places. Other days she says I'm useless and all sorts of harsh things. This other time she even said I'm a demon in her house.”

Relationships

Others spoke of broken homes and feeling unwanted for the longest time.

“All my life, I've never heard from my father. I don't know his name, what he looks like. I know absolutely nothing about him.”

“My mom is gone n I will never have the opportunity to make her proud. This kills me.”


“I have been homeless since my grandfather died in 2009 my dad was in exile and there's a special grant he was getting its been discontinued with no reason I don't know where to start to get it so I can build a house for us.”

A number of the netizens got assistance and some were even given jobs as well as helpful advice on how to move forward.