WINDHOEK – Fifty-seven-year-old Gerhard Uukule’s mental illness does not prevent him from repairing shoes. Diagnosed with schizophrenia nine years ago, he has been repairing shoes for the past 35 years.
“I learnt how to repair shoes when I was young and at that time I lived in Tsumeb,” Uukule tells New Era from his shack in Katutura’s Donkerhoek location.
Uukule who has an obvious love for shoes is one of twenty six beneficiaries of the Katutura East Constituency income-generating projects.
The beneficiaries who are small business owners were awarded equipment on Monday to enhance the effectiveness of their businesses.
He received shoe soles and glue to grow his business.
It is obvious Uukule who operates from home has a special love for footwear. Not only does he wear sneakers with a formal shirt and trousers but he speaks passionately about how he started repairing shoes.
“I ordered shoes from a catalogue back in 1979 and when the shoes finally arrived they were both for the left foot,” he reminisces.
Instead of returning the shoes, Uukule worked on the one shoe converting it to be worn on the right foot, so that he had a perfect pair of shoes for both feet.
“That is when I started repairing shoes and I’ve never looked back. I did have work here and there but when I finally left my job I had shoe repairs to fall back on,” the stuttering Uukule says.
His head shakes involuntarily as he speaks.
Curious to know why he shakes, particularly when he speaks, the warm-hearted Uukule explains: “I used to hear voices in my head and often times I would run in the street to hide from them. That was when people took me to the psychiatric hospital. When I started taking my medication the voices stopped and that has resulted in this shaking.” He then shows this reporter his health passport and other medical reports indicating he was diagnosed as being schizophrenic.
Uukule says his customers are mostly from Donkerhoek and its immediate surroundings. Although he does not earn much he says he is content that he can work for himself. This is in addition to his disability grant.
“I also assist one meme (woman) to sell cool drinks and beers in a bar. I don’t earn much from her but it’s enough,” he adds.
The father of four further says: “I’m able to repair five pairs of shoes in a day. There are customers who have not picked up their shoes for as long as two years. In a month I am able to earn up to N$1 000 from the shoes I repair.”
His message is that people should stand up for themselves and use their hands to work honestly and diligently. “People must stand up and do something for themselves so that they can have something to eat,” he says.
By Alvine Kapitako