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Kechongoyi Keyho manning his stall at Kisama.[/caption]
Khima Bureau
Kohima, Dec. 5 (EMN): Once a wrestler, Kechongoyi Keyho now earns his livelihood through crafting. He has opened a stall at Kisama heritage village named Zhoto Craft.
The 31-year-old from Khulazu Basa village under Phek district had no formal education. But his is a story of hard work and determination that has helped him overcame struggles.
Talking to Eastern Mirror, he said he had no regret over ditching a career in wrestling. In his prime years as a wrestler, spanning four years, Keyho was a champion of his village which propelled him to various competitions including the open wrestling tournament in Kohima.
But soon as he realised that he could never become a champion wrestler, Keyho turned to craft as a means to earn his livelihood. He credited the chairman of his village’s council, Vechohu Chuzho, for encouraging him to go for training in handicraft, and also for ensuring that he could avail machineries issued by the Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency. This, he said, changed his life completely.
Despite the attempts by the village council to bring the youth to work at handicraft centres, he said, very few people pay heeds to it. Keyho was among the very few who responded to the call. He did a diploma course in crafting at Jharnapani, Medziphema in 2012, while Diezephe Craft Village also provided voluntary training to the village after the machinery was bought.
He was of the view that the young generation should work hard instead of complaining about the state of affairs. There are plenty of employment opportunities for the young people to pursue, he pointed out.