Three young women from Carletonville have transformed their lives and their parents' RDP houses into modern homes, thanks to training from the Bambisandla Sam Skills Development Centre. In partnership with the Gauteng Department of Social Development, the Centre offers artisan training to young people in the Western Corridor, opening doors to stable employment.
Tebogo Motswago (22), Nomvula Morake (25), and Hlengiwe Jojo (23) are now permanently employed as assistant chefs at Harmony Gold Mine. They shared how the Centre's training turned their dreams into reality, despite financial struggles that prevented them from pursuing tertiary education.
Motswago, from Kokosi, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, which has allowed her to make significant improvements to her home. "I saw the chef training advertisement on social media and decided to take a chance. Now, I earn more than R12,000 a month and can afford to buy groceries and building materials to extend our house," she said.
Morake, also from Kokosi, has bought a small car and dreams of furthering her studies in hospitality abroad. She hopes to inspire other young people to see the value in skills development training. "I want to start my own business specializing in food and own a mini-restaurant one day. This training has made a real difference in my family's life," she shared.
Jojo, from Wedela, is helping her grandmother renovate their home in the Eastern Cape. "I never imagined government programs could have such a profound impact. This opportunity has been life-changing," she said, reflecting on her unexpected journey from unemployment to a secure job.