Our stories
Onkes story - Trainee
First I must mention that I am a university drop-out. I drop out of school due to financial difficulties. I was doing a BA degree in the University of the Western Cape. My situation drives me into drugs, alcohol and crime. I was vulnerable to these substances because township life is all about them. I became an addict and thugs drives me in jail for four days. I’ve done crime in order for me to survive and to go back to school but I was also confusing myself. When I was doing all of this I was a teenager and also influenced by bad friends and family members. Life became very hard for me as I was having nobody to support an addict like me. But I managed to change my life by quitting drugs, by the help of the rehabilitation centre. I quit bad friends and engaged myself with sport and community activities.
Thobani’s story - trainee
Hi, I am Thobani I was born in 1985/04/26 at Somerset Hospital in Cape Town. I grew up at Nyanga East and Khayelitsha, at an age of five years and upwards I had a problem with my legs, the problem was when it started to be dark I starting to feel pains inside my legs, I didn’t know what was causing that even today but it ended. 
I didn’t spend time with other kids, I used to be with a mechanic fixing cars that was the most thing I was enjoying. I also learnt at a very young age to drive. I entered high school and did well. Accidentally me and my friends got arrested for taking a car that didnt belong to us. When we got arrested my life got twisted. We attended the case for 3 years and it disturbed me from school but I had to be patience because we were not sentenced until then. In 2004 I got a baby girl and she made me proud and not to give up on life. I am also proud of my little family although I knew as I know now about them. I do know and I am sure I will make it. I will be successful and thank god for the way I think.
Babalwa story trainee
Dear God lead me on this path that I have chosen. My name is Babalwa on of thousands of premature babies on earth, the one that was about to be aborted, but you and my mother did not allow that, the doctors then said I had a worse disability. Hear I am writing to you.
in 1985 South Africa was in havoc because of the riots, same year I was born just after few months that my family had moved to Khayelitsha, right after I was born my mother was moved in and out of theatre, the doctor had check school kids that were shot by police. 5 years later, I had to sleep around family friends because my family was in the hit list. Both my parents were politically active. I was the only girl in a house of 5 brothers, 2 from those left home, 2 passed away.
One died because of Aids related disease not accepting the HIV status killed him. 22 years later I am left with 1 brother. I’m a mother to my son Lutho, I love him so much. I dropped out of school because of him. This path I have walked so far, where I’m going to, I want to be a Social Worker, I want to help children. What’s funny God you know this, you are the beginning and the end.
Warmest regards, Babalwa
Lindokuhle’s story trainee
I am Lindokuhle, I’m 22 years old, and we are four sisters. I’m born at Eastern Cape, and then my parents came to Cape Town for a job. I have no parents my father past away in 1993 by accident and my mother same in 2005. Since then my life has been changed, things are different and difficult especially if you do not finished your studies. I left at Grade 11 at school. We get support from my Aunt and the elder sister. I need a job so that my life can improve. I attended workshops from my community there then I get this from Umthawelanga. I get skills, business skills.
Thandiswa’s story- trainee
My name is Thandiswa I live with my 2 sister and 2 brothers and my mother. My father in Cape Town Thereâs no bread winner because mother was depending on my father.
My father is having a problem of drinking too much. He is a lorry assistant at Non Ferous Metal Company. He give mother small money and if she asked more he will beat her in front of us.
My name is Zukiswa Mahashe. I am 22 years old a mother of 1 child. At home we are a family of 2 sisters and a brother with both parents. I stay at 39 Flag Bashiela Street, Khaylitsha.
I had a difficult life because I fell pregnant at the age of 17, and dad was the only person working. I went to live with my uncle in Johannesburg. When I came back I was saved and that changed my life to tally because I started to focus, see things differently.
I finished my in 2005 and my dream was to become a Social worker, o pursued my dream in 2007 because in 2006 I had no financial support so I had to wait, but I did not finished , I did only 1year.
Now I am engaged, I will get married in 2008 and l will also continue with my studies. I want to be community up lifter as well because I have always enjoyed working with people and being around them. I am a performer, singer and a dancer, those are my hobbies. I hope that my financial status will improve and get better day by day, so I live for success with my family.
Nthabiseng’s story trainee
My name is Nthabiseng Motaung. I am 21 years old. I have one daughter who is 7 months old. I was born at the place called Qwaqwa in Free State. I am the forth born of five, 1 brother and 3 sisters. I have started my grade 1 and finished my matrric in 2003.
I have met a guy called Mari Johannes in the year 2000 and things got so well until we got married in 2004. In 2005 I went to college called PC Training and Business College.
I don’t want an IT certificate I want the IT degree in order to become an IT expert, but the problem is that I don’t have money to go to school to do the degree because I am not working and I have to support my 7 months daughter and do the investments for her future. That doesn’t stop my dream I know one day somehow somewhere I am going to become what I’ve always wanted to become, so that I can live happily after with my family which is my husband and my little Karabo.
Vuyokazi’s story- trainee
My name is Vuyokazi Gijana. I am 19 yrs old, my parents died in a car accident in 2001. I was depressed when I received that bad news because we were young. At school I was not doing well in my studies. The challenges I have to face as the oldest one. I lived with my sister and my youngest brother. I became a mother to them; I tried by all means to support them. At that time I doing grade 10, I had to work, doing part time jobs.
My ambition is to become an accountant.
Zandile’s story- trainee
My name is Zandile Ngalo. I am a South African citizenship. I don’t have any experience about the job. I’ve got only qualifications of the school. My highest grade is 12 (Matric). I could not continue with education because my parents both passed away.
Now I am the old one at home. We are 3 at home, other 2 are married. Zodwa and Sandiso are still at school. I also got a small baby who is 5 months old. I only work for a year and now I am unemployed, reason is that jobs are so scarce, but there is an organization that is giving us a support and the 2 married sisters.
I decided to sell chips and sweets to add to what we get from the organization and my sisters. In my life I wish I can get a job so that I can continue my studies. I need a house because I don’t want to see my child suffered like me. Everyday I pray God to help me in my desires.
In the next 2 years I want to see my future get change and things to get better. I want to be a successful business woman and take care of my sisters and brothers.
Sizwe’s story- trainee
My name is Sizwe Mbenya; I was born in Cape Town in Nyanga East. I grew up with
my mother, my sister and brother.
As I grew up, I liked to play soccer also get involve with an organization called Ilitha Lomso. I was going to school and end up in Grade 10. I get a job at Hermanus Pick n Pay as a shelf packer. My intensions were to be a lawyer but unfortunately I did not finish my studies because of finances.
I think I’ll be a businessman I like to start with fruit and veg, so that I can take care of my brother, sister and my baby boy. I want them to finish their studies and get a better future. I am trying by all means to achieve my dreams. My friends ended up in jail because they were in a pressure of driving nice cars. I tried to live that life but I saw that I will end up in jail like them if I continue with them of which I have responsibilities to take care of. I want to be a great big brother and father to them, Thank you Lord for being there for me and also my ancestors.
God Bless
Thank you
NTSIKELELO -My life story-trainee
I Ntsikelelo was born by a single parent because my father left my mother when I was a year old. She get 3 more, 2 boys and a girl after me. We are staying with our mother in a Shack in Site B. My brothers and sister went to stay at their father’s house although I also take care of them.
My mother died of breast cancer. I went to stay with my grandmother who is a pensioner, because of that I couldn’t continue with my studies. I do get small jobs so we can eat during the month.
I was once shot with a pumpgun and I was robbed, my cell phone. I look forward to finish my grade12, I failed 2 subjects. I want to do Travel and Tourism. After I have finished my studies. I will look for a job so that I can be able to achieve my goals.
May God Bless
Thandiswa STORY-trainees
I am Thandiswa Ndzinzwa, I live at 34 866 at Myoli street. I am coming from Bozwana Village also known as Eastern Cape. I’m the second born of three, one sister and one little brother. I am also a mother of 14 months old daughter Simamkele and I am 20 years old. I live with my 25 year old sister and 10 year old brother.
we don’t know our father at all, he left us with my mom, on that time we were very young. We were suffering, mom doesn’t have money to buy even bread, but with God sake mom worked very hard to raise us as a domestic worker. Early 1998 my mom gets sick and she died. When my mom get sick the doctors told us she is suffering with TB, but later all to find out my mom died of HIV and Aids. On that time HIV was a bid deal, like people hide it. In my mind I think my mom hide it form s and think its the end of the world.
Early in January 2002 my sister dropped at school and left us at Eastern Cape, she came here in Cape Town to find work on the farms; on the moth end she posted R100.00 to our neighbour for us to do groceries. On December holidays she came back for a holiday, on January 2003 she took us to Cape Town with her, then I was doing Grade 9. On holidays I also go to find work on the farms.
Last year when I was doing my Matric I fall pregnant, it was a big problem for me because I was student and suffering and my boyfriend was also a student, so I didn’t now whether I am going to do with by baby. My boyfriends mom told me she will look after the baby. I wrote my final exams fortunately I passed.
All I want to say to those who suffer and left with nothing, be strong and do what is good for you; I don’t forget to pray because one day I want to live my own lifer and being a good mother to my daughter.
My name is Phindeka Nzwana, I live from Makaza Khayelitsha, I am 20 yrs old, my roots are from rural areas of Eastern Cape called Lasmes. I was living with my grandmother and my father, my sister. Last year father passed away from a long illness. Then my cousin takes me to live with her in Cape Town, so I can look for a job.
I passed my Grade 12 last year. I stay at home because I didn’t have money to go to university to further my studies. I granny support us with her grant.
My dream is to be an Accountant, to have a big house staying with my granny and take my sister to the university too. My father’s dream was to take us to university but he couldn’t fulfil his dream because he passed away.
In future I still want to go to university to be what I want to be in life, find a job, buy a house, have my own business so that I can develop the youth of South Africa especially those whom come from poor family and those who do not have parents to support them because I already know how to live life without parents.
In my life I want to go to other countries and see how they lived. If I get this job I will thank God because that will be my first step of my future.
Chris’s Story - founder
The kids were giving presents to us…
It all started at Christmas 2005. We were staying with cousins near Capetown and some old work colleagues, Linda & Limont arranged for us to visit Baphumelele, an orphans home in Khayelitsha. A company which I co-founded three years earlier had been sold and Linda & Limont, working in our office in Capetown had encouraged us to raise some money for this children’s home. We did, and I was keen to see what their life was like on the ground. In the pre-Christmas rush the children had received that day present parcels from Pick’n'Pay and the image that will always stay with me is of our daughter, Emily being given presents by the children.
Baphumelele is run by a wonderful lady called Rosie who explained that the challenge of orphanages in the townships had moved on; the emerging challenge was how to offer hope and training to these young adults to enable them to make something of their lives. Few organizations were offering jobs, training or hope. Rather naively an idea was born…
Walking into a Dragons Den…
Back in London and now working for Factiva, a Reuters & Dow Jones company, who had six months ago decided to acquire the agency business we had started, I could not get Baphumelele out of my mind. I was spending my days developing the media intelligence business for Factiva which meant talking to corporate communications directors who were fretting at the decline in trust that people had towards international business. My observations were that their corporate responsibility program where in the main just that - program, rather than a modus operandi baked into the operations and culture of the company. Such conversations kept reminding me of the vacuum in business skills in Khayelitsha where unemployment runs at over 70% and hope sparse. I believed that in a small way a small business could be set up in Khayelitsha, train orphans impacted by HIV to produce a product of sufficient quality to sell locally and abroad. The proverbial thought in the shower led me to think about making soap but I needed a sanity check. Bridget Ashley Miller suggested I go and see her friend, ex Dragons Den millionaire Simon Woodroffe to discuss my crazy notion…and so a Sunday evening I found myself on the Trafalger (Simons houseboat) talking soap with Simon over a bottle of win. He liked the idea - gave me the thumbs up but now a former Dragon, he didn’t offer me money for a share in the business…
How the heck do you make soap?
The Coss connection
Not only was Melinda interested, the Township Trades business plan, an ethical hand made soap company was very much on her agenda. After a wet and windy weekend in the Dordogne she agreed to sign up. We had the expert, now we needed some equipment and luckily Melinda’s old factory in the Welsh valleys, now under new management, was not in a pretty state and business was what it used to be. I’ve never bought a factory before and certainly not shipped one half way round the world - but that is what we did. From Pencader in Carmenthenshire to Capetown and needless to say the easy bit was packing and shipping, the difficult bit was RSA customs who took their time, charged money, took their time again and charged more money. There was one stage when I really thought I would pay as much in port dues in South African as the cost of the factory equipment…Don’t we just love Africa!
Lets hope Hernando was right!
Comments»
exciting to see pictures of the unit with equipment in it!
I had the pleasure of buying your beautiful soap yesterday at the old biscuit mill which i am going to use as gifts when i go to see clients. The person who sold them to me was a wonderful sales person and an insperation to your team. if there is anything i can do to assist you with your projects i would love to become involved. Wishing you all the very best.
Debbie Sloth-Nielsen