July News

1 April this year I, Francois Heunis, joined the Themba Training staff as project manager. I have enjoyed getting to know the four musketeers (staff) – John, Patson, Lionel and Mali. We really are a rainbow nation team! Sadly John will be leaving the team in August.
During the first 6 months of 2011 we have continued to train small business entrepreneurs – using the Micro MBA course. At the end of May we had much fun at the Mfesane venue in Old Crossroads as we celebrated with those who successfully graduated. Patson and Mali have already started training the second intake of students for the year.
In August Lionel will train a group of about 16 men (between ages 18-25) from the Salesian Institute in Green Point Cape Town. The Institute exists to train young men who were either in prison, have no homes or live on the streets. They offer training such as carpentry, metal work etc. – many of these men won’t find jobs unless they start their own little businesses. So it is perfect for the kind of training we offer. They have two intakes of 30+ every six months – and our hope is therefore to do this training on an ongoing basis twice a year.

We have many plans for 2012 on the table. Apart from equipping people to successfully run their own micro businesses, we now want to expand our training to include preparing individuals to be more ‘marketable’ when seeking to jobs. Our plan is to start basic PC literacy Junior Bookkeeping courses. We have already identified the individual who will offer this training. Malibongwe Nduku  graduated from UWC with a BCom Information Systems and will be heading up both courses.
Many organisations offer training in Basic PC skills or in Bookkeeping, but it is simply not affordable for many of the poor. Our ongoing aim is to make our training affordable and therefore offer it for free or at minimal costs/fees. Those who partner with us make this possible.
One day I walked into one of Patson’s training sessions unannounced. The question of “Somalian shopkeepers” was raised. For the next 30 minutes Patson presented his class with a brilliant lecture on tolerance and learning from others, not hating or driving them away. On my way home I thought, maybe they did not learn about stock taking today. But at Themba Training they did hear that God expects us to value and honour fellow humans.

March News

As we enter the third month of the year I am reminded of my primary school Principal who told us that the year is finished on the first day of school. I found myself repeating the same words as we were orientating our first class of 2011, and unveiling plans we have for them. 50 trainees have been registered to start a journey of 8 weeks of Business training and 3 years of mentoring. The Themba Training Staff are fired-up as we look at our new trainees and expectation they have for business training.

During orientation we were fortunate to have delegates from Consol Glass and Department of Minerals with us, to see what we do for the community.  They asked us so many questions and we assured them of two things, that with the 50 new trainees, we will continue to provide hope through business training and mentoring that will make sustainable businesses.  We have proven this time and time again through our previous graduates!

Watch the space!

February News

Some New Year Thoughts from ThembaTraining

2011 is my third year as a ThembaTraining staff member. I am now reminded of the words of Dr John C. Maxwell, when he says that, if you’ve been in team for three years, every problem is your problem! Looking back to the past 3 years, I have trained and mentored over 800 Bread winners. When I walk the streets of Crossroads I see some of them not doing well all-round.  That saddens me, yet at the same time that poses an opportunity to revisit and change the way we do things.  However, I also see some others working hard establishing their businesses. This gives me joy and love for what I do.

ThembaTraining has given so many people a chance to change and improve their lives and that must be celebrated. I am totally grateful for the chance to make a difference in the lives of OUR PEOPLE in OUR COMMUNITIES by fighting poverty. It has enriched me enabling me to grow so much in my facilitating, leadership, business skills and the way I view life. It’s those little moments that make a difference: Whether it was a trainee who gets a certificate for the first time or one who fulfilled a dream of owning a Spaza Shop, or the volunteers who come from across the globe. All add valuable memories to my life that I will never forget.

2011 brings yet more potential: Opportunities to train and mentor more bread winners and to take those we have trained to the next level of growth. All this won’t be possible without our dedicated team of trainers and mentors, and the support we get from all over the world. Thank you!!!

Malibongwe Nduku

Themba Training: Micro-Business Trainer and Mentor