Work 4 a Living opens centre in George
Excellence is what they strive for - and after 12 years the non-profit organisation, Work 4 a Living, can say they have walked the talk. The organisation recently opened a branch in George and is offering their services at Tramonto in Geelhoutboom. The company was started by a wife and husband team who saw how the poverty cycle kept repeating itself and how helpless people felt when applying for a job and preparing for job interviews.
The 12-day course teaches people not only about themselves, but also what they could do and would actually be good at if they had the tools.
Founder Ena Richards says their focus is to change the mindset of a person. “It is important to us to break the poverty mindset and dependency, to deal with entitlement and the lack of excellence,” she says. “When we change that mindset and teach people that they can - and have to - help themselves, something happens.” Richards says it is wonderful to see how the lives of these people change once they realise they can help themselves and find jobs or start their own businesses.
Work 4 a Living also helps people find jobs. The job centre is already up and running and they will start a few new programmes soon. “We select our best students and make them available at no cost. Employers don’t need to worry, because we offer no-cost placement.”
First-hand experience
Mandisa Zamani, the facilitator at the George centre, was once a student in the programme. “When I sat in class I thought the facilitator was talking to me like she knew me, and almost raised my hand to say, ‘Yes, I made all those mistakes’.” At first she could not understand what the facilitators were talking about, but once she finished the course and found a job, she saw the change in herself. “I found that it is important to work together with the employer so they know they can trust you.”
She also learned how to handle her finances. She says what makes this programme different is that one does not need a degree or a fancy title; you just need to change the way you think.
Candidates wanting to do the course can go to the Facebook page Work 4 a Living George. Employers looking to employ through them, can contact Rene McLeod at rene@work4aliving.co.za or visit their website www.siya-sebenza.co.za.