INSIDE: TRAINING PROGRAMME HELPS UNEMPLOYED
A customer service training workshop hosted by local businessman Bhongolethu Mahlungwana at the King William’s Town Community Support Centre on September 19 served as a beacon of hope to the more than 70 unemployed King William’s Town youth who attended.
The workshop was supported by the department of social development and a few other local business people who joined in and shared their stories.
“The unemployment rate is very high and that demotivates the youth, so the event was aimed at motivating those in attendance and reviving their hopes and spirits. I invited a few entrepreneur friends of mine too and we spent the day sharing our stories with them, giving them tips on job hunting and doing fun exercises and presentations,” said Mahlungwana.
Mahlungwana said he had a vivid memory of playing outside the tiny back room his mother was given by her employers to live in in Cathcart Street.
Years later, he is running a small juice factory in the same street that supplies more than 200 stores around the province.
“I believe in the power of positive thinking and working hard because had I not, things could have worked out differently for me. I started my business out of nothing, but from the onset my vision was to see my product being sold in supermarkets.”