IT is nearly a year since the husband and wife team, Mfundo and Patela Tyoba, moved from Port Elizabeth to Somerset East to open a Work 4 a Living centre.
Their aim is to bring hope to the hopeless and the poor by equipping and empowering them with the skills needed to gain employment or become entrepreneurs in order to support themselves and their families.
According to Mfundo, the most difficult part is first of all to change the students’ mindset.
“We are poor;” “I am entitled to receive;” “I’ll wait for …;” “I don’t even know how to find a job;” “nothing I do will make my family rich;” “there are no jobs,” and many more are the excuses that these students have in their minds.
These youngsters are caught in the trap of poverty which breaks down their self-esteem and leaves them feeling unworthy, ashamed and in despair without plans for a future. Thus they just fall right back in the cycle of poverty themselves.
Patela did a Work 4 a Living course seven years ago and the programme changed her mindset. So they start their teaching programme by addressing the ideological barriers like the poverty mindset, the spirit of entitlement, the dependency syndrome, morals and ethics.
After this they start with a two-week course where they are taught how to find a job, how to keep a job, how to work to a standard of excellence, financial literacy and the principles of how to start and run their own business.
According to Mfundo, the Work 4 a Living programme was written and developed by Ena Richards in 2007 in Port Elizabeth. She had been in business and was frustrated by the lack of work ethic of employees. Gradually she became aware of the many young school-leavers who had to face the employment world with no knowledge of how to find a job and give their best.
Without Richards’ vision the Work 4 a Living programmes would not have been written and developed.
Siya Sebenza, a non-profit organisation, was established and is responsible for the roll-out of all the Work 4 a Living centres in every city or town where there is poverty or need.
Many of these centres have been initiated in South Africa as well as in a few countries in Africa.
This husband and wife team in Somerset East are extremely excited about the outcomes they have seen after their courses. They are proud to be part of this wonderful initiative that can only be lauded as so many of the students return to share their good stories of progress and success as many of them have been employed in businesses around town.
“We take pride in the mission of Siya Sebenza which has now also become our life goal and mission: ‘Bringing hope to the hopeless and the poor by equipping, empowering and releasing them to fulfil their potential and purpose’,” she said.
For more info regarding courses or costs contact Mfundo on 083 761 9766 or email mfundotyoba@gmail.com.