Tsakane's Story
Tsakane became a role model for her community in YouthBuild.
After passing her matric (high school) exam, Tsakane Ndhlovu could not find employment and did not have the financial resources for a university education. Tsakane remembered:
You need money to survive. I was desperate for something to do and so YouthBuild was a blessing.
In 2009, she enrolled in a new YouthBuild program that is helping to upgrade housing in the Ivory Park settlement in Tembisa (near Johannesburg). Tsakana came to love the practical work in plumbing as she learned how to install showers, fix sinks, and to lay pipes. She also served as a role model within the community by demonstrating that women could do construction work. “It was inspiring to meet with other young people, share ideas, and to have goals to share,” Tsakane observed of the program. The Ivory Park staff appreciated Tsakane’s growing leadership and technical skills and hired her as a Team Leader for the 2011 program. Tsakane now plans to pursue further studies in psychology to strengthen her ability to serve young people.
