Empowerment Takes on Many Forms: Supporting Thembela on the Path to Employment

Thembela is a 29 -year old student in who lives eSwatini. His family were particularly vulnerable after his father abandoned the homestead when Thembela was in Grade 6. With his mother being the primary breadwinner in the family, it was incredibly challenging for her to put her children through school. The Education Support Program (ESP) has supported Thembela for the last 4 years and we were incredibly proud when he recently graduated with a Diploma in Emergency Medical Care and Rescue. His dream is to pursue a career as a paramedic, but finding permanent employment in eSwatini is very challenging.

Thembela approached our local partner, requesting driving lessons. Obtaining a Heavy Motor Vehicle license would make him more attractive to the employment market, particularly in the paramedic field. The decision was made to support Thembela to do his Heavy Motor Vehicle license by paying for the cost of the driving lessons as well as the driving test and necessary licensing paperwork. Thembela began his driving lessons a couple of months ago and we recently received the news that he has passed his driving tests and has been given his license!

Education is sometimes the first step in empowering students to gain employment. These additional skills have given Thembela an advantage and we are hopeful that his is another step towards  Thembela finding a permanent job in the near future.