BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
MATSAPHA – “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, but teach a man how to fish and feed him for a lifetime.”
The Change a Life foundation lived up to this age-old adage today when they donated personal protective equipment to 40 part-time workers in Matsapha, to help them get better jobs. The men, who spend most of the day waiting for job opportunities in a process colloquially called ‘ku-facer’, expressed that this equipment will help them get more jobs, as they were often the last option picked for jobs because of their lack of personal protective equipment.
The workers, who were all men, were each given a two-piece protective suit, safety boots, and a helmet.
Speaking at the handover of the equipment at the S&B Restaurant in Matsapha today, Change a Life Foundation founder Bongani Mamba expressed that these men touched his heart. He said that it is inspiring to see them wake up every day to find work to support their families, even when they face personal challenges such as not having the proper gear to take some of the part time jobs which are offered to them once in a while.
“As you know, these usually wait for work opportunities by Eswatini Beverages in Matsapha. What we like about them is that they do not wake up and relax under the shade. They wake up every day, bath, walk to Matsapha because they don’t have transport money, and they wait here all day waiting for piece-jobs. Whether they have eaten or not, they do this every day”, said Mamba.
Mamba added that he has been working with the part-time workers since 2013.
“I was touched when I first saw them in 2013. I would occasionally try and get them food, not because there’s a lot of money coming, but with whatever change I had. We know what it is like when a man does not eat,” added Mamba.
Mamba likened the men to hunters who have to get up every day and find work, whether they get it or not. Wonder Dlamini, a part-time driver who hails from Mankayane, expressed that the foundation has helped them for a long time in such situations.
“Mr. Mamba gives us food sometimes when he passes by, and this is sometimes the meal of the day since we do not get jobs on some days. We really appreciate this because even though he does not have employment to give us, he still helps us in the little ways that he can,” said Dlamini.
“What the foundation has done for us today is truly empowering. We sometimes miss out on certain jobs because they require you to come with your own personal protective equipment like safety boots and overalls. From today, we will be able to get those better paying jobs, which often lead to more stable employment,” said Dlamini.
He added that as the workers, they appreciate that Mr. Mamba went out of his way to mobilise others to lend a helping hand through the Change a Life Foundation.
Mamba also added that as Change a Life Foundation, they look forward to helping the workers with vocational skills to get official certifications through an envisioned grading system with vocational institutions like the VOCTIM. This was very well received by the beneficiaries, as was expressed by one of them.
He said that they only pursue part-time jobs because they are still looking for permanent employment.
“May God bless you as you continue to search for more stable employment opportunities,” said Mamba.
As reiterated by Change A Life Foundation founder Bongani Mamba, the foundation focuses on helping unemployed men to access employment opportunities.
They hosted a fundraising show in October 2022, where some of the money for the gifts which were donated today came from. The show was called True2Life Music Festival, and it was celebrated at the Malkerns Country Club. It featured popular artists like Bholoja, Mafikizolo, Young Zesh, DJ Tira, DJ Shabba, DJ Mixmash, and Dumi Mkokstad.
The Change a Life Foundation founder urged other organisations and companies to lend a helping hand as they work to improve the employability of breadwinners in the country.
