Meet the iThemba Barbers

iThemba Barbers

Mthobisi and Nkosingiphil, two young orphan boys and their friend, Nkululeko who lives with his mother joined the iThemba Self-Help-Group in 2007. All three boys are in Secondary School.

With their savings they bought a hair shaving kit and started a haircutting business to earn enough money to put themselves through school. Mthobisi and Nkosingiphile also use the money to buy food for their siblings. The savings and business skills they learned in the Self-Help-Groups taught them how to save and how to start and run their business.

Mthobisi and Nkosingiphile said that it is tough to be a parent while you are still a child yourself. Fortunately, the members in the Self-Help-Groups have filled the role of a caring family and the weekly meetings have become the highlight of the week for the two orphan brothers.