I am so happy to announce that we have added two new community facilitators to our Self Help / Savings Group program. We have been looking for additional community facilitators as an increasing demand for new SHG / savings groups was pushing to workload of our current staff past capacity.

What I love about our organization and our staff is that Zimele not only helps our participants 'stand on their own two feet', but our staff as well. For many of our full time and part time staff, Zimele is their primary source of income. But more than just financial benefits, Zimele offers them a means to grow in so many different areas, such as in their heart for their community, learning how to become a community leader, or pursuing their dream as a social worker. This is clearly evident in the lives of our two new staff members Nonku and Nonhlahla.

Meet Nonkululeko Ndlovu

Nonkululeko, whose nickname is Nonku, is a young woman of 22 years. In her family she has 3 brothers and sisters, each of who has a child. Nonku is a single parent herself with a 6 month old baby. Her family income is minimal. When she completed high school, she took up a job as a waitress in order to contribute to her family up keep. She is excited to join Zimele as it is her first step to pursuing her dream of becoming a social worker and owning a house of her own.

Meet Nonhlahla Gwala

Nonhlahla is a young woman of 22 years. Her mother is a member of one of our Self Help / Savings Groups. Her father is retired and at the moment is not earning any income for the family. Nonhlahla has several brothers and sisters and a child of her own. She is passionate about community work. But more than that, being a community facilitator at Zimele gives her an opportunity to earn a living for her and her child. Although she has been in her role for less than a month, she has already launched 2 groups. She hopes to own a house of her own.

Audrey Matimelo