As a single mother, being able to support my children and run a business that provides me with an income is very important to me.
Buhle Ngidi is a single mother who is working hard to support her family. She is a hairdresser who is running her own salon, which gives her financial independence and helps her provide for her children.
Buhle tried other ways of earning an income, but they were not successful. She then decided to use her hairdressing skills to start her own business by renting a small wooden shelter where she works and provides hairdressing services to people in Amsterdam, Mpumalanga. At the beginning, she did not have enough money to buy all the equipment and products she needed for her business. But she believed in her dream and, as the person supporting her family, she knew she had to keep trying.
When she heard about the Social Employment Fund Programme, she reached out to the local implementing organisation, Yakha Ikusasa Manje Health Development Center, where she participated as a community mobiliser and earned monthly stipends, which helped her buy the necessary products and equipment for her hairdressing business.
The support from SEF has helped me to keep the business functioning and has reduced the financial pressure I experienced as a small business owner and a mother.
Through her work as a community mobiliser, she was able to serve her community while earning an income that helped her invest in her business and improve her livelihood. One of the things Buhle values most about the SEF programme is how it contributed to her business and helped her become less dependent on others for its success. The support from the programme has helped Buhle continue working towards her goal of making the salon sustainable and profitable.
Despite her achievements, she still faces several challenges that inspire her to work even harder toward her goal of building a successful salon. During the rainy season, working becomes challenging because the wooden shelter she rents lacks proper protection from the rain. This limits her ability to offer services and discourages customers from visiting her salon.
Buhle has a clear dream of owning a hair salon in a sturdy, safe, and welcoming building where her customers feel comfortable. She hopes to grow her salon into a successful and lasting business that will provide a better future for her and her family.
My salon lets me earn money while building something of my own. I believe that with the right tools, equipment, and a better workspace, my business can really grow.
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