My name is Kananelo Ramatlapeng and I am 26 years old. I come from Vosloorus. Before this programme, I was a full-time distance learning student with no bursary, and I had to hustle hard just to make ends meet.
Unemployment affected me badly as I come from a single-headed household, where we depend on only one income. To generate income, I used to sell ice lollies, sweets, and Magwinya (fat-cakes) in the morning at the street corner where I stay.
Thanks to this YES programme, I finally found a decent job. I am hosted at Elev8 and my duties are to assist clients with their application processes, queries, and providing customer service as I am an inbound call centre agent.
Economically, the programme has really helped me and made a very huge difference in my life, as I can take care of myself, and I can also assist at home. Socially, I have colleagues that have become my friends, I communicate more, and I socialize more. My self-esteem has improved.
The new skills I have acquired so far are typing skills, self-confidence, being able to work in a fast-paced environment and working under pressure. I now see myself differently in a way that I have grown emotionally and professionally because now I know how to behave in a working environment also how to handle customers.
In future I see myself furthering my education and working in a field that is in line with my career, making sure that I am financially stable and taking good care of myself, and my family.
The message I would give to my sponsor is that “YOU ROCK DHL!!!” You have really played a huge role and you made a difference in my life.
The advice that I would give to the unemployed youth is that they should keep hustling, there are so many opportunities, and they should never give up on their dreams because only the sky is the limit!!