Zimbili Mbhamali is a learner who joined the Daughters of Africa Girl’s Club at Siphosabadletshe High School in 2019.
“The Girl’s Club has empowered me with information and encouraged me to get the skills I need to be an independent young woman, and also be able to help provide for my family”, says Zimbili, who lives in a family of 6, with the only source of income being the government social grant and her mother’s beadwork.
“When I got introduced to the Daughters of Africa project, I got to learn more about entrepreneurship and the importance of being an independent young women”. This is when she started showing more interest in her mother’s beadwork business, and throughout the years, her mother has helped her develop her skills in beading.
When she finally mastered her craft, she began selling her beadwork to friends and neighbors.
“I started making money from my beadwork and it resulted in me being the most independent girl I know. I don’t go around making bad decisions for money, because these days you find many girls my age relying on men for cash. And I like the fact that I am able to help my mom financially at home”, says Zimbili.
The Daughters of Africa project has empowered many girl learners to be strong independent young women, by instilling in them knowledge on Gender-Based Violence, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, and encouraging them to pursue entrepreneurship, to start a business, no matter how small it is.
Zimbili’s dream is to have her own workspace to make beadwork where she is able to hire people to help her with her craft and, as a result, contribute positively to alleviating poverty in her community.
“My message to young women like me is to work on the talents you have, do not sit on your ideas, use your talent to make a living”, says Zimbili.