Constance Zziwa, a South African woman, has dedicated her life to supporting the unemployed. Growing up in a poor household raised by a single mother who ran a tavern shaped her determination to help others find opportunities to improve their lives. Through Work 4 A Living, Zziwa works with jobless people, helping them to rebuild their confidence, develop skills and prepare for employment.
Work 4 A Living has about 44 centres in South Africa that provide skills training aimed at helping job-seekers find employment, start businesses or pursue further studies. Zziwa has spent the past 10 years helping unemployed people through the NPO, working as a facilitator and centre co-ordinator in KuGompo City. Her desire to help people living in poverty started at a young age, after witnessing the challenges faced by her family and community.
The organisation focuses on preparing people for the workplace through training, entrepreneurial skills and connecting graduates with potential employers. Zziwa said the first thing they do is boost the confidence of the unemployed individual, as hope is often lost when someone is jobless. She emphasised that jobs are available, but job-seekers need to have the necessary skills and confidence to secure them.
In 12 months at the KuGompo City centre, Zziwa trained about 391 people, with 159 securing employment, 89 returning to school and 20 starting businesses. She said hearing from people whose confidence has been restored through the programme motivates her. A student who had lost hope thanked her for bringing back their confidence and reminding them that it wasn't the end.
Zziwa's programme aims to train the unemployed to become job-ready. She urges employers to recognise the vast pool of capable, work-ready candidates emerging from training programmes. According to Zziwa, the organisation has made a significant impact, but there is still much work to be done to address unemployment in South Africa.
Zziwa's passion for helping others is driven by her personal experiences. She said, “I saw poverty at the core. One of the things that resonated in my heart was that whatever I'll be doing with my life will be helping the unemployed and the poor.” Her dedication to her work is evident in the success stories of her graduates.
As Zziwa continues to work towards her goal of empowering the unemployed, she hopes to see more people entering the workforce. She encourages employers to consider the pool of trained job-seekers, saying, “We have a lot of unemployed, trained people who are ready to work.” With her programme, Zziwa is making a positive impact in the lives of hundreds of people in South Africa.
Key points
- Over 391 participants received training at the KuGompo City centre, with 159 securing jobs and 20 launching businesses.
