Stories
I had the privilege of facilitating a training session for the Department of Education in Nkowankowa, attended by more than 50 educators. During the session, one participant openly shared that they had developed a significant addiction to the Aviator betting game. The discussion created a safe and reflective environment that encouraged honest self-assessment among participants. This educator's willingness to acknowledge the challenge publicly demonstrated the impact of the training in promoting self-awareness and personal accountability. By the end of the session, the participant expressed a commitment to making positive changes and adopting healthier habits. This moment highlighted the broader value of the training in addressing not only professional development needs but also personal and social challenges that affect educators and their communities. I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and it reminded me on why we do what we do.
Empowered to Dream, Plan and Achieve: Financial Literacy Programme Impact Story From 01–03 June 2026, Empowerment Private School, in collaboration with Sanlam and Avocado Vision and facilitated by Charles Mokoena, hosted a Financial Literacy and Life Skills Programme aimed at equipping learners and adult students with practical financial knowledge and life-readiness skills. One learner whose experience reflected the impact of the programme was Hope Kamogelo Ntswaki Tlhape. Through the discussions and practical examples shared during the sessions, Hope began connecting financial concepts to real-life situations affecting individuals, families, and communities. She developed a greater appreciation for planning ahead, understanding legal and financial responsibilities, and preparing for unexpected life events. Topics such as funeral costs, estate planning, pension fund claims, and marriage regimes helped her see the importance of informed decision-making. Hope also expressed an interest in investing and entrepreneurship, demonstrating how the programme stimulated forward-thinking and wealth-creation aspirations. Her experience illustrated a shift from simply learning financial concepts to actively considering how they could be applied to improve her future opportunities and financial well-being. The impact of the programme was reflected in the feedback from other participants as well. Thandolwethu Nonjoli was inspired to one day become a trainer and help educate other young people. Lwandle Dube highlighted the enthusiasm of the facilitator, which made learning enjoyable and accessible. Karabo Mosadi described the sessions as professional, informative, and educational, while Nicole Pillay appreciated learning how to manage money responsibly and make it work effectively toward future goals. Simon Moepi shared that the training broadened his perspective on life and finances, and Future Mosese noted that the programme encouraged open-minded thinking and personal growth, finally Thuto Tlhalerwa lamented the fact that the Two Pot system could have been handled better with workers encouraged to learn how to invest and develop themselves entrepreneurially. Collectively, these reflections demonstrate that the programme achieved more than knowledge transfer. It inspired confidence, curiosity, critical thinking, and a stronger sense of personal responsibility. Participants gained practical tools to navigate financial decisions, understand risk, plan for the future, and identify opportunities for growth and self-improvement. The Financial Literacy and Life Skills Programme stands as an example of what can be achieved through collaboration between Empowerment Private School, Sanlam, and Avocado Vision. By equipping learners with relevant knowledge and practical skills, the initiative has helped build a foundation for informed decision-making, financial resilience, and brighter futures for participants such as Hope and her fellow learners. Special appreciation is extended to Ms Judy Pillay for her exceptional passion, dedication, and leadership in her role as School Manager. Her commitment to organising and coordinating the learners, ensuring smooth programme implementation, and creating a supportive learning environment contributed significantly to the success of the initiative.
A Money Fo Sho financial literacy training was conducted on the 25th of May 2026 in the rural community of Mkhizwane in Cato Ridge, where opportunities are limited and access to information is scarce. The training aimed to equip community members especially the young ones with practical knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions, manage their income effectively, and improve their overall financial well-being. The level of enthusiasm and participation displayed by the attendees was remarkable. Participants actively engaged throughout the session, asking questions, sharing experiences, and contributing to discussions. Many participants openly shared personal stories of financial mismanagement, these testimonies underscored the urgent need for ongoing financial education within the community. The session was transformational, inspiring participants to take control of their financial journeys and make more informed choices. Participants strongly requested that similar empowering workshops be conducted regularly to continue building financial knowledge and resilience within the community. Overall, the training was a great success and highlighted the significant impact that such programmes can have in underserved rural communities.
One of the youngsters who attended the Money for sho programme, scheduled on 21 May 2026 at the Kleinkrantz area, left school early. She stayed for the duration of the programme and was very excited about receiving a certificate for the first time.
During a training session I arranged with SEDFA for participants of the Construction Entrepreneurial Programme, one participant shared that his recent vehicle finance application had been declined by the banks. On review, it was clear that the decline was linked to patterns of reckless spending visible across both his personal and business accounts. His business bank statements showed transactions with liquor shops, clothing accounts, and frequent cash withdrawals that were clearly personal in nature. Because the account mixed business income with personal expenses, the bank could not distinguish between business performance and personal lifestyle. This lack of separation created the impression of poor financial discipline and weak cash flow management, which directly harmed his credit history and reduced the business’s credibility in the eyes of lenders. The issue was not that the business lacked potential, but that the financial records failed to tell a reliable and professional story that a lender could trust. This clearly indicates the need for practical financial education, especially for young people who are now being considered for soft loans and other enterprise support. Many youth have the ideas and drive to start businesses, but they often lack exposure to basic business account management, cash flow discipline, and the way lenders assess risk. In this case, the participant lost a real opportunity that could have helped him grow his construction work and create more income. It was not a lack of effort or a bad business idea that stopped him, but a lack of knowledge about how to keep business and personal finances separate and how those records directly influence creditworthiness. Without this understanding, young entrepreneurs risk missing out on funding that is specifically designed to support them, and the cycle of limited growth continues.
This Month I trained in AD Lazarus Secondary school (venue) we had the youth for surrounding areas,we had a great turnup of participants who showed a lot of enthusiasm and hunger for skills and knowledge,to grow themselves as some of them are already running their own businesses,we had people who have NPOs,providing computer skills,some of them are hairdressers etc.what I loved about this group,is that on the last day when we had a conversation on what is the way forward since they now had attended our sessions,they shared that they had already asked each other what they need, and most of them do not have drivers licenses,so now their goal was to form something to say let's collect money for one person and they go and enroll at a driving school,next person and so on until everyone has a learners license and again when it is time for driving lessons, they will do the same thing.I loved that because obtaining a driver's license is expensive,especially for someone who is unemployed.That just warmed my heart because the others said they do have drivers license, so they just want computer skills and to have their PDP's.This will give them more chances to be employed. On the last day,the principal of the school asked for a slot in the morning to come in and motivate the participants,this was unexpected and well received because the schools were closed for Ascension day but the principal took time and came to the session.He motivated the participants to say,the skills they were given,they should use them to make a living for themselves,there is no big company in SA that will be able to employ everyone,but some of us have to open our own business and employ each other to close the unemployment gap.This was heart warming,we really did have an amazing week,we can rest and move on to the next group knowing that we did make a difference one session at a time.
A Money Fo Sho training was successfully conducted for members of the Assemblies of God congregation in the Malukazi branch in Durban.There were also several community members from the surrounding area who showed interest in improving their financial knowledge. The training recorded a positive turnout, with participants actively engaging throughout the sessions. The level of enthusiasm and eagerness displayed was exceptionally high. Participants demonstrated a strong desire to learn and openly shared their financial experiences, challenges and expectations. The interactive nature of the training created an environment where participants felt comfortable asking questions, contributing to discussions, and seeking clarity on various financial topics.The presence of the community members from outside the church congregation also added diversity to the discussions and enriched the learning experience. One of the most significant highlights of the training was the 'aha moment' experienced by many participants. This refers to the point when individuals suddenly gained a clearer understanding of how their financial behaviours direcly affect future stability and wellbeing. They recognized that financial challenges are not only caused by limited income, but also by spending habits, lack of planning and poor financial discipline and this highlighted the transformative power of financial literacy and the importance of continued education and empowerment in this area.
On 5 may i had digital sanlam Budgeting basics sessions. this sessions really help participants see where they where doing wrong when it comes to their financies, most of them never used budget before, they where just spending money on wants which lead them to more debts. but after the sessions they where looking forward to making some changes . using snowball method to pay off debts they already have, and also creating a budget before spending their money and also put needs first over wants
