Stories
I had the opportunity to train in 3 towns around Free State this previous week. The encounter in all was amazing as I never did any recruitment process, the poster I put on social networks as part of marketing made interested participants approach me, organise their dates and book their own safespace. The most delivered module was "funerals and finance" and the interesting part was when they learned about underwriters and their work on policies and funeral undertakers. The Bethlehem group had 3 participants working for the government and towards the end of the session we highlighted the 2 pot system and can confidently say they were satisfied with how they received the information as they now know better and how to decide on the policy. The Fezile Dabi District session also approached me and the interested candidates number was almost double we had to group into 2 sessions also the participants were excited to learn about financial issues/discipline ways to manage their situations especially they are in a working environment with lots of engineering firms having members of the families earning better salaries however they are unable to manage it often misuse it. The motivation part is Financial literacy is important to everyone. It does not choose age, gender or individual according to the Income category. Trainees are looking forward to more sessions
This time, I had the privilege of conducting training sessions for residents of Mangaung and Dihlabeng, spanning across various age groups. Additionally, I was granted the opportunity to host a financial segment on our local radio station every Tuesday, commencing next month. One of the participants stated that "our current educational system falls short in adequately equipping individuals with the necessary skills to effectively manage their finances and cultivate wealth, resulting in widespread financial struggles". He furthermore explained on how the training session served as an eye-opener, emphasizing the significance of actively seeking financial knowledge to make well-informed decisions regarding one's personal finances. The modules that garnered the most appreciation were those money modular 5, 9, 13, and 4. In light of the escalating unemployment rates, Avocado is playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap and empowering our community, simultaneously nurturing us as facilitators. It is truly remarkable to reflect on the journey that has led to the realization that I'll hosting a radio segment. Gratitude is extended to Avocado Vision for this enriching opportunity.
I had the privilege to train disabled entrepreneurs from SEDA who are experiencing a lot of challenges in their businesses. And they raised multiple issues surrounding their businesses including fraud and scams, personal debts and procurement challenges. One of the participants Mr Mntambo who is blind shared his experience as follows, he once got a call from SASSA to supply 50000 Cards for Grant beneficiaries and the deadline was in week's time. He organised a friend to assist in finding the service providers who supply cards and they found one and the service providers were requesting an upfront payment and as he was about to make that payment,he contacted someone from the branch to verify the information regarding the call. But the consultant told him that SASSA has its own service providers who are appointed nationally to supply the cards,he then contacted the number of the person who requested the cards and it was closed for several days. He also indicated that as a blind entrepreneur he faces challenges when trying to get credit as other credit providers treat him with disrespect due to his condition and some have taking clothing on his account and denied the allegation when he lays charges against them. Other lady from the different group shared her experience when it comes to online purchases,she shared that she orders things online and sell them to her customers who bought clothing from her. But she once experienced a cyber scam people were trying to deduct money from account as if she ordered something and she approached the bank she was advised not to orders using her personal account but rather use virtual account as most scammers will try to deduct money from her account and virtual account ccv number charges every hour so it's not easy for scammers to track. I had a wonderful experience and exciting sessions with full participation.
Training was energetic and participants were also engaging on a number of challenges that they are facing when it comes to their personal finances. Wow moments was when Mapaseka Ramatsebe discussed how been a single mother has made her to focus on making her kids learn the basics of saving money for their schooling activities projects by saving every R2 they got. Now that she attended the session about young people and money she will practicing what she learned today to improve her financial goal for her family
The training had an exciting and participative session with disabled business people from SEDA and NYDA, whereby the modules facilitated were Fraud and Scams, Managing Debts and Buying the Big Ticket Items. The wow moments were when Mrs Cathrine Kaeane explained to the group how she was scammed by somebody who requested catering for the Department of Education via a call. She explained that the person called requesting her send a quotation, then requested her banking details to transfer R15000.00 as the costs of the catering before she could send the quotation and said she must deposit the R5000.00 to him to pay for transport. When she asked him about the number of people to be caterer for and the menu, she was told its only chicken,porridge and one vegetable with any refreshments. But the perso couldn't inform her of the number of people who she was going to cater. She then contacted someone that she knows from the department asking her if there are any functions/event, she was shocked to hear that there was nothing happening and that person has already scammed a coupled of people from the Department database.
We travelled to Mafikeng on the 12 & 13 0f August 2024 respectively to empower our participants with financial skills and financial Knowledge. We had a very energetic and smart engagements from young graduates who are doing internship with the department of Human Settlement. The participation was great, and delegates asked relevant questions. The tools we used helped participants to understand the content better. Ms Tiisetso Lerumo 23 year old participant said that she has learned a lot from the sessions, the session that stands out for her is on budget. she said that "A budget helps create financial stability. By tracking expenses and following a plan, a budget makes it easier to pay bills on time, build an emergency fund, and save for major expenses such as a car or home. Overall, a budget puts a person on stronger financial footing for both the day-to-day and the long term". Thank you to Avocado Vision and Sanlam for empowering our work force and helping South Africans to manage their finances well.
I had a privilege of training the staff of Ehlanzeni TVET colleges ( Nelspruiit, Mashishing, Kamhlushwa ,Barberton & Acornhoek campuses). The staff was was welcoming and eager to learn . The staff consisted of people of all ages, from interns, young professionals to the ones preparing for retirement. The workshop included topics budgeting, needs & want , setting financial goals etc. Real-life examples on different topics were used like the debt, one of the participants indicated that "Debt is like quicksand, The more you struggle, the deeper you sink." He also indicated that interest rates can sweep away your financial stability if one is not careful. Another participant also gave a personal example that he previously bought a car and ended up struggling to make ends meet, he ended up selling the car and bought a smaller/ affordable one. His story served as a sobering reminder of the danger of unchecked cost of debt. The conversation then shifted to budgeting, importance of tracking income and expenses, setting financial goals, and creating a realistic spending plan. The workshop participants were encouraged to share their budgeting challenges. Some admitted to impulse buying, while others struggled with saving for emergencies. Different saving tips, such as using budgeting apps, setting up automatic savings transfers were shared. With all sessions the mood became more serious when the topic of Wills and Insurance was introduced. We all agreed that these two topics might seem like distant concerns, but they are crucial for protecting/ taking care of our loved ones when we no longer can. We also agreed that Insurance is a safety net. It provides financial protection in case of unexpected events like death, accidents, illnesses, or property damage. One attendee gave an example that "Insurance is like a seatbelt, You hope you'll never need it, but you're glad it's there when you do." In conclusion participants asked questions about everything e.g. high interest rates to retirement planning. One lady who is preparing to retire soon was grateful that ABSA staff was there to guide her with her retirement plan. I liked the fact that participants were able to share real life issues and were able to provide clear and actionable advice to one another. I believe that the when attendees left the workshop, they carried with them a newfound sense of financial empowerment. The workshops had been more than just an information-sharing session. It had sparked a community of people committed to taking control of their financial futures. They carried with them the seeds of financial wisdom, ready to cultivate them into a harvest of prosperity.
The month of July we trained Amanazaretha youth (Shembe Foundation) and community youth as a whole.As a trainer I learnt a lot this month about the Shembe church and how they do things. The youth was very appreciative of the sessions we brought for them, especially when it comes to budgeting,some would even comment that,they wished they had been taught these skills in high school because they would've avoided a lot of things,especially being in debt.when we did the pre assessment, the question "what to do if you cannot pat your installments" which is the 5th question,most of them would say "change my phone number" After the training though,their responses to the very same question would differ,giving us evidence that they have learnt something new,and behavior has definitely changed.we are really making a difference,one session at a time.
SANLAM Amana/ Shembe CFE training took place in the month of July at Inanda where approximately 80% of the community are members of the Shembe Church and the month of July is regarded as a religious period for the its members so this was part of Community Development initiatives by the church. We covered both rural and urban areas, mostly youth in the company of both Sanlam/Safrican and Shembe Foundation representatives who coordinated all the sessions and made sure that the logistics are in order and the venues are conducive. Amongst all 9 groups trained, the group from Amatikwe stood out. Firstly, in all sessions they were punctual which showed the eagerness and the respect they have for educational engagements. Infact, only one session was scheduled for that area but on the next day we were called to come back as they had more than 40 youth who were already at the venue by 8am to attend because they heard from their peers that they attended a very informative session the previous day and did not want to miss out so I had to take that group, unfortunately the hall was not booked for that day but they did not mind being trained in the shelter that was outside the hall and they stayed till the end without complaining. The most interesting topics were the one on needs/wants and boosting income. There was an argument on whether education is a need or a want? Few participants raised their opinions against it being a need as most of them are unemployed graduates and they strongly justified that there are many successful people who are not educated but the other participants who were for education being viewed as a need came up strongly with valid points which made the opponents realise that as much as there are many uneducated successful people but there will always be a need for some form of education for a wholesome and lasting success. Participants were also motivated and gained back confidence when I shared the ways of boosting their income by selling their talents and skills. This was an eye opener as they could see that even in the plight of the high unemployment rate, there are still other opportunities they can explore. All in all, the Amana/Shembe project was an inspiration to both participants and facilitators as most post training comments were heart warming and made us very proud that we played a role in empowering the youth of our country.
The participants learned how to create a personal budget, set financial goals, differentiate between needs and wants, build an emergency fund, understand credit scores, explore investment options, and plan for retirement. Practical tips and real-life examples were provided to make the information relatable and easy to understand. Empowerment and Inspiration As the workshop progressed, a sense of empowerment filled the room as participants realized the impact that improved financial literacy could have on their lives. They were inspired to take control of their finances, make positive changes in their spending habits, save for their future goals, and work towards achieving financial stability. The workshop instilled confidence in them to navigate the complex world of personal finance with clarity and purpose. Conclusion In conclusion, the financial literacy workshop for Vryberg SASSA and Zeerust Hospital participants was a resounding success. It not only equipped them with practical knowledge and skills but also motivated them to take charge of their financial well-being. As they left the workshop with newfound confidence and determination, they knew that they were better prepared to build a secure financial future for themselves and their families.
