Stories
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.
The last few trainings,at Hammarsdale,we were invited by students at the TVET College,who wanted assistance with managing their stipends,they are doing brick laying course and plumbing,they recieve a stipend,and they live far from their homes,which means they are renting. When we started with needs VS goals,it was quite an interesting debate they had,looking at the cards and reflecting back to their own needs and wants. I loved the fact that they needed help,and they went out and looked for it,and found us to give them information so that it's easy for them to make the right decisions on managing their finances.
Had the opportunity to train with two Sanlam workplace teams from Qwaqwa and Sterkspruit. The modules covered were savings and investments, Boosting income and Funding funerals. The experience was awesome as the individuals were open and willing to learn despite the fact that they are financial advisers themselves. To begin with savings and investments their job responsibilities include recruiting and enrolling clients as investors with their company however on their personal level it is challenging to identify types of investments and their different interest rate percentage hence majority do not have accounts of their own. Secondly they mentioned that they are commission based income so their monthly pay is variable depending on the target they have reached therefore sometimes they experience the shortfall on the income and expenses becomes higher than money earned but from the session we identified ways one could boost their income taking into consideration their skills as individuals and geographical area and also reaching more than given target to reach could also boost income. Moreover the "Funding the funeral" was more interesting as their daily work is to sell policies, we got to discuss the WILL,it's importance and factors such as premium waver, policy crossover, underwriters and etc inclusive of the terms and conditions. The biggest motivation was to see the positive impact the training has brought to the members and lastly they requested us to train on TAX MATTERS before the return season" because most of them do not know how and where to start.
Sanlam Worksite Training Story: Welkom and Kimberley On the 7th and 09th of June 2024, I had an opportunity to train Sanlam employees in Northern Cape and in the Free State on Sanlam Worksite Money Modular 2, 4, 5, and 13 respectively. The turnout was very good people having travelled from far flanked areas within their districts and this showed me that the participants were eager and committed to learn and ready to acquire a new skill that will be beneficial in their daily personal life. We had a total of 79 participants combined. When we started, I made mention of the purpose of the sessions and the topics that will be covered and indicated to them that 'Financial institutions frequently inundate people and workers with offers of credit facilities and this often proves to be problematic if people do not have sufficient financial literacy knowledge. Without appropriate financial education, people run the risk of not being adequately prepared for future events such as paying for their children’s education, saving for the future and retirement, or coping with unforeseen emergencies. Financial stress influences other aspects of people lives such as health and productivity, which ultimately affect families, employers and the society in general". This led to participants opening up on some of their personal experiences. Since the Advisor's line of work is mostly based on targets and heavily rely on commission and their salaries fluctuating, they saw the saving and investing module being very important and insightful since it showed them the different saving methods that are available for them to save their money for unforeseen events and for future goals. Most of them are not currently saving even though they sell products to clients that relates to savings and investing. Boosting my income module was also received well in light of the fact that in some months where they don't receive business from signing up clients, they will be able to cover their expenses when they have additional income from their side "hustles". I gave them an activity on module 13 to prepare a funeral and to show the cost of a funeral. This gave them a real feel of budgeting/ financing a funeral and the realities associated with planning a funeral. One participant came to me after the session and indicated that she is expecting to receive money soon from Road Accident Fund and was not sure how to go about saving some of it and that now she attended these sessions she will do further research and explore the saving/ investing methods she learned in class. She indicated that this information came at right time for her, and she is very grateful. I also suggested that she should consult a registered Financial Advisor to see what options can suit her personal and family needs. The Managers also indicated that they haven't received these types of sessions for more than 13 years and their very grateful and wish Avo can conduct more sessions of this nature. Thank you AVO.
We were invited by the Mafikeng Police Force on the 4th of June 2024 to empower them with financial skills and financial knowledge. We had a great time with the men and women in blue uniform. The level of participation was heartwarming and the tools we used helped participants to understand the content better. We were talking about Budgeting and Saving & Investing. We all agreed that a budget is the foundation of your financial life—it's there to help you build your spending and saving habits. It can help you direct your income toward your needs and wants, and steer clear of overspending and consumer debt. Whereas Saving and investing are both important to consider in your future planning. Through saving money, your money is kept safe, and easy to access should you need it. By investing early over time, your money grows in value, benefiting from the magic of compounding. Participants enjoyed the training and requested that we must come at least once a month, great session indeed! All participants received a certificate and light lunch was served.
