Yeoville’s Cheryl finds joy in her passion
“I have always been passionate about building human capital, especially where women and children are concerned.”
They say everyone has a purpose in life and when you find it you will know because of the joy it will bring you.
That is Cheryl Hlabane’s story of how volunteering her time at a women’s organisation helped her find purpose.
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“I have always been passionate about building human capital, especially where women and children are concerned.
“There comes a time in one’s life where you want to do something with meaning and purpose and I was at that point in my life. For me it was about making an impact and helping transform lives,” shared Cheryl.
Now a manager at the Frida Hartley Shelter for Women in Yeoville, she said she does not see herself anywhere else because she is where she is supposed to be.
“I come from an HR and recruitment background. I have had my share of the glam corporate life and I felt I was not fulfilling my purpose,” said Cheryl.
She said working at the home allows her to give hope and help women in need.
“When I started working at the shelter in 2015, I was so excited to empower the women with the knowledge I had acquired over my working years.
“I share my life experiences while hoping that they can take a page from my book and, most importantly, help them find their purpose in life,” explained Cheryl.
She was never ready for how the job would also touch and transform her life.
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“Working here has transformed my life immensely as a mother, a friend, a daughter, a sister and partner. I had no idea that I possessed the strength I now have and the emotional intelligence to be objective even in situations that are designed to hurt me,” said Cheryl.
“I am blessed to have met women who come from all walks of life and who have shared their journeys with me because that helped me see things in a different way.”
She said her work does come with challenges but she always remembers why she is there.
“Being in a sector which is underserved, I know the importance of people like myself or organisations like Frida Hartley Shelter. Each day I am motivated by my passion to help women and children,” said Cheryl.
She said her biggest challenge is learning how not to get personally involved.
“It can get extremely emotional and overwhelming at times. However, it’s very important to know when to step back.”
She said running a shelter like Frida Hartley takes heart because of the type of service they offer.
“An organisation like Frida should not die, but be sustained by the community,” said Cheryl.
Contact the shelter on 011 648 6005.
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