Thembisa mother transforms her life through TCB Repair Programme

My name is Charity Mdluli. I’m 49 and live in Thembisa with my two children, a boy and a girl, who are the centre of my world.
Before joining TCB (The Clothing Bank), life was difficult.

I worked here and there, but no matter how hard I tried, what I earned was never enough. I was tired of just surviving; I wanted more for myself and my children.

So, in January 2023, I joined TCB’s Repair Programme, and it changed everything.

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I learned a lot about budgeting, saving, communicating, and selling. I even learnt how to use a computer.

Fixing broken appliances and giving them new life makes me feel proud because not many people know how to do that. It’s a skill I carry with pride.

Thanks to what I’ve learnt and achieved at TCB, I no longer need to borrow money from anyone. I feel financially free. I used to rent a house; now my husband and I own our home.

My children are happy because we finally have a place to call our own. I’ve even arranged school transport for them and can take them out, like other parents do. That’s the kind of joy that used to feel impossible.

What I love most about my work is that people in my community know me. They recognise and respect me. I sell quality appliances, and people know that when they come to me, they’re getting the best.

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My business is doing well, and I’m visible in Thembisa in a way I never was before.

My dream is to open more shops and send my children to better schools. I want to keep building. I want to grow.

Being self-employed has given me freedom. I work on my own terms, and don’t have to wait for a boss to give me orders. I own my time and my business. And now, I even own my home.

My journey hasn’t just changed me; it’s changed my whole family.

There’s peace in our home now, no more arguments about money. Just love, laughter and understanding.

I’m proud to say I’m the first woman to become an ambassador for Repair JHB, which makes me feel special and seen. Daily, I wake up motivated by others’ success, knowing that I, too, can grow even more.

If I had to describe myself in three words, they’d be: determined, confident, and assertive.

My pillars in life are TCB and my family. My purpose? To rise, inspire and continue rewriting the story of my life.

Thembisa gave me the strength to rise, and with the support of my community and the tools I’ve been given, I’m just getting started.