Empowered to make a difference
Local resident Themba Ngema shares the importance of volunteering and lending a helping hand to disadvantaged homes
PASSIONATE about changing people’s lives one day at a time, Thembalethu Ngema (23) of eSikhawini is setting the benchmark for volunteers in Zululand.
After realising the growing need for assistance in disadvantaged homesteads, the former Dlangezwa High matriculant searched for a suitable opportunity to do community upliftment work following the completion of her Honours Degree in Social Work at the University of Zululand (Unizulu) in 2014.
With no available jobs, Themba was left with only one alternative – volunteering.
After crossing paths with capacity building and development organisation Zoe-Life, Themba’s door to helping others was opened when she joined the volunteer team.
Working hand-in-hand with the International Citizenship Service in the field of Public Health and Social Transformation, Zoe-Life focuses on transforming options available to children, vulnerable families and communities affected by disease, poverty and injustice.
Themba joined the Zoe-Life volunteer programme for a 12-week placement and in that time grew spiritually, emotionally and professionally as she discovered things about others as well as herself.
‘Many people may take volunteerism as just doing something without getting paid,’ said Themba.
‘Volunteerism allows you to learn, discover, share and explore new things so as to become empowered to bring about change.’
Through this experience, Themba and so many others have been made aware of the two big social issues in our country – unemployment and poverty.
She appeals to unemployed youth to join in the programme and assist in changing peoples’ lives.
Themba is now completing her masters degree at Unizulu in an effort to continue her community work.
