How it started
Even though 22-year-old Ziphelele Ngwenya has a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, philosophy and politics; she was unable to find work. Through Lima, she had an opportunity to join the SEF project as a community Health Participant.

About Lima
LIMA Rural Development Foundation promotes dignified, sustainable and transformative community growth across South Africa and worldwide. As an organisation, we support the simultaneous development of people and livelihoods in resource-scarce contexts, particularly in rural areas. Through well-integrated, field-based interventions, Lima leverages local economic development activities and the establishment of appropriate institutions to help alleviate poverty and build human capacity.

The Health Participant role
As a Community Health Participant, Ziphelele’s responsibilities included conducting surveys to identify vulnerable households with pregnant females and parents and caregivers of young children between the ages of 0 and 5. She played a crucial role in establishing support groups in her community to offer emotional and practical support to these vulnerable individuals. Additionally, she collaborated with relevant stakeholders to connect vulnerable households with essential health and social services.

How SEF helped land a permanent job
After working in the SEF programme for five months, Ziphelele was offered a position as a Community Liaison officer for a construction company working on a school building project in her community. Ziphelele credits the SEF for giving her some work experience, while also developing interpersonal skills like communication and community engagement. Through conducting vulnerability surveys and household visits, she learned how to interact effectively with people she hadn’t met before, while networking and building community connections at the same time. Plus, her experience in facilitating and conducting support groups as a health participant gave her the confidence to lead meetings and conversations as a Community Liaison officer. These skills have proved essential in her new role.

Community Liaison officer
In her current role, Ziphelele serves as a liaison between the construction company and the community during the school building project. Her tasks include communicating with external and internal stakeholders, as well as members of the public. She facilitates discussions and meetings between relevant community members and prepares reports and correspondence to keep the community updated on the project’s progress.

A future in the making
Ziphelele Ngwenya’s journey from being a SEF Health Participant to becoming a Community Liaison officer shows the positive impact that a social employment programme can have. Through her work with SEF, she has gained valuable experience, developed essential skills, and built the confidence to perform in her current role. The SEF project has played a significant role in empowering Ziphelele and providing her with valuable tools to make a meaningful contribution to herself and her community.