When appointed as the cluster coordinator in hand in hand South Africa for Limpopo on August 2011, I was happy as I was not working at that moment but was selling Archaar to generate income. When I began at Hand in Hand I often...


When appointed as the cluster coordinator in hand in hand South Africa for Limpopo on August 2011, I was happy as I was not working at that moment but was selling Archaar to generate income. When I began at Hand in Hand I often asked myself how I was going to change people’s mind set and encourage them to be business minded as I did not have business skills and knowledge. My fears were soon laid to rest when HiH trained me and fellow cluster coordinators in Entrepreneurship and how to save. After this I was able to understand or see the light and turned a new leaf in as far as budgeting and saving is concerned personally.

I was able to save money from the stipend that HiH was paying me and registered toward my certificate in Post Graduate In Education through UNISA and through the training I am now able to budget and pay tuition fees without my parents or siblings’ assistance (self-reliance).

My work as a cluster coordinator was not without challenges. I was often faced with the task of convincing people to start self-help groups so that they can start their own business and also to be self-reliant because some people thought HiH will give them money to start their business.

After working as a cluster coordinator for just over a year HiH realized that I had a passion for writing and held a media degree from the University of Limpopo. The project manager in Limpopo then asked me to write a case study about one of my groups. I decided to write about a group that was still in its infancy and desired to start a piggery. I remember travelling to Johannesburg to meet the CEO and in that meeting I was offered the opportunity to be the first ever Communication Officer for HiH Southern Africa based in Limpopo office. I am so happy because I am doing what I love and would like to thank HiH for giving me this opportunity to spread my wings.

Compiled and Written By

Lindi Makaringe

Communication Officer