Obtaining baking skills was a dream come true for 29-year-old Langaville resident Clayton Tjameya.
His dreams were realised with the assistance of Siyabonga Africa, a Brakpan-based NPO.
The organisation helps poor and disadvantaged people gain marketable skills to enable them to earn an income and provide for themselves and their families.
Among the courses offered are life skills, welding, vegetable gardening, fashion design, bread baking and computer literacy.
Tjameya grew up in Kwa-Thema and was introduced to Siyabonga Africa in 2019.
He registered for a baking course in 2021. This was a two-week course which commenced in June.
“I love baking. It was a dream come true to get an opportunity to get baking skills,” he said.
“My goal is to help unemployed young people, especially in the Ekurhuleni area.
“I would love to start my own business. I want to start a bakery and employ a lot of people through farming, production and packaging to logistics and retail.”
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Tjameya started volunteering as soon as he completed his baking course.
He volunteered at Mwari Pizza House in Kwa-Thema to gain more knowledge and experience.
He started using the kitchen to make fat cakes from 04:45 to 09:00 because the pizza shop opens at 10:00.
In September, Siyabonga Africa donated a new double-base electric fryer to Tjameya to thank him for making the sacrifices to become an agent of change and to support him as a growing entrepreneur.
Tjameya sells fat cakes, assorted biscuits and coffee every morning.
He explained he wakes up every morning and encourages himself by saying: “I can, I will and I must.”
Tjameya thanked Siyabonga Africa for his baking skills, which has resulted in a positive income for him.
“I greatly appreciate your help, the electric fryer and the knowledge for me to register my business,” he said.
Tjameya’s business is called Handyman Bakery and will be operating in Kwatsaduza.
He will be producing high-quality, freshly-baked products.
What he likes most about his business is that it has made him believe in himself.
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Tjameya is the reason Siyabonga Africa is zealous about changing lives and why all involved in the organisation wake up in the morning. It is a passion taken seriously.
“Not only do we find pleasure in hearing stories such as this one, but it affirms that the chain of positive change is becoming stronger and longer,” said Anna Thaoge from Siyabonga Africa.
“That gives us a renewed will to do more so that more people such as Clayton can be given an opportunity to learn, grow and impart knowledge to others as well.
“We invite South Africans to become agents of change with Siyabonga Africa.”
Siyabonga Africa is situated along Muriel Brand Street in Brenthurst.
For more information, visit www.siyabongaafrica.org.za or call 011 744 4350.
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