#YourStory – Making something out of nothing
Shain Cherry (19) matriculated last year from Queens High School and was unable to go to university due to financial constraints.
South Africa’s rate of unemployment went above market expectations to 26.7 per cent of the labour force in the first quarter of 2016, up from 24.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year.
In its quarterly labour force survey, Statistics South Africa stated this means over 5.7-million people were without jobs in the first quarter compared to 5.2-million previously but this does not stop the two young men who reside in Max Goodman Park.
Shain Cherry (19), who matriculated last year from Queens High School and was unable to go to university due to financial constraints, started his own business with his friend Wayne van Wyk (22).
They make tables, chairs and other household furniture using wood and other materials and sell the unique handmade items to the public.
“I build whatever people ask me to build. For my last job we used wood to build an air conditioner,” said Shain.
“I enjoy what I do and it takes about three hours to build one table. I learn so much from building. I finished school last year and I wanted to study mechanical engineering and I wish to further my studies one day,” Shain told the EXPRESS.
Their business is doing fine and they say they can’t start charging people high prices as it will affect their business ideals. “You start small, and after people see how hard you work then you can raise your price,” said Shain.
His advice to young graduates from university or high school is to make their dreams come true.
“They must not sit at home and wait for something to happen, they must go out and build something,” said Shain.
Shain can be contacted on 079 229 2884.
