Needle and thread helps unemployed graduate beat depression
She said after completing her sewing course she asked her husband, Sanele, to buy her sewing machines and she began practicing when Covid-19 hit last year.
HER decision to participate in a sewing course helped former University of KwaZulu-Natal student, Phetsile Gamede beat the depression that settled in when her attempts to secure a job became futile. Through her passion for sewing and her determination to succeed, she has since opened her own clothing company in Umbilo.
Gamede, who has a degree in geography and environmental management, which she pursued in 2017, said she could not find employment in her field from 2017-2018.
ALSO READ:Sewing the fabric of the Blind and Deaf Society
“I started looking for employment and I wasn’t choosy because I saw how hard it was to get a job in my field. In 2020, my interest in sewing started and I asked someone to teach me. I was offered a three-month course,” she said.
She said after completing her sewing course she asked her husband, Sanele, to buy her sewing machines and she began practicing when Covid-19 hit last year.
“I was depressed while looking for a job. I remember there was a time where I couldn’t get out of the house because I didn’t see a reason to wake up. I felt useless, I just wanted to work and do something constructive with my life,” she said.
ALSO READ:Sewing classes
She said she is now the one who is hiring people. She has two permanent employees who earn enough money to feed their families.
With a heart filled with gratitude, Gamede decided to give back to the community by teaching youth sewing skills to get them on the road to starting their own businesses.
“It is important to find an alternative as a graduate and to grab any opportunity that comes your way. It is worth approaching government departments that support small businesses,” she said.
She believes that having a skill and education will take you a long way.
When asked for her message to other graduates who find themselves in similar situations, she said, “Don’t give up, do not lose hope. Life doesn’t go the way we plan it but try to do something with your life that will put food on the table while waiting for that job. I assure you that if you find something, depression will automatically go away because you will have something you are busy with.”
If you require some advice, words of encouragement or would like to enquire about Gamede’s lessons, contact her on 072 576 6095.
* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
