“EVERY one of us has a dream. It’s just that some people don’t know where to go or what to do. They need help.”
These are the words of Umbilo resident and estate agent Zanele Khaloli. Her dream is simple – to see others succeed – to make their dreams come true.
Her passion to bring hope to her community led Khaloli to start her NPO, Zinoju Skills – which was officially registered in May. Now based on King DiniZulu Road in the heart of Berea, Khaloli began her work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“When I saw what damage Covid-19 did in terms of job losses, I decided to give back to the community. People have got talents and skills that need to be enhanced – the NPO came about when we decided to step in and help them,” she said.
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As a fledgling initiative, Khaloli used her personal finances to fund the project. As she built momentum, her friends and family started to donate toward the cause. Her work began on a smaller scale as she identified individuals in need. The process begins with hope.
“When people come here, they have tried everything. Sometimes it takes time for them to reach a state of mind where they are able to pursue their dream. When I see a person has lost hope, I refer them to a professional for counselling. They need to be in the state of mind where they are excited about their project. Emotional issues can obstruct their goals,” said Khaloli.
Freedom for women
She highlighted the importance of financial freedom for women.
“There are a lot of stressful situations in people’s homes including gender-based violence. We need to look after ourselves, especially as women. It is important for women that they do not need to rely on a boyfriend or husband financially – what can we do to uplift them?” she said.
At Zinoju Skills, Khaloli will meet with clients and find out what they are passionate about before linking them with industry experts who can assist them. She also runs workshops to impart entrepreneurship skills.
“A person will come in, saying they need a job. I will start by asking what they enjoyed doing when they were young. They might remember they always enjoyed styling hair. I ask if this is something they can see themselves doing long-term. We brainstorm other ideas and look at the market – what business will succeed. We discuss what will make this product or service stand out from the market,” explained Khaloli.
She added that one woman she assisted was artistic and had an interest in carpentry.
“So we said, ‘OK, let’s find a school where you can learn about carpentry.’ That’s where it all stared. We could see we were making a difference,” said Khaloli.
Empowering youth
As word got out, more people arrived on Khaloli’s doorstep – especially youth.
“You will find that some youth have degrees but no jobs. There is no employment, but they are good with their hands; they are talented. We help them to polish their skills so they can make an income. We help anyone who needs help, and we do this for free,” said the Umbilo resident.
As Khaloli helped other reach their goals, she accomplished a dream of her own – opening her NPO offices in Berea.
“I had this dream, to have a space where people can be assisted and see their dreams come true. There are a lot of people who just need a little push to make their dreams come true. Some of the businesses people want to start don’t cost that much; it’s just a matter of knowing where to go and what to do,” she said.
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With her new offices, Khaloli is able to offer a workspace to clients, complete with free WiFi.
“We also host business workshops on how to run a business and how to manage your finances as an entrepreneur in the SMME sector. Once people start their business, they need to be mentored in some ways. That mentorship is available here until we can see they are able to stand on their own,” said the NPO founder.
While Khaloli hosts some workshops herself, she usually outsources industry experts who are accredited in their fields.
“For example, if someone wants to learn plumbing, we will call in an expert and hold a class at our offices. If someone is interested in broiler chicken farming, I would get in touch with the Department of Agriculture to find out more,” she said.
Khaloli does not turn anyone away – regardless of qualifications or background.
“You don’t have to have any qualifications – you just have to have a passion. If you love what you do, people will be able to help you make it into a business,” she said.
Khaloli also assists young businesses with marketing via social media to advertise their services and products.
“That support is something a young person needs. They need guidance,” she concluded.
For more information on Zinjo Skills, contact Khaloli on 031 012 5094 or follow the NPO on Facebook, Zinoju Trading CC.
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