The key is job creation and skills transference
BLAIRGOWRIE - Cathy and Neil Wickeham, a retired couple of Blairgowrie, are committed to helping orphans and vulnerable youth, by creating job opportunities for them.
Just My Job, a non-profit organisation, seeks to create job opportunities rather than giving handouts.
Cathy Wickeham, of Blairgowrie, founder of Just My Job, said the organisation was started to bridge the gap for teenagers who could not support themselves and who cannot get a government grant because they are over the stipulated age.
“When me and Neil, my husband retired, we thought we could help those teenagers, who do not qualify to receive government grants and cannot get jobs.
We started Just My Job, in 2007. We teach them skills in producing handmade crafts and business coaching,” explained Cathy.
Just My Job, is a job creation forum which caters for the youth who are orphans as well as vulnerable youth.
The organisation has been selected as part of the 46 exhibitors who are going to display their crafts and sell them at the Montecasino Christmas Village from 3 to 7 December.
Cathy explained in 2007 they approached Black Sash to train 10 matriculants, who helped them to collect detailed information about the youth of Hazyview, in Mpumalanga.
She said they wanted to know more after realising that Uthando House Feeding Scheme, which they started in early 1990s, was feeding more than a thousand children.
According to Wickeham they found that most of the youth were orphans who could not receive government grants because they were over the age limit.
“When we started Just My Job, we helped them to apply for birth certificates registrations so that they could get identity documents. We did a lot of training on social, educational and self esteem,” said Cathy.
She said the youth learned to plan and produce their hand crafts, which they then invoice to Cathy, in order to be paid.
Cathy sells the items on their behalf.
“At the moment, they are happy to earn R21,41 per hour for the items they produce. I am so amazed at their committment, work ethic and business ethos. I’m based in Blairgowrie and it is difficult to manage them, but they work so hard and they know about employment and labour issues.”
All that Cathy wants, is a retired person who is passionate about business and who can help to manage the youth.
“I am a cancer survivor and my husband is not well. We are not getting any younger and sometimes I worry that if anything happens to us, who is going to take care of these children. I would like someone who can help and guide them,” said Cathy.
You can support this social entrepreneurship by buying their Christmas handicrafts at Montecasino Christmas Village, at the Outdoor Piazza from 3 to 7
December. Their items cost as little as R35.
Details Cathy and Neil Wickeham Just My Job, 011787 4330; Montecasino’s Christmas Market montecasino.co.za or Facebook at www.facebook.com/montecasino or follow us on Twitter at @MontecasinoZA.
