STARTING off as a volunteer at LifeLine Zululand in 2014 opened up a door of opportunity for Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Siphelelisiwe (S’phe) Mlungwana to make a difference in her community and work her way up the organisation’s ranks.
The 27-year-old Bachelor of Psychology graduate currently oversees the implementation of programmes and ensures targets are met, while also assisting with clients.
Training and fund-raising are also part of her job description..
‘My journey at LifeLine actually happened by chance.
‘During my internship year, I was placed at a Rape Crisis Centre in Cape Town where I got to know more about the Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC).
‘At the time I was not aware of a TCC in KZN, but eventually tracked them down and found that counsellors at the TCC were employed by LifeLine Zululand.
‘In 2014 I applied to volunteer at LifeLine and did so for two months, working three days a week. I eventually applied for the post of Victim Empowerment Programme Supervisor.
‘In 2016 the position of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer became available and I jumped at the opportunity.
‘I enjoy my work, and promotions and awards validate what you do,’ she said.
Volunteering
The unemployment of graduates remains a concern for Mlungwana, who understands the difficulties of having to find employment after graduating.
‘The perception that having a piece of paper will automatically open doors to the life you want to live, is sadly not the reality.
‘Once you graduate, you still have to work hard to prove yourself.
‘Sadly very few jobs are available to people with no experience and the competition for those jobs is very high.
‘Never underestimate the value of volunteering for unpaid learnerships.
‘This gives you the experience you need.
‘You have to understand that sometimes money is not the only motivating factor,’ she said.
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