Hi, I’m Nobuhle, a 19-year-old from Wattville in the East Rand of Johannesburg. My journey hasn’t been easy, but every setback has helped shape the person I’m becoming.

I graduated high school in 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. I had big dreams of becoming a psychologist or a social worker, but rejection from universities left me feeling crushed. Despite passing with a bachelor’s degree, my marks in English weren’t enough to qualify. That rejection broke me, and for months, I avoided applying for anything. The fear of rejection was too much to face again.

But my mum, despite being unemployed herself, kept encouraging me. She found a private college offering a course in social auxiliary work. At first, I wasn’t interested—everything felt hopeless. But eventually, I enrolled.

The course was a challenge, especially financially. We struggled to afford the fees, and at one point, I was almost kicked out. But with help from my dad’s company, I completed the programme in 2022.

When it was time to find practical experience, I hit another wall—finding a placement felt like job hunting, and the fear of rejection resurfaced. I stayed home for a year, too scared to apply anywhere.

Then, I heard about the Pathway Programme at Kids Haven. Initially sceptical, I joined because I had nothing else to lose. Looking back, I’m so glad I gave it a chance. The programme didn’t just help me find a job—it helped me rediscover myself. They taught me confidence, how to handle interviews, how to write a CV, and most importantly, how to face rejection without giving up.
During the programme, I applied for jobs as a social auxiliary worker. My first interview didn’t go well, but rejection didn’t break me. I kept applying. A few days later, I was hired for a retail job. It wasn’t the career I originally envisioned, but it gave me the confidence to keep moving forward.
Today, I have a permanent contract in retail. It’s a start, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come. The Pathway Programme showed me that even though life doesn’t always go as planned, there’s always a way forward.

Why You Should Support the Pathway Programme

The Pathway Programme didn’t just give me skills—it gave me hope. I joined with little faith in myself, wondering how it would help me. But through the programme, I learned to believe in my own potential. They taught me how to handle interviews, write a CV, and overcome rejection without giving up.

The Pathway Programme also provided me with a sense of community. The people I met there supported me when I felt lost and reminded me that rejection is just part of the journey.
There are so many young people like me who feel stuck and hopeless. Your support—whether through donations or creating job opportunities—can give them the chance to find their path, just like I did.