In the Circle of Promise
28 November 2006
Entering the work force opens up a future for women in Soweto.
Sibongile Zondo, a 26-year-old woman from Soweto, grew up with five brothers. “I am a rose among thorns,” she says of the experience.
Zondo is now the manager of a bead shop where she works with 12 other women decorating clothing and producing other crafts for sale. She is polite, articulate, and very engaging—new skills she has learned and that she says she is trying to pass along to her brothers.
The bead shop is part of an Oxfam America-funded community development project by the Ikageng Itereleng AIDS Ministry and a clothing manufacturer called Africa Loves Babies. It is next to a sewing room where another 13 women produce bags and clothing, in a school across the street from the Hector Peterson Memorial and museum commemorating the 1976 Soweto uprising, a bloody milestone on the path to ending apartheid in South Africa.
Cony Ramela, Ikageng’s program officer, said they call the project “Circle of Promise.” It is named after Promise, a young woman who lost her parents and siblings to AIDS. She was so utterly traumatized she also lost the ability to learn: she could not read, write, or concentrate at school. Ikageng helped her find a special vocational school, where she learned to sew and make clothing. As she recovered from her loss, her professional life blossomed. She is now a successful fashion designer.
“Promise inspired a special program to help students overcome disabilities,” Ramela said. Ikageng expanded the concept to include a job training and economic empowerment program for HIV positive women who need income and lack the training they need to be employed and independent.
Promise and Progress
Dorothy Nairne, president of Africa Loves Babies, says the women make fast progress. “People come here with no business training, and in four months you can see the changes on their faces: they have dignity, hope, and they are bringing home money,” she said.
The training starts with the basics. People who have never held down a job learn how to manage their time, and how to work on a team. “They are learning life skills, like conflict resolution, communications, and economic literacy—how to manage their money. Because of this project, all of them have bank accounts, so they have a place to put their money.”
Nairne says many of the workers have special health concerns. “People also need to learn how to manage their HIV, which means taking their anti-retroviral medication on a regular basis, eating regularly, so they can keep on going,” she said. “How do you come to work if you are feeling sick and participate meaningfully? And work amicably with your team members? It is a lot to overcome.”
The women also learn to depend on each other to maintain their Circle of Promise. “The Circle of Promise is a promise to the community and to the group that life can and will be better,” Nairne said. “We are sewing and beading garments of hope, and everything that people make here is done with love and consideration, so the future will be brighter. We are growing the community one garment, one person at a time.”
A New Start for Workers
Sibongile Zondo, like the 26 other women in the Circle of Promise, had few prospects for employment, but a lot of energy and commitment to improve her situation.
“Before I started the training I was a bit shy,” she said outside the bead shop. “I did not know how to express myself among people I do not know. But with this training I became more motivated, and [now] I know how to carry myself, and how to deal with different people.”
She is building her business experience quickly, managing the shop’s books, promoting their products, and supervising the production schedule. The responsibility, as well as her regular income, is changing her life. “Before I had to figure out how I would get through the day. Now I am independent, I don’t rely on handouts.”
Next door in the sewing shop, another 13 women are assembling garments on six new sewing machines purchased with a grant from Oxfam America. Maureen Simelane, a 38-year-old mother of three, is in her fifth month at the shop, and also appreciates the opportunity.
“It is good working here, although it is also a challenge working with other people. We have a few conflicts but overall things are OK.” While learning to deal with the inevitable work-place clashes, she says her wages are helping her at home, and she said she is buying more food and even purchased new school uniforms for her kids.
“The training opened my eyes,” Simelane said. “Before, I saw myself sitting at home by myself. My sister and brother passed on, and I did not think I would make it. But since I came here, I think I am going to make it in the future.”
Working and overcoming their problems together builds solidarity among the women. Sibongile Zondo says it builds their commitment to their work and to the Circle of Promise. “As I have met others who have also lost family to AIDS, I can see we are not alone,” she said. Zondo paused, looked up at the sun, squinted in the light, and said, “We are in it together, and I can’t step down and break the circle, we need to stay together.”
