JumpStart gives young people from underprivileged communities the chance to experience the 'world of work' in Mr Price Group stores. Unemployed candidates, between the age of 18 and 24, receive formal training before gaining work experience at a Mr Price store.
It's a sad fact that youngsters from impoverished homes often lack confidence and suffer low self-esteem. While JumpStart helps to build these attributes in candidates, they gain far more than soft skills. Some delegates who have been given a head start by JumpStart share their stories ...
Emmanuel Mazibuko (25) saw his opportunity with JumpStart in 2007 as a stepping stone and vowed to make the best of it. And that's exactly what he's done. He progressed from flexi casual to semi-permanent – and is now a new permanent store associate at Mr Price Pavilion. Emmanuel is ecstatic about his new position – and happier still that he can now help his father take care of family responsibilities. One of Emmanuel's highlights was receiving the Best Customer Service Award a few months after being appointed as a permanent casual. And it's no wonder: in the middle of our interview, he jumped up to help a colleague who was attending to a customer in the store! Emmanuel looks beyond his current circumstances; he aspires to run a department, as manager, within the next few years. And he's still holding fast to his dream of furthering his education. 'JumpStart gave me the confidence and hope that I can achieve more in life,' adds Emmanuel, with a wide smile.
Andile Mkhize, who's in her early 20s, is a busy mom to three boys: Sbu (10), Sfundo (7) and Smanga (5). She knew that she had to grab the chance that JumpStart offered her – for her own sake and her children's. 'I was a teenager when I fell pregnant with my first born, so I had to rely on my mother for everything,' Andile explains, 'But when I fell pregnant again, I had to take full responsibility. I had to find a job; my mom could no longer support me, my children and our whole family.' JumpStart was the turning point for her. 'I made sure that I gave my absolute best and worked hard. This was my chance to change my life and give my children a future.'
Beverly Goba, Store Manager at Mr Price Pavilion, is full of praise for the JumpStart programme. 'They are driven, passionate and hungry for success,' she says. 'You can see the difference between the JumpStart delegates and the casuals who randomly walk in the store looking for a job. The initial Dreambuilders training they get makes a difference; they are here to stay.'
Nelisa Zulu, a young enthusiastic short course graduate of Cornerstone call centre training, finds her dream job as a call centre agent in the Financial Services division of Mr Price Group.
Nelisa was introduced by a friend to the JumpStart programme; an initiative of RedCap Foundation. Unlike other JumpStart delegates, who are part of non profit organisations and have an interest in gaining work experience in stores, at the Distribution Centre or in anything that can give them experience. Nelisa's wanted to be in the call centre and was certainly not shy to make her wishes known! Her interest and enthusiasm will now pave the way for other 'Jumpstarters' in the call centre...
Nelisa was offered the opportunity to do her experiential training at the Credit Office earlier in the year. Her willingness to learn impressed her manager and was offered a casual position straight after completing her one week training. "I was very excited when I was offered a three months contract; I obviously didn't know the best was yet to come". She says
Knowing and being certain about what she wants in her career, as she says, worked for her. She is now a permanent employee of Mr Price Group Financial Services.
She says her one week training at the Credit Office gave her so much confidence and practical experience. "I have learned so much here that I can also help others; I have a trainee at my desk today who is also learning from me. It's like my dreams are starting to come true! "This is what I dreamt of, when I finished school and decided to do my short course training at Cornerstone. I wanted to be a call centre agent! I enjoy working with people and helping people when they have queries about their accounts" she says with a wide confident smile...
Nelisa has three sisters whom she says are her role models and are like a mom to her; after the tragic loss of her mom last year. She enjoys spending time with her friends and watching the Geographic channel on DSTV, "I love nature and I also have love for young children, I would like to get involved in helping less privileged children one day". She says
Sthembiso Chili and Mandisa Nzama are employees of Mr Price Home, Argyle branch in Durban. They are both passionate recipients of the JumpStart programme. While Mandisa was introduced to the programme by World Changers Academy, Sthembiso received a self mastery training programme of the Dreambuilders Institute – both organizations are partners of RedCap Foundation in JumpStart.
Mandisa Nzama was recently appointed in a permanent position as a store associate while Sthembiso seems satisfied with his casual job because his IT studies through UNISA demands his time too. Sthembiso is very excited that he can now finance his studies with his salary.
Mandisa, is a first born to her late mom. A 21 year old bright spark has a responsibility to care and raise her two year old brother and a 14 year old sister who reside with her in Philani Valley on the south of Durban. She is a beneficiary of a partnership youth programme of YMCA and World Changers Academy. She was given a chance to gain work experience in June last year – soon after her work experience she was offered a casual position which landed into her permanent job.
Mandisa was passionate enough to impress her store manager. She was offered a permanent position to look after the decorative and candles department at Mr Price Home. "This is my first job!" She says with a big, lively smile, I am very excited! I have my own department and I work at till points at the same time" she says proudly. "I had great fun during my work experience/ I was trained in all the departments but I really fell in love and excelled in this one". "Working here has really impacted my life positively. I can now support my brother and my sister whom I love dearly. I am so grateful to YMCA and World Changers Academy for connecting me with JumpStart which has brought me where I am today". She adds with excitement…
Sthembiso Chili, leaves in Kwa Mashu K section, he is originally from Ndwedwe a rural area just outside Durban. Sthembiso says he doesn't know how his friend who told him about JumpStart found out about it. The training programme was so beneficial to him such that taking three taxis to get to the training venue was not a difficulty for him. "The programme was more than what I expected it to be, I was taught how to believe in myself and that I should have dreams, be positive in life and that if you don't succeed in one thing there is hope in other things." He says. He is very excited about his casual job because he can pay for his Information Technology studies at UNISA.
He enjoys working at the cash desks because he gets to work on the computers, which is his passion. Sthembiso had a dream of becoming a doctor, but when he realized he could not pursue medicine, he lost hope! But after the Dreambuilders self mastery programme, facilitated by Dreambuilders Institute, Sthembiso was motivated to pursue Information Technology. He is now able to look after himself while his parents take care of his seven siblings.