HOPE Power

This morning Carola and I meet the Entrepreneur Women at our usual spot in Mayibuye.

 I pull up honking my horn several times in excitement, the women cheering and clapping. There they stand; prompt, nicely dressed, and faces full of excitement and hope.

It is off on a road trip to a farm an hour away in Eikenhof. It is there we find Wilkinson Brick Making Machines. Joe and Ellemarie Wilkinson own the business and run it from their farm.

In the car ride, Silvia and Elizabeth speak about how they have talked about their ideas for business for so long. How they approached the councillors on several occasions, but it "always is just talking." They attribute this day, the day their dreams become a reality, in full, to Project HOPE UK.

These women are self-starters, motivated, determined, and do not allow circumstance or environment to be an excuse not to help themselves. Not only are they helping themselves, they are helping the community. Silvia talks about running her creche since 1997, but it wasn't until Project HOPE UK with the backing of GSK, and the training by Safe and Sound, that she has really become the "principal" of her creche. She currently has 16 children in her creche that she cares for, buys food for, and cooks for. She boasts about the healthy meals she cooks; one learning from Safe and Sound training.

During the car ride, since the women mostly speak in Swana, I reflect on characteristics I look at as a TSM when hiring for a sales position. I often look at the innate qualities in a person; those qualities that cannot be trained. People who are self-motivators, have a positive attitude, take accountability and do not look for excuses to let them off the hook of responsibility. These women have these qualities I speak of. See, these qualities, are not dependent on one's status, how they dress, where they come from, or how much money they have in the bank. Now the nature/nurture debate may come into play here, but since I do not know how they were brought up, I cannot comment. I can only feel exhilarated and inspired as I watch these women listening with pensive faces on how to work this machine.

These women got right into the training of the brick-making

 I just adore Elizabeth in the two pictures above. She is so excited, so positive, so determined, and operates in a state of urgency. She wants to start her businesses "yesterday"

I spoke with Ellemarie for a bit who told me that it took her and her husband, Joe, 7 years to build their home using bricks they made from these machines. 27 years later, their house still stands without a crack in it.

Joe and Elliemarie are doing their part by delivering these machines for free, supplying the oil cans and other maintenance needs, and offerring extra training.
The brick making machines are being supplied by Eniger. A company owned by a husband and wife, whom I met the wife, Eva. Another interesting and inspiring older woman who gives back to the surrounding communities on a monthly basis. She is a savvy businesswoman with a big heart. Oh how she reminds me of my late Auntie Inez who was a remarkable woman in business and in family life.
We conclude our training session sharing some juice with the women and Ellemarie and Joe.

As the electric gate slides open for us to drive through, and we come to the end of the driveway to turn onto the road, Elizabeth starts singing in Swana and dancing in the backseat. I catch the rhythm and start to dance as well. They, laughing with me and liking that I am joining in. 

The women are happy. I hear them say this has been "a dream until now." Silvia says, 'Things are going to be okay now."

Elizabeth chants "HOPE power."