I am Paballo Nkakala and I come from Thabong, Welkom – a community where opportunities for skills development are limited. I’ve always been eager to try something new and felt a strong desire for growth and change. I did not know where to find new opportunities. The turning point in my life was when I heard of Thabiso Skills Development Centre and decided to enrol, wanting to gain new skills and experiences beyond my familiar environment.
In August and September 2022, I attended the Basic Catering course, and from October to November 2022 I took the Basic End User Computing course. I also attended a Basic Business and Life Skills course. These courses truly changed my perspective and helped me develop my creative thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities – skills that have been invaluable in both my personal and professional life.
During my time at Thabiso Skills, I developed key skills like flexibility, resilience, cooking, computer use and productivity. These skills opened doors for me, and I was able to secure jobs at Nando’s and KFC. Currently, I work at KFC as a team member, and this role continues to help me grow and build my confidence. I am able to provide for myself with the salary I receive.
I inspire people in my community. Seeing my progress, friends and neighbours became motivated to pursue their own development through Thabiso, eager to follow a similar path.
Looking back, I can honestly say that going to Thabiso Skills Development Centre was the best decision I ever made. Learning to cook and use a computer in such a short time has empowered me to develop further and aim higher. I believe my journey is just beginning, and I owe so much of my progress to the skills I gained at Thabiso.
