Practical skills remain one of South Africa’s most effective tools against youth unemployment, but sometimes it’s the emotional benefits that that a skill provides, which makes the most impact
Clover Mama Afrika’s recent Barbering and Grooming Training Programme empowered community caregivers and youth with practical hair and grooming skills. Trainees learned everything from the basics of trimming and cutting to specialised techniques. But more than the barbering skills learned, the course has provided an opportunity to build the confidence of local youths, evident by the feedback the team received from trainees like 30-year-old Bongani Elgigin Pretorius and Shaheed Naran-43 years old.
“Our Business in a Box barbering and grooming training was an intensive, successful and impactful 5-day course, producing market-ready skills that enable immediate economic participation within the communities of each trainee. Each participant graduated with an all-inclusive barbering kit and equipment to immediately start generating income within their neighbourhoods. We knew that the concept would be well received and a practical income earning opportunity, but a more unexpected, beautiful part of the course was when we saw the impact it had on the confidence of our trainees,” says Rika Haasbroek, Clover Manager: Corporate Social Investment.
Programme graduate Bongani Pretorius was initially raised by Mama Mtebeni and later on, by Mama Nolitha Ndalasi’s Sinethemba Community Organisation in Harare, Khayelitsha after being orphaned at a young age and born with fetal alcohol syndrome. The training became an opportunity to build his confidence and believe in his potential. Despite his difficult start to life, he was determined not to let his circumstances define him. “The programme gave me confidence and showed me that I am capable of achieving something positive. Success is about more than completing the course. It’s about using my skills to help others, creating opportunities for myself and eventually training and employing other young people,” he explains.
Shaheed Naran, from the Quegal Restoration & Refuge Centre in Magaliesburg was also given the opportunity to complete the programme, an experience that offered far more than technical training. Having overcome personal challenges that reshaped his outlook on life, Shaheed embraced his faith and rediscovered his passion for barbering with renewed purpose. “I’ve gone through many trials, but they don’t define me. This training reignited a passion I already had and reminded me that I have purpose,” he explains.
Today, Shaheed measures success by the confidence each client leaves with and hopes to one day open a barber shop in his community, where he can also mentor others. His journey reflects the mission of the Quegal Restoration & Refuge Centre, founded by Mama Gail Koeberg, whose own experience of abuse and rejection inspired her to create a safe space where vulnerable people can rebuild their lives through practical skills training and restoration. “For many young South Africans, unemployment can leave them feeling overlooked and uncertain about what the future holds. Seeing these young men leave with renewed enthusiasm and confidence filled us with hope,” adds Haasbroek.
Grateful for the opportunities afforded to them through the programme, both graduates hope that more young people will seize similar opportunities to develop practical skills, gain valuable experience and unlock their potential. They believe that initiatives such as Clover Mama Afrika’s Barbering and Grooming Training Programme offer far more than technical training: they restore confidence, foster resilience and create pathways to sustainable livelihoods. By empowering young South Africans to overcome adversity and become active contributors to their communities, the programme is helping to build a brighter and more inclusive future.
About Clover Mama Afrika
Clover Mama Afrika is a sustainable Corporate Social Investment program that has been in existence since 2001. Over the years the project has hosted 1,917 training sessions with skills transferred to 16,016 community members over the years. Teaching and guiding strong females (lovingly called ‘Mamas’ due to their standing in their neighbourhoods) in communities all over the country, in order to build their skills and sustain and improve their own community projects. Only the most dedicated women are chosen to become part of Clover Mama Afrika. Women who care for orphans, children and young adults with disabilities, the elderly, and those affected by HIV/AIDS and other vulnerabilities in our society.
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