The ADC

Stories of Change

We love to hear from beneficiaries how the ADC has impacted their lives. Here are a few of our stories of change where beneficiaries share how the ADC has made a positive change in their lives.

I would like to thank the ADC for contributing towards my success. When I was studying towards my degree, I used the ADC computer lab to do my research and assignments. I also used the lab space for my exam preparations. I remember I was one of the first students to pass the Professional Communication course that the ADC offered, and it went further to obtaining my driver’s license. The session that was facilitated by the Department of Labour around Career guidance and job searching was informative and helped me. Now I am proud to say I’m one of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act Inspectors in Makhanda at the Department of Labour and Employment and this is my career path. Thank you to the ADC staff and management for uplifting and assisting the youth of Makhanda. I am proud to be an ADC Alumni and an example of what the centre does in our Makhanda community.” (2023, Annual Report)

Small business development program graduate: DAMBISA ZENANI

“Many people might know me as the founder of Sis Dambi laundry in Grahamstown in ext 7. But my journey started in 2012 when I decided to quit my job after working 11 years. It was a good job, but it was a bad environment. My family, friends and colleagues did not understand my decision. For a while I was lost, it was very hard. But I stuck with my decision! I was not going to go back to a toxic environment. I tried a lot of things to survive. Some worked and some did not work. One of the things i tried was to hand-wash people’s clothes for money.

Through the help of my mom and organisations like the ADC, I got my first washing machine. I’m grateful that I had the faith to make a difficult decision even though I did not know how I was going to survive. I am grateful for my decision because this year I am celebrating 12 wonderful years of sis Dambi Laundry. The first and only same day laundry service in the location. I am grateful for creating employment for 3 young people in Makhanda. Grateful to be able to provide for my daughter and my beautiful grandson. But most importantly I want to thank my family and everyone who continues to support Sis Dambi Laundry. I am truly grateful to all of you!” (Nov 21, 2023 Sis Dambi Facebook Page).

Here is what our ADC beneficiaries had to say about how the ADC programmes have changed their lives

“When I got my matric results, I thought that it was the end of the world. But then I found the ADC. It opened a lot of doors to so many opportunities.”

“ADC got me to venture into new areas that I never would have looked at before. Now I can see so many careers, and I have many skills, I can even open my own business. ADC allowed me to see new things. “

“At ADC all of us have one thing in common – the ADC has opened doors for us and has given us more opportunities … it’s actually like a university!”

“I have been part of savings groups for four years and I have used the savings to buy furniture like wardrobes and a washing machine. My children are able to go to school with a full school uniform – they look smartly dressed, and there is enough food to eat. My son will be going to the bush at the end of the year (traditional / cultural initiation practice), and I will use my savings money for that.”

“I have been part of the savings groups for about two years now. It helped a lot as I was able to build my home and buy furniture. I don’t have to go to loan sharks if I need money, I just access funds from the savings account.”

“At ADC you discover yourself, it’s a path to re-discovery of yourself in ways that you can’t imagine. It shows you that there is more to you, more that you can give to the community and to the world.”

“I was a ‘drop-out’ when I first came to ADC, I had dropped out of school and had a little baby to support. I stood up and came here to ADC to see what I could do. I was trying to find what I could do, so I did all the courses on offer. I’m not sure if it was luck or faith, but one of the times that I was at ADC there were some students here working on organic soaps and I became inspired by this, and it was the start of my business. I was a regular here, if you came into the computer lab in the morning, you would find me here already. I was eager to learn. ADC helped me to register my business and everything to help start my business was done from here. Print outs, design & research.”

“I lost my job during COVID in 2020 – before COVID I was successful and earning a good salary. In 2021, I decided to start my own small business as I had two children to support and losing my job really affected me, I couldn’t even pay their school fees. My business just took off and I’ve been building it ever since. The Learning Trust stipend from the ADC is really helping, it meant that I could actually hire people to do the production side, so I could focus on growing my business. It just started growing exponentially so I could now ‘work on my business, not in it’. I’m not even looking for a job anymore, I don’t even know where my CV is right now. ADC is really helping with business support. When they have AGM’s they source goods from us and encourage others in Makhanda to also support us.”

“I am a single parent. Since I joined the savings group, I have been able to buy & sell goats and I also bought a cart to transport wood, which I buy & sell. In this way I am able to look after my children.”

“I am a single parent, mother of two daughters, both of which are graduates from Rhodes University. I used money from the savings groups towards my daughters’ education. I also collected enough money from the savings group to buy a jojo tank to help with the water situation. Previously I also bought a tent that I used to hire out.”