A job for those who were born to serve others...

WHAT does your job entail?

As a senior manager of community service I provide strategic leadership to all the projects within the community services division.

This means developing strategic and operational plans and maintaining relations with stakeholders. It is also my responsibility to compile reports for executive management, write project proposals for prospective funders and source funding for the division.

Describe a typical day

I work long and irregular hours. My work is not structured in a sequence that enables me to start off with this and finish with that. I spend much time out of the office, but my day generally starts with me checking e-mail and giving feedback to funders, executive management and stakeholders.

Then I have meeting with project managers for progress updates. I believe that a community development practitioner needs to go out in the field often to gain insight and be a leader from the ground – not from a rooftop.

What are your biggest challenges?

A lack of sustainable funding makes the work of community-based organisations challenging. It is difficult to look people in the eye and tell them that I cannot help them due to a lack of resources. It is also emotionally draining to see poverty in action.

And the biggest rewards?

It is very fulfilling to see people become independent as a result of our interventions. Because I studied a sports management diploma through Boston City Campus and Business College, I use sport as a platform to address socio-economic needs.

This way I have met big soccer names like Fani Madida and Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane and I am proud of the big screen MTN Ekazi Township TV erected in Elandsdoorn on my insistence. The community was able to watch the Confederations Cup and World Cup on this screen – it made me feel great.

What do you need to succeed as a community development practitioner?

Community development work is for people born to serve – you need the heart and spirit of a servant. You also need to be informed of what is happening – in politics, education and health – to lift a community’s standard of living.

You need the heart of a soldier: where communities are exploited you have to defend their rights. You need to be ready to stand in the front line when there is war – and in back line when there is achievement. You need a good qualification.

What is your background?

I matriculated from Nape A Ngwato High School in rural village in Limpopo province. After matric, I attended the Mamokgalake Chuene College and received a secondary teacher’s diploma.

Then I completed a sports management diploma at Boston City Campus Bedfordview. After my studies, I joined the Barney Molokoane soccer academy as academy administrator.

When the academy closed (because of funds), I became a volunteer in the Sports Coaches Outreach organisation (Score) at a village in Mpumalanga.

Here I was exposed to community development, and haven’t looked back since. People think I played sport professionally, but wasn’t a good player even on village level – I rather focused on the administration and management side, my strong point.

But it was Boston City Campus that sharpened me. I believe sport can help us address our nation’s challenges, as we have witnessed with major sporting events hosted here since 1994.

I am thankful for the confidence that Boston City Campus instilled in me, I wouldn’t have reached my potential without their qualification. I’m confident that one day I’ll be recognized for my role in our country’s transformation.

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