By Nontokozo Gemani
- Andile Nhlapho, 23, launched Thubelihle Afternoon Classes in Duduza, Ekurhuleni, after job rejections pushed her to create her own income.
- More than 15 learners from Grade R to Grade 11 attend six days a week and Nhlapho says not one child has failed since she opened.
Andile Nhlapho sent out CV after CV. Nothing came back. So she stopped waiting and started working.
She launched a small laundry business to earn money, then used what she made to start something bigger. In 2022, she opened Thubelihle Afternoon Classes in Duduza, Ekurhuleni, and she has not lost a single learner since.
More than 15 children from Grade R to Grade 11 now attend six days a week. She helps them with homework, assignments, revision and exam preparation. Parents pay a small fee, which is how Nhlapho supports herself.
She started because she saw what was happening to children around her. Some live with grandparents who cannot help with schoolwork. Others have parents who work long shifts and come home too tired to open a school bag.
“Ever since I opened the classes, no learner has failed,” she said.
“Some of the children who started with me in 2022 are still part of the programme today.”
One child had failed the first three terms of the year. After joining the classes, the learner passed the fourth term and has kept going.
When she started, there were not enough chairs. Some children sat on buckets. Now she has tables and chairs for everyone.
Nhlapho runs several other businesses alongside the classes, including beauty services, clothing and breakfast hampers. She wakes early each day to manage them before her learners arrive.
She is now studying towards a teaching degree, something she discovered she wanted while working with the children. Her goal is to open her own school and create jobs for graduates.
“You don’t need a big plan or a lot of money,” she said.
“Look at your community, find the need, and start with whatever you have. I started with one learner and no chairs. Now I have more than fifteen and a future I never imagined.”
Pictured above: Andile Nhlapho, 23, at Thubelihle Afternoon Classes in Duduza, Ekurhuleni, which she launched in 2022 after failing to find employment.
Image source: Supplied
