Page 77 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

Take one step at a time and prioritise; ask for an advice

and be confident about what you are doing

She added that she has achieved in her career Awards in Cape Town in June 2019.
Founder and owner of Big Start Training and by working tirelessly because as a woman you need
Development and Waste Management Consultant A wish list
to strive to succeed. “You need to be tough. However,
women have a strong sense of the need to accomplish While Thozeka is satisfied with what she has
HOZEKA NTLUKWANE-LETUKA wears many their missions. They are willing to strategise and even achieved, she has a wish list. In the future she would
hats and has been described as an eco-warrior, like to see women and youth owning up cycle shops,
Tphilanthropist and mother to all. During her to fail in their attempts to succeed.” for Big Start Training and Development to grow
varied career, she has worked as a domestic worker, Thozeka has been recognised for her efforts and and do business in neighbouring countries, and to
market researcher, transcriber, translator, training has been awarded a certificate of achievement by have a Further Education and Training (FET) college.
provider and as a community liaison officer. the Durban University of Technology and the Inter- Help to realise this dream has materialised as Big
national Centre of Non-violence for Durban Leader-
Her vision is: “To empower people and protect the ship programme. Start Training and Development has been selected
environment through skills transfer and waste man- to participate in Seda Durban’s Small enterprise
agement consulting thereby creating sustainable Fostering community participation coaching programme (SECP) during 2019/2020.
livelihoods.” In reflecting on her achievements, Thozeka, said that She would like to see more youth working or doing
Thozeka is the founder of Big Start Training and highlights of her career have included creating job practical jobs because, as she explains, many of them
Development, which is a 100% black owned training opportunities in the environmental sector. leave schools or colleges with theory that does not
provider. As she has a passion for the environment, She is proud of her role in fostering community parti- help them to earn a living.
her company concentrates on providing accredited cipation in waste management and food production, “I am working with graduates, who are unemployed,
conservation and environmental awareness education and in encouraging communities to adopt food to obtain practical experience in the workplace. I
and training programmes. This includes training in production techniques that focus on the agricultural make them aware that volunteering helps to practice
water supply, sewerage, waste management and sector to improve the availability and quality of food. skills and increase knowledge because all companies
remediation activities, waste collection treatment, ask for experience before offering employment and
disposal activities and material recovery. Thozeka is the community liaison officer for the Aller need references.”
River Pilot Project, which is a ‘Take Back Our Rivers’
Thozeka identified a gap in many current training initiative run by the eThekwini Conservancies Forum. Thozeka’s passion for community upliftment is
programmes, which do not offer tailor made training River pollution is a topic that has always been close apparent. In 2008/9 she invested back into her
that is in line with the age, ethnic background and to her heart. hometown of Philippolis, which is a small town in the
the indigenous language of the communities trained. Free State. She built an old age home for the elderly
This gap results in a disconnect in understanding and She says, “In the olden days, rivers were dear to everyone, who did not have anyone to take care of them.
lowers the value received from training. our parents respected the environment and rivers were
used for many things, but because people’s lifestyle has Value time and dream big
She says, “I am where I am today by working hard, changed, we have neglected this important resource.”
perseverance, and through a desire to change people’s Speaking of work-life balance, Thozeka said she did
behaviour about the environment. People are losing “We need to start saving water because of climate not want to get married as she felt she would not
their respect for nature; they pollute rivers and dump change and we need to educate communities and be able to do all her work and have time to spend
litter everywhere and have lost touch with where they schools to harvest water and recycle before it is too with a husband. Now that she has done a lot for the
have come from.” late. It is important to eliminate toxic waste that community, Thozeka has finally settled down with her
pollutes the rivers. This can be achieved by educating husband, a pastor, whom she describes as a perfect
Working tirelessly informal settlements about separating and selling fit. “I have been blessed with a hard-working partner,
Thozeka has always been a busy woman. During waste and by not polluting the rivers.” a perfect delight.”
her early working career, she explains that although Plastic is a curse, but it can be re-cycled and re-used. When asked what advice she would give her younger
she had a helper and a washing machine, she would Thozeka has encouraged women in co-operatives to self, Thozeka said she would say to value time and
wake up at 4 am to do washing and by 6 am she up cycle plastics by making hats, mats, handbags and dream big. “Take one step at a time and prioritise;
was at her first job in Westville. At that stage she was outfits. This initiative by the Aller River Pilot Project Eco ask for an advice and be confident about what you
doing three jobs. -Champ for Up Cycling, won an award at the Ecologic are doing.”

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