Melissa Jo-Ann Choffinal (37), a Communicare tenant for the past 13 years, faced a tough career crossroads after being retrenched. A Marketing Management graduate from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, she has vast experience in banking, insurance, and the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Industry (FMCG). However, getting retrenched and facing the ever-changing employment landscape, she realised she would have to diversify her skill set to remain competitive in the job market. She needed to study further to improve her chances of finding a job, but funding these studies proved difficult.
Discovery of opportunity
Enter Vulamathuba Empumelelo, “This bursary opportunity was introduced to me via email from Communicare with the Communicare Connection newsletter, and of course, I was sceptical of my ability to get the bursary,” Melissa recalls. Self-doubt plagued her; “Me, receive a bursary at my age? Impossible!” Despite these doubts, she applied and was one of the 20 lucky 2024 bursary recipients who recently attended an induction program at Vulamathuba Empumelelo’s Community Learning Centre in Brooklyn. She is currently a first-year Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in accounting student at Mancosa.
Impact and objective
“This funding will help me get a qualification that will assist me in diversifying myself for future job roles and equip me to adopt those new responsibilities. This will not only help play my part in filling the skills- gap required in South Africa but also aid me in redefining my approach to the work once I am appointed”.
According to Noma-Afrika Nkwenkwe-Maxwele, the Vulamathuba Empumelelo Manager, this is exactly what the fund strives to do. “The bursary fund aims to offer financial aid to Communicare tenants and neighbouring communities within the City of Cape Town Metro who have academic potential yet are economically marginalised and looking to pursue a qualification described as scarce and critical skills in South Africa.”
Moreover, “The Bursary Fund forms part of Vulamathuba Empumelelo’s overall objective to expand our impact through innovative and focused socio-economic development interventions that create an enabling environment for advancing participants’ economic mobility. Obtaining a qualification will help our bursary recipients gain access to PIVOTAL (Professional, Vocational, Technical, and Academic Learning) Programmes, fostering a career path and an opportunity to earn a stable income.”
Melissa’s vision
Melissa wholeheartedly agrees, “This opportunity will change the trajectory of my life and career expectations. I will be able to earn a more competitive salary, which will assist me in supporting my mother, Annalise Choffinal.” Being both ambitious and goal-oriented, her five-year plan includes completing an internship at a reputable organisation to gain experience and continue to grow personally and professionally.
What Melissa says
As she enters an exciting new chapter in her life filled with limitless opportunities, she urges others, “Don’t stand in your own way. Grab all the opportunities presented to you and strive to become better than those you look up to. Then, give back!”.
Get in touch
To find out more about the exciting programmes Vulamathuba Empumelelo offers, like the Bursary Fund and the Adult Matric programme, visit: www.vulamathuba.org.za/news or e-mail admin@vulamathuba.org.za.