The Hope Factory is like hope from heaven to me. Although I am not well educated, I can do good things with my hands and live the better life. I can be popular and recognised because of my skill and good work I am doing. Those things I did not know before coming here.

From being unemployed, I am now a permanently employed supervisor. I'm working now and I hope that one day I'll be a well known businessman, employing others and sharing with them the skills I got here. I'm very happy to be working together with professional staff doing good quality work with no comebacks from clients.

I wish the company can spread all over SA helping people like me. I'm happy I'm permanent and earning a steady income! Really… The Hope Factory changed my life and others too."
Simphiwe Booi – Supervisor, The Hope Factory

"I am Ayanda Ndungane. I started here at The Hope Factory in 2005. I came to THF to know more about sewing, especially fashion design and drawing. They told me about paper craft so I was interested. At first we did a test then an interview, which I passed. I've learned how to do cards, boxes, gift bags and decoupage. I fell in love with cards. You know what? The best thing that happened to me that I thought would never happen, was being chosen as a supervisor. They didn't want paper "certificates" (I am not well educated) but they SAW what is inside of me … the love of my work. Thank you to THF for that.
Ayanda Ndungane, Supervisor, The Hope Factory

The time I came into The Hope Factory I did not have anything. They gave me skills and how to survive in life and how to run your own business. Now I am building my mother a house and giving my child an education. The Hope Factory – we say thank you.
Melumzi Valanti

What is good about being here is I've met so many different people with different characteristics. Also I've learned how to work as a team. I used to be afraid of being challenged but here I've been challenged in different ways that can help me when I have my own business.

I've learned how to use a sewing machine. To me it was not easy but now it's easy. Also I've learned beadwork, decoupage and to calculate costing and pricing which mean now I can be able to open my own business. I also know my rights, as a customer e.g. if the seller can try to lie about prices I'll be able to ask him some questions.
Namhla Mtishe – Intake 11

I would like to thank The Hope Factory for giving people the opportunity to be skilled so that they can make something of their lives and be hopeful. Thank you for your generosity and caring for us, even though people don't see it. This opportunity will be part of my life and that is a very long time. It is impossible to forget The Hope Factory because it is the first place where I've been skilled.

I like THF because here I do what I love to do and enjoy it – I can't say that for everything. I've learnt a lot about building relationships and much, much more. I've learnt to be skillful and more appreciative. I've also learnt that it is not easy to start a business – a lot of hard work. I've learnt to think out of the box and most of all … I've learnt something new about myself and my abilities. Thank you.
Bronwyn Williams - Intake 11

I experienced a lot at THF. I came here unemployed, stressed and not knowing that I am going to gain a lot. I did not know clearly how to do sewing and how to operate the machine. I did not know how to run a business, life skills and decorating spoons, glasses, sewing skirts, aprons, bags, hats. I did not know how to make Christmas, birthday and funeral cards or gift boxes but here at THF I learnt a lot using THF material and accessories. The trainers are patient and teach us a lot. They are humble and willing to work extra miles helping us to understand. Especially Miss Pomolo, my class teacher, she is very helpful.