Lucien Beukes

My new life basically started when I met the people at Kolping. This all started when I was retrenched from an engineering company in November 2005. I didn’t want to go back into the same trade because this wasn’t my passion although I enjoyed it. I had to find myself on my own and what I loved doing and could turn into my occupation. I was hopelessly lost at that stage in my life. Things were not going well for my family as my father had just been diagnosed with lung cancer and died shortly after. This broke me and my family completely and I was falling deeper and deeper into a dark hole. I was still not working and trying to sort my life out and figure out what I wanted to achieve in life. With the help of my friends and family I finally discovered that I have a passion for food and wanted to study to become a chef but sadly that was not possible as the course cost was too high, I became even more depressed. Then one day I was listening to the radio and heard about a training programme offered at KTC. I called the number and was asked to come in for an interview. The first person I met from the Kolping family was Maureen Roberts (Kolping Training Centre Manager) who explained what the process was and helped me to really make up my mind that this is what I wanted to do. I was excited to learn that one of the courses they offered was in the hospitality trade, but I had to go through the life skills course first. I was accepted onto the programme and I must say the life skills course helped me tremendously through the first steps of my journey. I met wonderful people such as Candice (Student support counsellor) and Sandra (Life-skills facilitator) who played major roles in preparing me to achieve my gaols.

The life-skills did a lot for me in terms of development and gave my life a deeper meaning. After the ten days I felt fresh and ready to take on the world without being afraid to attempt anything, for this is what the life skills taught me to do.

The Kolping staff members are amazing people who reach out and help other people no matter what their circumstances are. Thanks to all of you for setting me free!!!!!

I had the best time doing the Chefs training. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself and met the most interesting chefs. Because of the life skills my talent was brought to the fore and I shone throughout achieving the highest marks in my class. I was approached during the training by the service provider (Gregory Johannes from G&D Guesthouse) and asked if I was interested in becoming a trainer. The first door had opened for me, how could I walk away from the opportunity that was given to me? I was very excited and said yes because I knew that I would be doing what I loved best “cooking”

I am now doing the train the trainer course so that I can become qualified to train other students and I love what I am doing.

Thank you Kolping you’ve really helped to change my life and helped me through the rainy days of my life. I would never hesitate to recommend your programme to anyone because you are the best.

Janine Danies

I am Janine Daniels, a 23 year old lady who did the office administration course with Kolping in 2009. It has been a wonderful experience for me. The lifeskills course has helped me a lot. I learnt how to be confident because I wasn't confident at all. I also learnt to get to know myself better, how to work and treat other people. I met a lot of new people on the lifeskill  course, felt like they were my own family. You get excited to go to class because you feel loved and cared for there.

I had a lot of personal issues at that time. My parents were going through a divorce and life was just bad for me. I was also unemployed and financially my family was struggling.

As I am sitting today, typing this out, I am an administrative clerk for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) AT Bergville Primary School in Bishop Lavis, Cape Town. I started as a volunteer and after 3 weeks got a contract position. I would not have gotten this job without the training of Kolping.

I do hope that Kolping would continue helping others for many more years