When John White lost one of his kitchen staff at the Riverside Manor Retirement Village early in 2010, he turned to DreamWorker for urgent help. “People who are employed by us need to be caring, compassionate and have a desire to work for the elderly” he explained to DreamWorker office manager, Tania Sisam. “The elderly have special dietary needs and special health needs, which must be handled sensitively.”

John decided to take two people from DreamWorker on a week’s trial in the kitchen. Brian Mtiya had worked previously as a chef for VIP catering. Nonkoliseko (known as Nonko at Riverside) had been a chef at Walter Sisulu University, having completed her diploma in Hospitality there.

Lady Luck was on Brian and Nonko’s side because John first employed Brian (leaving Nonko in tears to DreamWorker, such was her level of disappointment!), but by the end of January, she too had been employed. Both were utterly delighted. John completes the story. “I decided to employ them both as I knew our Catering Supervisor was going on maternity leave. Brian and Nonko complement one another beautifully and they were about to be thrown into the deep end. Brian had the work experience, but Nonko had tons of knowledge to share from her studies at Walter Sisulu. And what a team they have proved to be! I have watched how they have grown and come into their own over the past few months. The residents have had nothing but good things to say about our two new chefs!”

Brian grins under his head chef’s hat and shares. “I am loving making desserts, which I never did before. And the old people are lovely. I think of them all as my own mothers and fathers. Helping them gives me so much pleasure. My dream is to have my own catering business one day, maybe caring for old people just like these, my new family! For now, I am really happy doing what I am doing.”

Nonko adds her version. “I really like to help people, to be kind and nice to them. I am most interested in learning how to cater for people with special needs, with special health issues. I would still love to work in a very big hospitality business one day. Right now I am learning how to work in a team with my peers and I will just keep on learning every day. Me, I am also very, very happy that I got this job!”

On Friday 7 May, the entire DreamWorker team went out to interview unemployed people in Hanover Park. 70 people were already in the hall, ready and waiting, their application forms filled in. The atmosphere was a mix of hope and desperation, but the result was fabulous. Each person was personally motivated to keep trying, to believe in themselves, to access their special qualities, to keep their dreams alive.

Zuleigha Bassier heard from a friend that something was going down at the Community Hall in Hanover Park that Friday. When she arrived she saw a long queue and went home. But an inner voice told her to go back. She was part of the last remaining employees waiting to be interviewed. At that point, nobody wanted to go to the “gentleman” and she decided she would do so. That’s how she found herself sitting opposite Ronald. She shared that she was willing to do anything, even at a very low rate. She simply wanted to get back to a fulltime job. Ronald told her it was time to think higher of herself, time to expand her consciousness, time to set her sights on what she really wanted and deserved, to not sell herself short. When he finally asked her to share the dream for her life, she replied very clearly “I would really love to work for DreamWorker.” He told her there was nothing going at present but that he would bear her in mind. All she had to do was hold strongly onto the dream.

And not 48 hours later one of the temporary office assistants at DreamWorker announced her intention to continue her paralegal studies and Zuleigha received a call to come in for a second interview! Today, Zuleigha is working fulltime, interviewing potential employees every morning and data capturing every afternoon. A job tailormade for her which beautifully combines her love of people and her love of administration. Welcome aboard Zuleigha! Yes, dreams DO come true.

Wiseman Mpaliso was asked to go for an interview at Dragons Sports as a Code 10 driver. He was not successful, but mentioned that he had an interest and skill in fixing bicycles. Dragons Sports imports and repairs bicycles, so he was taken on for a 2 day trial, to test his skill level.

Shortly thereafter, a Dragons Sports member of staff left unexpectedly and Wiseman was given a call to report for work full time. He is still there, flourishing and determined to become their relief driver in the near future!