FROM BREAD FOR SUPPER TO BYTES OF HOPE: UMLAZI YOUTH FINDS PURPOSE THROUGH EPWP DIGITAL SKILLS PROGRAMME

By Nonhlakanipho Masola

• Philasande Mathe, 21, from Umlazi transformed hardship into opportunity through the Expanded Public Works Programme Digital Skills Programme.
• ⁠Raised in a struggling household, he found renewed purpose and direction through coding and digital training.
• ⁠The programme has given him hope for a career in information technology and the chance to rewrite his family’s story.

At just 21 years old, Philasande Mathe from Umlazi carries a story shaped by sacrifice, resilience and renewed hope. Growing up in a household where making ends meet was a daily challenge, he witnessed firsthand the cost of pursuing education in the face of poverty.

His mother worked two jobs to ensure he attended quality schools, firmly believing that education would change the family’s future. That commitment often came with painful trade-offs.
“There were nights when supper was just bread,” he recalls.

His mother would sometimes choose to buy a textbook instead of groceries. As a child, Philasande struggled to understand why a proper meal was not always guaranteed, especially on school days. Only later did he realise the depth of her sacrifice.

The family’s difficulties intensified when his diabetic grandmother suffered a stroke. With her health deteriorating, his mother had to leave her jobs to care for her full time. Despite her illness, his grandmother remains the emotional pillar of the family, holding onto one simple wish to see her grandchildren become successful and independent.

Philasande is the third of five siblings. While one has completed a qualification in Operations Management, employment remains out of reach. All five siblings are currently unemployed, a reality that has deepened their determination to break the cycle of hardship.

A turning point came when Philasande began volunteering at a local office of the Department of Social Development. His dedication and eagerness to learn led to his selection as a beneficiary of the Expanded Public Works Programme Digital Skills Programme.

Although the stipend helped cover basic needs such as food, he says the programme offered something far more significant.
“I could see the belief returning in my grandmother’s eyes,” he says. “I promised her that things would get better.”

Through the training, Philasande discovered a natural talent for coding. What began as a new skill quickly grew into a passion. He started tutoring fellow participants and describes the experience as life changing. For the first time, he felt a strong sense of purpose and direction.

In high school, he had dreamed of becoming a nurse because of his love for Life Sciences. However, exposure to digital skills and information technology opened new possibilities he had never considered. He now hopes to pursue IT studies at university.

“I’m very business minded,” he explains. “I want to start different businesses, but IT will always be my passion because it changed my life and showed me what’s possible.”
Today, Philasande dreams of working in local government, establishing his own IT-focused company and forming partnerships with like-minded entrepreneurs committed to social impact and sustainable development.

“The programme gave me a sense of purpose,” he says emotionally. “I’m determined to make my grandmother proud and to ensure that we never sleep hungry again.”
His journey reflects the transformative power of targeted skills development and social investment, demonstrating how opportunity, when combined with determination, can change not only one life but the future of an entire family.