A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!

Despite believing that construction is a man’s world, Nonkosi decided to apply herself and it has paid off.

For 25-year-old Nonkosi Fubu, construction was a job for men only. This is all she had known and she’d had no reason to believe otherwise. When she heard about the Motheo learnership, she almost brushed it off because she didn’t think it was directed at her. The thing that made her change her mind is that she had studied a bit of Design and Civil Technology. “I didn’t think it would be anything for me to consider but I decided to look into it. When I got the explanation about what we would learn, I started to have some interest so I applied but didn’t actually think anything would come out of it,” she admits. Nonkosi says that when she started the learnership over a year ago, she had moments when she felt that she didn’t belong. “There were moments when it was so cold on site that I wondered what I was doing there. That discomfort wasn’t enough for me to quit because what I was gaining was more valuable. Site life is not easy but many things in life aren’t. It’s better to focus on what you’re gaining instead of complaining. That applies to the site and to life in general.” Nonkosi’s perception of construction has changed drastically. “As my skills grew, so did my confidence. I hadn’t expected that because I didn’t associate the industry with how I would feel about myself. That was a big lesson for me. Comfort zones can be dangerous so I am glad I didn’t stay in mine. Because I took a chance and I applied myself, I was chosen to work on this project which is another stepping stone in my journey to success.” Nonkosi says she has a restored faith in doing all work with pride. “I have learnt from studying at the Motheo Academy and working on this site at the Premier’s Office that excellence makes a big difference and I want to take that into every area of my life.”