After losing her job during the first Covid-19 lockdown in March last year, single mom Nthabiseng Nooi didn’t know how she and her son would survive.
Today she is making clients smile at the Jewel Day Spa in Main Street, Howick.
Nooi (40) attributes her change in fortune to the Love Howick team, who helped her with food and clothes through their Street Store in Bell Street, Howick.
“I was informed that all I had to do was bring in a large black bag of recycling to receive tokens for my food parcel,” she said.
“My son and I had food every day and I thank God for providing for us during this difficult time.” After Love Howick shared her story in the media, two of Nooi’s previous employers, Martin and Leocardia Naidu, got in touch with her.
Rachel Judd, from Love Howick, said: “They had seen Nthabiseng’s picture in the newspaper and were so touched by her story, remembering how hard-working and humble she was, that they gave her a call and offered her a job.”
Nooi took part in a free two-week training course at Jewel Day Spa and is now working at the business.
“Leocardia has raved about Nthabi and said that she has quickly become one of her best employees, with the happiest, hardworking attitude and most humble heart,” Judd said.
The Love Howick Street Store is one of several projects run by the organisation.
Its Renoverge team can be seen cleaning verges and pavements around Howick, while the Dream Centre runs training programmes to help people overcome barriers to entering the job market and provides much needed skills.
