Losing her job as a security guard left Nonkululeko Ngubane feeling lost. However, an unexpected opportunity to join the Duzi-Umngeni Conservation Trust’s EnviroChamps programme proved to be far more than just a means to make ends meet.
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (09 April 2025) – Being a part of the rat race, living to constantly chase deadlines and make ends meet can leave you feeling very empty when it all gets taken away like a rug snatched from right under your feet.
After losing her job as a security guard, Nonkululeko Ngubane was unemployed for a while with not much direction, until she was presented with an opportunity to join Duzi-Umngeni Conservation Trust’s EnviroChamps programme.
At first, Nonkululeko thought the programme would merely provide her with a financial income and help her make ends meet.
“I thought we would just be picking up waste and chopping down trees,” she recalls.
However, after a few months in the programme, her perspective transformed, reigniting her passion for life.
Nonkululeko shared that the training, learning, and growth opportunities that she gained from the programme motivated her to improve herself, leading her to decide to return to school and complete her N4 qualification.
Being a part of the programme reminded Nonku of her long-forgotten aspirations and the importance of striving for them.
She expressed her gratitude for this opportunity, as Duzi-Umngeni shares, highlighting how it has served as a stepping stone for her aspiring future plans.
It’s truly amazing what transformations can happen in everyday people’s lives when provided with the tools and pathways to succeed! More than just an environmental programme, EnviroChamps helped one woman realise she had so much more to live for and offer the world.
Sources: Duzi-Umngeni Conservation Trust
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