>”When people are empowered, they can change their circumstances from poverty to success – like I did,” says Josiah, who has turned his life around from a struggling part-time gardener’s path to that of an eco-entrepreneur. Anyone who needs a reminder that you’re never “too old” to change your circumstances, this is Josiah’s story!
Midrand, South Africa (10 March 2024) — Josiah Morake, from Ivory Park in Midrand, was a struggling part-time gardener who had no idea that one day, he’d become not only his own boss but someone in the business of bettering the environment as an eco-entrepreneur.
“I worked for different people with no stable income, which put a strain on me. The money was not enough. I had to wake up very early in a dangerous township and face the daily possibility of being robbed. I had three children and a wife that I needed to support. I was stressed out and struggling to deal with the difficult situation I was in,” Josiah reflects.
At a point, he knew this wasn’t sustainable. So, he tried his hand at selling what he could as he did when he was younger. Unfortunately, with little experience in managing money, this didn’t work out the first time. But determined not to give up on what he believed would be the way out of his current situation, Josiah decided to start with the basics by learning the skills he needed to change his life.
“At 49 years old, I was excited to start learning the skills I needed to run a successful business and fix electrical appliances. It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I found it challenging being out of my comfort zone and having to learn all these new things.”
Josiah heard about the non-profit Taking Care of Business (who equip people with the resources and skills-sharing to run their own businesses) and eagerly signed up for their Repair Programme.
This would mean the beginning of learning how to run his own repair business and the beginning of becoming an eco-entrepreneur whose craft is making sure products that are so often discarded get a second lease on life.
Two years later, and Josiah has conquered his dreams!
“I never thought that one day I would be able to fix appliances. But today I can – and I have a good business,” he proudly shares.
Using Waste for Good
A win-win when it comes to impact, Josiah’s business model keeps many non-recyclables out of landfills and makes them more accessible to people who cannot afford them off the shelf.
“I’m proud to be in a programme at TCB that uses waste for good. Not everything belongs in the dump, there are so many items that can be fixed rather than being thrown away. At TCB we de-brand and repair items and then sell them to our customers at a cheaper price. People in my community are happy because they get these products at a bargain,” says the eco-entrepreneur.
More Than Business Skills
“I’ve been able to work on my personal well-being through the life skills I learnt and the mentoring I got… I’m now a better person, capable of handling a difficult situation, something I previously struggled with,” Josiah adds.
Crediting the Repair programme, Josiah praises the holistic approach to skills that focus on empowerment through bettering one’s self-journey. For him, this was one of the biggest shifts that drove him out of his previous life.
But, his dreaming hasn’t stopped.
“My dream is to own more than my one business and I also want to run a food outlet and later own a franchise,” he says. “My advice to others starting out in their businesses is that they should learn to finish what they start, never quit no matter the circumstances and be passionate about what you are doing.”
Adding his thoughts on holistic skill-sharing and the hand up over a handout approach matters so much, the eco-entrepreneur leaves us with this powerful sentiment:
“When people are empowered they can change their circumstances from poverty to success – like I did.”
Never give up on your dreams. Sometimes all you have to do is ” fake it until you make it “…
Believe ìn yourself and keep in mind that your critics are your tomorrow’s fans. It’s all about perspective , perspective , and again , perspective…