Shihaam is a mother and the sole provider for her family. Once struggling with addiction, she found herself finding hope through fixing broken appliances. Slowly but surely, her life began to follow in repair.
Bonteheuwel, South Africa (10 March 2025) — 46-year-old Shihaam Benjamin was once a struggling addict with many responsibilities. Despite the cracks in her life, she always found herself fixing broken items around the house. Years later, this knack would become the very thing that helped her repair her own world.
In 2023, Shihaam joined the Taking Care of Business Repair Programme. Here, people are trained to support the circular economy and learn how to fix broken items like appliances donated by large retailers. Not only do they put in the elbow grease to repair that which struggles to be recycled, but they are also taught how to build their own business reliant on selling what they fix. On top of this, participants are also supported with life skills.
“I don’t talk much, but joining the programme helped me find another part of myself,” shares Shihaam. “I was always the one to fix things at home—phones, appliances—and when I found out there was a business side to repair, I was really interested.”
“My household is large,” Shihaam adds. “15 people in total, including my husband, my father, my five children, and my brother and his children too. We are very close; everyone helps each other out. Things are expensive and it’s a real struggle to provide for everyone, but I do my best and TCB has been a huge help in managing that.”
Not only did the programme give Shihaam a means to support her family as the sole provider, it also played a big part in her journey to getting clean.
“Before joining TCB, I was struggling with addiction and was unable to provide adequately for my family. Today, I am stronger and more stable, thanks to the support and guidance I found here,” she says.
Shihaam had used drugs for 20 years and now boasts two years of sobriety.
“My journey to sobriety wasn’t easy, but it was necessary to build a better life for my children and myself. I am the sole provider for our family. My husband and I had our problems and I was on the verge of asking for a divorce. One day after a particularly traumatic incident, I ended up at TCB, crying.
“The people here listened to me and helped me open up. It was the first time I spoke about my situation openly, and everyone here supported me. They gave me the space to express my struggles and find solutions. It was such a relief to not feel alone in my journey,” says Shihaam.
Mentors and counsellors are an important part of TCB’s programmes, helping participants overcome adversity that had once held them back in life. The TCB team explain that dealing with personal challenges and past traumas is one of the most crucial aspects of the programme.
“At TCB, I found a space where I could express myself and be heard. The support system here is incredible, and it’s helped me gain confidence and a voice. I now know how to handle setbacks without letting them take me back to using drugs again,” Shihaam says.
“I’ve learned to speak openly about my past and my struggles without fear of judgment. I have learnt the importance of self-care and setting goals. It’s about finding out what I want from life and not being afraid of working hard to get it. They helped me understand that nothing is impossible if I keep moving forward. I’ve learned about myself personally – how to manage my emotions, my stress, and my problems.”
Now, Shihaam is passing on her business knowledge to her children.
“I recently bought my son a hair-cutting machine, and he’s started his own business. I talk to my children about what I’ve learned in business classes about buying, selling, and managing money. Hopefully, I am creating opportunities for them as well. It’s been empowering to see my family grow with me, learning new skills and becoming more self-reliant,” she says.
As for herself, Shihaam puts it beautifully:
“For the first time, I’m allowing myself to dream.”
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