Nowhen’s Story
Nowhen’s Story
24-year-old Nowhen grew up on Villiera Wines and is the youngest of four siblings. As a baby, he attended the Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre on the farm. Raised by his aunt, who is also the ECD Practitioner at the Villiera ECD centre, Nowhen speaks with deep gratitude, “Our parents were absent for most of our childhood; she took us in and raised us as her own.”
In primary school, Nowhen joined the Pebbles Project After-School Club on the farm. Though shy as a young boy, his confidence began to grow when he turned 12 and developed a passion for sport, particularly soccer. “That’s when I first thought about pursuing a career in sport,” he recalls. Unfortunately, a serious knee injury and surgery changed the course of his plans. He shares that: “I still play soccer with the kids on the farm, but I see it more as a hobby now.”
After finishing high school, Nowhen enrolled in the Pebbles Project Youth Development Programme (YDP), which supports young people from farming communities with training, life skills, and access to further education. With guidance from the YDP Manager, he initially completed a one-year Generic Management Certificate through Dyna Training while undertaking a full-time internship with the Pebbles Project team. “Working in the Pebbles programmes office gave me a new perspective on the incredible work Pebbles does,” he shares. The experience boosted his confidence and taught him valuable teamwork and communication skills.
Building on this foundation, the YDP Manager continued to support Nowhen’s development by helping him access further studies in Occupational Health and Safety. As part of his qualification, he was required to complete practical workplace experience. The YDP Manager helped secure a placement for Nowhen at H&I Construction (Pty) Ltd, where he gained the practical experience required to complete complete his required hours.
What began as a practical placement soon became something much more. Thanks to his commitment, discipline and strong work ethic, Nowhen’s placement has since been extended into ongoing employment and the Pebbles Project team could not be more proud!
Today, Nowhen is not only applying the skills he has gained through his studies but is also building a promising career as a young professional.
Reflecting on his journey, Nowhen says, “Pebbles means everything to me. They’ve supported me through every phase of my life, from when I was a baby to now, and they’re still helping me.” He hopes his story will inspire younger children in his community to stay in school, work hard and pursue their dreams. “I know they look up to me. I feel like I can’t let them down. I want to show them what’s possible.”
Nowhen’s journey is a powerful example of the impact Pebbles Project strives to achieve: supporting children from their earliest years, walking alongside them through every stage of their development, and helping them successfully transition into the world of work.
The Pebbles Project team is incredibly proud of Nowhen. His transformation from a shy young boy into a confident, hardworking and inspiring young man is a testament to his determination, the power of consistent support, and the opportunities created through meaningful partnerships.
*This story captures a period in the beneficiary’s journey during their involvement with Pebbles Project and reflects their circumstances at the time it was written.