Prue’s Kitchen is open for business
The Emdeni Skills Development Centre (ESDC) is a place where young people from different corners of Soweto come to realise their dreams. The skills training courses equip young people with the knowledge and skills that provide them with access to opportunities for earning a livelihood.
Prudence Nyembe (35) is a young businesswoman from Emdeni South, Soweto. She graduated from the Emdeni Skills Development Centre after completing the Assistant Chef course. She had always wanted to start her own business, but she didn’t know where to begin. “I never planned to enroll for a skills training course. I just had to find a job to sustain myself and my family” – Prudence. For many years, owning a business was just a dream.
Prudence’s journey started the day she met the Training coordinator at the Emdeni Skills Development Centre. She accompanied her friend to Abraham Kriel Bambanani’s Drop-in Centre, located on the same premises as the Skills Development Centre. “The friendly gentleman not only encouraged me to enroll for the Assistant Chef course, but he inspired me to follow my dream. That conversation changed the trajectory of my life”- Prudence.
In December 2024 she finally took a leap of faith and opened the doors of her restaurant – Prue’s Kitchen.
It is still early days for Prue’s Kitchen and Prudence and her business have had to deal with many challenges. She is grateful to Abraham Kriel Bambanani for providing her with the skill and confidence to deal with these challenges. The community’s support has been amazing. The restaurant is situated in the community and offers affordable food. Prudence has employed two people and now also caters for events. “Yes, it gives me immense joy when I hear people compliment my food, but what makes me happy is the fact that I am helping two people in the community to provide for their families – one of the main reasons why I wanted to start this business” – Prudence.
Prue’s Kitchen is oop vir besigheid
Die Emdeni Vaardigheidsontwikkelingssentrum is ‘n plek wat aan jongmense van verskillende uithoeke van Soweto die geleentheid bied om hul drome te verwesenlik. Die vaardigheidsopleidingskursusse rus jongmense toe met kennis en vaardighede wat hulle kanse om die arbeidsmark te betree verbeter.
Prudence Nyembe (35), ‘n jong sakevrou van Emdeni-Suid, Soweto het die Assistent Sjef-kursus suksesvol voltooi. Sy wou nog altyd haar eie besigheid begin, maar het nie geweet waar om te begin nie. “Ek het nooit beplan om vir ‘n vaardigheidsopleidingskursus in te skryf nie. Ek moes net werk kry om myself en my gesin te onderhou en het nie veel aandag aan my drome gegee nie.” – Prudence. Vir baie jare was dit net ‘n droom om ‘n besigheid te besit.
Prudence se reis het begin die dag toe sy die opleidingskoördineerder by die Emdeni Vaardigheidsontwikkelingsentrum ontmoet het. “Die vriendelike man het my nie net aangemoedig om vir die Assistent Sjef-kursus in te skryf nie, maar hy het my geïnspireer om my droom te volg. Daardie gesprek het die trajek van my lewe verander” – Prudence.
In Desember 2024 het Prudence ‘n geloofsprong geneem en die deure van haar restaurant – Prue’s Kitchen – oopgemaak.
Dit was nie maklik nie en Prudence en haar besigheid het van die begin af voor talle uitdagings te staan gekom. Sy is dankbaar teenoor Abraham Kriel Bambanani wat haar toegerus het met die nodige vaardighede en selfvertroue om hierdie uitdagings te hanteer. Prudence loof ook die gemeenskap vir hulle ondersteuning. Die restaurant is in die gemeenskap geleë en bied bekostigbare kos. Prudence het twee mense in diens geneem en doen ook spyseniering vir funksies. “Ja, dit gee my groot vreugde as ek hoor hoe mense my kos komplimenteer, maar wat my gelukkig maak, is die feit dat ek twee mense in die gemeenskap help om vir hul gesinne te voorsien. Dit is een van die hoofredes waarom ek hierdie besigheid wou begin” – Prudence.