W4AL Opens the Gates to Employment for Everlasting Mbedzi

Everlasting Mbedzi is 32 years old and originally from Limpopo. After having to leave university in his final year due to lack of funding, Everlasting went to visit an uncle in Port Elizabeth, who told him about WORK 4 A LIVING.

He completed the WORK 4 A LIVING Job-Excellence course in February 2014, and started work at the Family Transformation Centre in Port Elizabeth. A year later, he heard about the Red Band barista academy course and completed the training, and after a successful first year as a barista at another coffee chain, was hired by Seattle Coffee Co. at the start of 2016.

“WORK 4 A LIVING opened up the gates to my employment journey. As soon as I finished classes, I gained employment.”

Today, Everlasting manages a Seattle Coffee Co. branch. He credits WORK 4 A LIVING as the foundation of his career, from the practical resources, to the confidence, to the support finding a job.

“I always recommend people to WORK 4 A LIVING because of how quickly I was able to find employment. The program has impacted my life in a good way.”

His ambition now is to work in coffee and pass on his passion and knowledge to young people wanting to get into the industry. “All I can say is thank you WORK 4 A LIVING, and keep on doing great things to change people's lives.”