Shihaam Benjamin: A Taking Care of Business Success Story | Repair Programme (Cape Town)
Resilience and growth
My name is Shihaam Benjamin, and I am 46 years old, living in Bonteheuwel, Cape Town. I have five children and came to TCB in 2023. My household is large – 15 people in total, including my husband, my father, my children, and my brother and his children too. We are very close; everyone helps each other out. Things are expensive, and when the holidays or school terms roll around, it’s a real struggle to provide for everyone. But I do my best, and TCB has been a huge help in managing that. 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.
Overcoming addiction and finding strength
I’d been on drugs for 20 years and have been clean for over two years now. 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.
Repairing appliances always came naturally
I heard about TCB from a friend who was in the programme. I didn’t really know what it was about at first. I don’t talk much, but joining the programme helped me find another part of myself. 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. It was more than just fixing broken items; TCB offered training that helped me understand how to turn my skills into a business.
I’ve always been independent and responsible for my family, so the idea of learning to run my own business was exciting and scary. Now, I’m not just fixing things; I’m building a business. I have customers who buy from me in bulk, and some have their own businesses, so they buy from me to resell.
I also buy irreparable items, take them to scrapyards, and get a profit from the scrap. It’s been a great way to expand my business and create additional income streams. I never thought of myself as someone who could make money from something like e-waste, but it’s become a crucial part of my business strategy.
Empowering my children
I’m teaching my children what I’ve learned. 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 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.
Learning and healing through self-discovery and a community of support
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’ve learned to speak openly about my past and my struggles without fear of judgment.
TCB taught me 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.
Sometimes business doesn’t do that well, but if you can sit and learn how to manage yourself and how you react to your problems, then you’re good.
I now know how to handle setbacks without letting them take me back to using drugs again. We’re a community of people learning how to love themselves and their children better through the training and counselling we get.
Dreaming of a better future
For the first time, I’m allowing myself to dream. TCB has helped me set goals, even small ones, and I’m taking one step at a time toward a brighter future. I’m finally taking the time to consider what I want out of life, and I’m slowly learning that I deserve a happy, fulfilling future.
Your contribution, no matter the size, fuels our mission to empower individuals to become self-sufficient and successful business owners to build a better future for themselves and their families. Donate now.
Taking Care of Business (TCB) is a nonprofit social enterprise. We are empowering unemployed South Africans and their families to escape the cycle of poverty through small business opportunities, mostly within the circular economy.
