Inspiration

Finding a Way

Amelia Ramphadi is a young woman with a promising career in construction ahead of her. Amelia owns and manages a small construction company. Having only been in operation for a few years, Amelia’s business has already made inroads into the industry counting amongst her clients organizations as notable as the Dept. of Minerals and Energy and Stats SA. She prides herself on her growing business and believes that if she perseveres there are no limits to where she will take her company.

After graduating from high school Amelia wanted to study towards an engineering qualification. As has been the case with many of us, Amelia was unable to immediately pursue a tertiary education. Instead, she left Limpopo for Johannesburg taking a job as a receptionist.

After a few years and having saved up a little money Amelia was smart enough to know that she could easily fall into a comfort zone and watch her dreams of becoming an engineer disappear. It was at that point that Amelia resigned from her job as a receptionist and started her own business.

Still believing that she would someday be an engineer, Amelia registered a company for cleaning, construction and civil work. Since she had no experience in construction or civil work she marketed the cleaning services securing numerous contracts in a short period of time. Amelia knew that she would use the cleaning contracts to gain entry into the industry where she soon began to acquire valuable knowledge.

At the same time Amelia registered for numerous short courses in construction. After coming into contact with Women for Housing in 2004, Amelia began to develop her business and managerial skills in addition to her technical knowledge. With her newfound maturity and a higher level of confidence Amelia finally registered for a Diploma in Building and Civils with the Central Johannesburg Technical College.

Although Amelia is still studying towards her Diploma, she has not let that hold the development of her business back in any way. She is using the skills, knowledge and information which she gained through short courses and cleaning contracts to build bonded houses in Soweto and Vosloorus. She employs a business manager, a site manager, a secretary, has about ninety employees in cleaning and construction services and often outsources to meet contract requirements.

Amelia faced many obstacles to get to where she is today however her winning attitude has seen her through. She is still in the early stages of her career and business and will surely encounter new challenges as she progresses. We know that she will meet each challenge with the same determination she has displayed in the past and continues to find success each time she does so.

Amelia is an example to us all. She reminds us not to take the advantages we have for granted, to look for opportunities, to believe in ourselves, to be contributing members of society and to make a difference. Amelia has been involved with Women for Housing / Khuthaza since 2004 and is currently participating in her second year of our Re a abelana Contractor Development programme.