Stories of Hope: Episode 19 - Amanda Ndlovu
Amanda Ndlovu shares her journey to achieving her dream of being called up to the Springboks. She reflects on how rugby helped her overcome challenges with communication and self-esteem and how the Information Technology: End User Computing NQF 3 learnership, facilitated by Edge Training, inspired her passion for technology. Read about our Stories of Hope: Episode 19 below or watch the video.
(00:22) So, to end this presentation on a good note and key, the main point of education in sports is to empower you to be able to start your own business or company, and to be educated in case of injuries or retirement. Thank you so much for listening.
(00:40) Facilitator: “Thank you very much, Amanda. What an inspirational presentation. Ok, guys, let’s give her a round of applause.”
(00:46) Hello, hi, my name is Amanda Ndlovu, all the way from Pietermaritzburg, from a town called eMbali Unit 2. Currently, I’m staying with both my parents, my older brother, my younger sister, and our little niece.
(01:01) In primary school, I started at Long Market Girls School, an all-girls school in Pietermaritzburg. Then, in high school, I went to Alexandra High School. That’s when my love for rugby came in. I started rugby in grade 10. It was the first time actually having an all-rugby team for the girls, and it was our first time. From then on, I think I never turned back.
(01:43) I then acquired a learnership from Edge Training: End User, sponsored by NIPS. I think getting into IT and End User really gave me that motivation that next year, maybe, or even going forward with my future, I would definitely want to start in software development or systems development because nowadays technology is the new thing. It’s the in-thing now.
(02:19) So, growing up, I basically had challenges with, I think, communicating or making friends. I did kind of find it difficult to engage with people, just to work with people in general, and just being around a huge crowd of people would give me some anxiety. But starting rugby and playing rugby really taught me that it is very important to work as a team. If you’re a team and have one goal, then you’ll all work together to achieve that goal.
(03:06) Being called up to the Springboks was a shock because I think every single girl that plays rugby has a dream that one day they will get to wear that gold and green. That, for me, is the biggest thing because it really gave a boost to that little girl inside me that had low self-esteem and had issues with communicating with people. Today, I look at myself and I say, “You really grew up to be the role model that you always wanted.”
(04:01) In 5 years, I really do want to take this rugby industry or rugby profession to a professional level, even going international if possible, and to showcase to those little girls from eMbali in the township that it doesn’t end in the township. If you put your mind to something, you can go as far as representing your country one day and living your dream to the fullest.
(04:34) I also want to thank the academy for connecting me to the Edge Training Learnership that is sponsored by NIPS, and Coach Brandon, Coach Jason, and all the coaches in the academy who really invested in my talent and motivated me to be the best that I can be. I just want to say thank you to everyone because I don’t think that I would be here if I didn’t get that extra boost from the academy, and I don’t think I would have known that I have an interest in IT if I didn’t join the Edge Training Learnership. So, thank you to everyone.
Next Steps
Are you interested in changing the life of a student while maximising your BEE scorecard? Reach out to Edge Training today! We are an accredited training provider with over 24 years of experience in the Skills Development industry. We offer various learnership programmes so you can find a learnership that best suits your needs. Reach out to one of our representatives today, we can’t wait to hear from you!