‘Difficult’ would be an understatement in describing George’s childhood. One of seven brothers, his parents struggled to meet even the family’s basic needs. Thrown out of school when he could no longer pay the fees, George was left to fend for himself in a community riddled with drug abuse, crime, and disease.

Against the odds, George graduated highschool. He survived by doing odd jobs like selling key rings and running errands. “There aren’t many opportunities for young people here. They get into crime, either because of drug use or to make ends meet.” Having lost two friends in a robbery, he states: “the Eastlands are a violent and deadly place.”

George’s horizons opened up dramatically when he joined the Samsung Real Dreams program offered by the Informal Sector Business Institute (ISBI). Passing courses in business and computers and specializing in electronics, he quickly become a favourite with both his teachers and a new boss during his internship.

“I think I’ve found my passion in electronics. I like to find out how things work and fix them.” While he does not yet have a permanent job, George works in the community repairing his neighbors’ computers and other electronic equipment. “I’m sharpening my skills further before I open my own shop. But I have the basics – the confidence, the business mindset and ethics. It won’t be easy, but I’m on the right path.”

George recognizes how much his life has changed because of the Samsung Real Dreams program: “my vision was clouded, but now I can see clearly!”