Page 107 - SCAT Rural Voice II - 35 Stories for 35 Years

HOW I BECAME A MASTER CHEF OF
yOUNg pEOpLE’S DrEAmS
Felix Robertson (SASSA), Vivian Lund, Me Ghom Nelspoort Advice Office. (SASSA), Anista Swartz and Getruida Pienaar at
farmworker rights workshop in Nelspoort.
Claudia van Staden facilitating a workshop on farmworker rights.
CLAUDIA VAN STADEN TRAINED TO BE A CHEF AND HAD SECURED A jOB IN A RESTAURANT IN PLETTENBERG BAY. HER MOTHER’S SUDDEN DEATH MEANT SHE HAD TO RETURN TO HER SMALL KAROO HOMETOWN OF NELSPOORT. BACK HOME, HER LIFE TOOK ON A NEW DIRECTION WORKING FOR THE ADVICE OFFICE, COOKING UP RECIPES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ATTAIN THEIR DREAMS.
“Pregnant! Who would want to be a mother now, my life has only now begun?” That was my reaction when I found that I was pregnant with my first child. I was 18 years old, still a child myself. Defeat, however, was not an option, as I had another human being dependent on me. My precious child expected me to take the world head on. Shame and scandal were to be part of who I am, I thought. I returned to college and completed my Diploma in Professional Cookery, although I wished to become a teacher.
I had to provide for my child, so staying at home with no prospects of employment was not an option. My working life thus started on a game reserve in the Eastern Cape. My employers on the game reserve made sure only the best and most beautiful was on display to guests. The workers on the game reserve, on the other hand, had no value and were treated as such. Witnessing the treatment of my colleagues broke my heart. As always, I could not stand by and continue to witness this mistreatment. How is it that in this day and age workers still face discrimination and abuse? My soul rebelled against the injustices of the working conditions. Workers had to hitchhike back to the main town, when there were a number of vacant cars on the premises. It did not take long for me to realise that I had to leave the game reserve, as I would not be able to sustain my silence any longer.
clAudiA VAn stAden
RuRal Voice ii: 35 stories for 35 years
105
YOUTH