Working on Fire (WOF) is a government-funded job-creation programme that not only helps minimise fires in South Africa but opens doors for youngsters.
Government’s WOF programme is proving to be an good example of how the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) can lay the perfect platform for young people to reach their dreams.
WOF employs over 5 000 young men and women from disadvantaged communities around South Africa, training them as firefighters. By gaining work experience and skills, many of these youth go on to become fully employed in various fields. 
Formerly a WOF employee, Hilda Ditshwele is now living her dream of being a police officer. She joined the WOF EPWP in 2012 and began gaining vital skills that she would have never previously had an opportunity to learn.
After five years at WOF, Ditshwele heard that the South African Police Service (SAPS) was recruiting new police officers. She decided to apply.
“I became confident that I can achieve anything in life. The SAPS was impressed with my fitness and I was immediately recruited to go to training college,” Ditshwele said.
Today, she is a proud police constable who plans to study criminology and forensic science.
Other WOF participants are also starting promising new careers, thanks to the programme.
Abelo Duna joined WOF in 2011, and his hard work saw him quickly being promoted to team leader.
“I had to work hard and prove that I deserved to be in a leadership position,” said Duna.
He decided to use his monthly stipend to further his college education and in 2015, he passed an online occupational health and safety management course with Oxbridge Academy. He went on to enrol for a National Diploma in Safety Management at University of South Africa in December 2018. A month later, he was employed as WOF’s occupational health and safety administrator for Limpopo.
*Youth interested in joining WOF can visit: www.workingonfire.org.
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