From Seed to Purpose: A New Life in Johannesburg
In Zandspruit, Johannesburg, something worth celebrating happened— and the room knew it.
A group of graduates from the Kopano ke Bophelo centre recently gathered to mark the completion of Untold's nine-month program, surrounded by friends, family, and supporters who had traveled from as far as the United States and Nairobi to be there. Eighty participants crossed that finish line, and for every one of them, the day represented far more than a certificate. It represented a new beginning.
Gavin Oyas, Director of Donor Engagement for Untold U.S., captured the spirit of the moment in his address to the graduates with a simple but powerful image.
"For the past nine months you received skills which must be used as a seed. Plant it so that it will grow and multiply. That requires patience, but over time — with consistency and taking care of that seed — it will grow."
For many in the room, that seed had already begun to take root.
Dimakatso Tshabalala came to the program during one of the darkest seasons of her life— battling depression following an HIV diagnosis and struggling to accept what that news meant for her future. A friend believed the program could help her find her footing, and she took the step. Over the nine months that followed, she didn't just find her footing. She found her faith.
"I learnt to be closer to God and to build a relationship with Him. Now I know that prayer is important," she said.
Looking back on her transformation, Dimakatso reached for the image that said it best: "I was like a caterpillar when I started the program— but after these nine months, I feel ready to spread my wings and fly higher."
She is now planning to launch her own business using the skills she gained and is already encouraging others to follow the same path, describing the program as a gateway to personal growth, independence, and a sustainable future.
Sindisiwe Magudulela's journey was equally profound. When she arrived, her greatest obstacle wasn't external— it was the struggle to accept herself. Through counseling, practical training, and the steady support of the Untold community, that began to change.
"The most important lesson for me was learning to accept myself first. Once I did that, everything else started to fall into place," she said.
Sindisiwe gained practical tools — computer literacy, cooking skills, and the ability to write a professional resume — that she describes as genuinely life-changing. "If it wasn't for this program, I would not know how to create a CV," she said simply. Her message to others living with HIV is equally simple, and equally bold: it is not the end of the world. With the right support and the courage to press forward, it is possible to rebuild and to move into the future with real hope.
As the graduates stepped out of the ceremony and into their next chapter, the message of the day lingered: growth takes time. It takes patience and commitment. But like that seed — nurtured with faith, purpose, and care — even the smallest beginning can become something that changes a life, a family, and a community.