NZHELELE – One does not need to be a genius or have the wisdom of King Solomon to figure out that unemployment, crime and poverty are threatening the future of the youths in our country. Despite the deadly unemployment scourge, three youths from Nzhelele, Matidza village, defied these odds to organize themselves and jointly create permanent job opportunities for themselves.

They have realized that most of the poor community members were not receiving dignified send-offs and they came up with ideas of manufacturing home-made coffins. Calvin Phathela (26), Avhafunani Matshimbidzile (23) and Confidence Mphaphuli (22) are now able to survive through the income they receive from their initiative.

The mastermind behind the initiative, Calvin Phathela, said he came up the idea of doing something unique and creative in July last year. After working at home for a short time, they moved to Makonde, MW Mbulaheni Building with his team, where they are now based.

He said: “At first, people were even afraid to come to our small work room because they were afraid to see or touch the coffins. Our people were puzzled to learn that a coffin can be made from the backyard. They only think that only big and urban companies are capable of making coffins. I had that desire to prove to the communities, especially those in rural areas, that we are capable of flying high, regardless of where we come from. They thought seeing or touching the coffins will lead them to death, but we are happy because they now understand and support our initiative. We have slowly taught them that the initiative benefits society, but we still have problems with older members of the community who are afraid to see what we do…”

Calvin encourages other unemployed youths to take matters upon themselves and do something to survive.

“We have to use our brains to create jobs for ourselves. We do not have to follow where the path may lead, but we must instead go where there is no path so that we may leave a trail for those who are coning behind us. Youths must come up with unique initiatives to fight unemployment and poverty. There is no one who is going to do things for us, but we have to wake up and work hard to develop our communities…”

The youths have in the past few months given out coffins for free to people whose family members were too poor to afford funeral costs. As a gesture of community building, they also give away all coffins for infants for free to the bereaved.

“We give out the little coffins because we regard each infant as a future community builder. But when we lose one, we are deeply touched and we give out a free coffin to each. If we get enough evidence from traditional leaders or civic structures that somebody is too poor to afford a coffin, we simply give out one for burial purposes. This is a way of giving something back to the community…”

Calvin said they use wood, electric saw, alkaline and wood glues and decorative ornaments to make the coffins. They then fit the interior of the coffins with special cushions. Their coffins range from Octagon, Open Face and Econocaskets and they start from R200. They can sell between six and seven coffins per month. Although they are specializing in coffin designs, they also manufacture a variety of furniture like wardrobes, chairs and tables.