Vhutshilo started with SEF in 2008 but she had to take a leave of absence in 2011 due to a knee surgery following a car accident. When she returned in 2012, her manager wasn’t sure if she would be able to handle the challenges, including lots of walking, of Development Facilitator duties.
She took over an area that had been performing badly and the previous Development Facilitator had been dismissed for fraud. She managed to reinstate client faith in SEF and grow the area from 49 to 63 groups. After this success, Vhutshilo was moved to another problem area where client morale was low because of late disbursements. Vhutshilo turned around this area as well, growing the groups from 54 to 79. Now she is the best Development Facilitator in the branch and the Mpumalanga Zone because of her extraordinary client service.
In 2015, Vhutshilo was honored by Whole Planet Foundation with a Field Officer Appreciation Award as the Grand Prize Winner for the Middle East and North Africa Region – it was a privilege for us to recognize her service!