Tamara sikhale: creating jobs through her businesses 

The task of finding a job can be overwhelming, discouraging and down-right frustrating, especially when you have the right qualifications.

Many people get depressed when tired of trying and nothing is seen on the table.

Tamara Sikhale, a 27-year-old single mother is a survivor who wanted to end her life because of depression.

She turned her depression into a money-making endevour through her business which has created job opportunities for other people.

Tamara is now the chief executive officer of Talaca Cleaning Services and Media Solutions.

They provide cleaning service in offices, homes, they do car wash, maid services, laundry and media solutions such as videography, photography and graphic designing.

She said the aim of the grouping is to create jobs that don’t require someone to have big qualifications or limit people because of lack of qualifications.

Tamara wants people to just work so they can better their lives and work towards their dreams.

“I would say I started business after I was tired of job hunting and was depressed. We started our business in January 2022, but we officially opened it on October 21 same year.

‘’Our job is fun and I enjoy it mostly because it’s something we are used to doing at home. I am also passionate about making other people’s lives easier,” she said.

The youthful mother holds a diploma in information, communication and technology. She is currently studying business administration.

“I was inspired to do business through prayer. It was a time when I lost my job; I got depressed and almost killed myself. I was broke, helpless, had no hope, until I decided to go and pick any job. That’s when I started mobile washing.

“To date, I have four employees and we have a place of our own. Our target is everyone, including non-governmental organisations, private institutions as well as the government,” she said.

She added:”Like I said, I am a survivor of depression. I expected a lot from people, yet I had a son to look after. I couldn’t provide for my son because I wasn’t independent, so, that’s why I chose business to create and fulfill my passion of creating jobs without limits.”

Her biggest motivation was my life—were upon contemplating suicide to end it all because life wasn’t going the way she expected—tables turned when she met some people who were doing an end to suicide campaign.

Tamara decided to share her story on their page.

She disclosed that expressing herself freed her and she was able to talk and walk in her current path, setting up good goals; hence, Talaca Cleaning Service and Media Solutions was birthed.

Apart from the business, Tamara joined Uncle’s Ear group as one of the directors.

Uncle’s Ear is a group of people who partnered to end suicide. It preaches about mental health, inspired by the high number of suicides in the country.

“We need to create a world where people can talk about problems rather committing suicide. I work with people in my community by giving them the opportunity to join us.

“As someone who survived depression, I have always encouraged people not to choose jobs and expecting a lot from other people. I am in a mental health group that travels to do mental health talks,” she said.

Tamara describes her journey as amazing and a blessing because God has been so faithful to her.

“It wasn’t easy for my business to reach this far. We had challenges, traveling to various places carrying our staff members from place to place before we got our own place. But now we have a place to call our own and that’s a big deal for us,” she said.

Currently, Tamara has no sponsors, but she is ready to have partners and work together since her vision is to provide services to Malawi.

So far, they have partnered with Mukuru and she describes this as a big achievement.

She added that her role model is Michelle Williams—an American actress and a secret admirer is Grace Mbekeani—a business woman.

She loves to pray, setting goals and working hard work.

Tamara observed that self-discipline combined with honesty will open countless doors for anyone, adding that trust is the foundation of all relationships.

She said despite her busy schedule, setting priorities, planning ahead and doing things in advance helps her in many ways.

The entrepreneur hired other people to be her other hands, so she can focus on family when necessary.

Even though she has achieved a lot at a young age, she admitted to have made mistakes in the past that moulded her to be the woman she is now.

She said:”I gave out my pride and gave birth at a tender age, getting excited with anything that came my way and this leads to distraction in one’s future.

She later advised young women to always focus and put more effort in whatever they are doing.

Tamara said young women should not be getting carried away with everything because good things will always be there.

He added that what a man can do a woman can also do better.

“And to parents, always pay attention to what a child loves to do or likes. It’s good to let a child do and follow their dreams. All we need to do is let them follow their dreams, guard them, create a space where children can always come to you and talk to you freely,” she said.

In her free time, Tamara loves spending time with her 10-year-old son, shopping,  swimming, listening to music and dancing.