Zohar Ndlazi, a dedicated educator from South Africa, embarked on a journey to Thailand seeking a teaching opportunity. Unfortunately, her experience took a turn for the worse when promised job offers evaporated, leaving her unemployed and struggling to survive on the streets of Bangkok.
Zohar Ndlazi , a dedicated educator from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa , had ambitious dreams of a teaching career abroad that would lead to a brighter future. She journeyed to Thailand , hoping to find her calling amidst the bustling streets of Bangkok . However, Ndlazi's hopes were dashed when the realities of being a South Africa n seeking opportunities overseas hit hard.
Registered with the South African Council for Educators (SACE), Ndlazi arrived in Thailand on June 23, 2023, accepting a position as a teacher. Her contract was set to continue until September 27, 2024. But after leaving her initial employer in June 2024, promising job offers in China and from a recruiting agent in Thailand vanished without a trace, leaving her unemployed. 'I ran out of savings from being unemployed from September 2024 until now,' Ndlazi explained, highlighting the uncertainty that many aspiring teachers face when they chase opportunities in foreign lands. This scenario is all too familiar for many South African graduates as they attempt to escape a challenging job market at home, often unaware of the potential pitfalls that await them abroad. Though she continued her job search, Ndlazi's financial strain meant she had to decline an offer in Cambodia. 'I get free breakfast food daily from the Indian Sikh temple or from the Catholic Church a few other days. Some days I get free food from the hotel staff for dinner,' she shared, underlining the difficulty of her situation. Initially, she managed to stay in a hotel for R50 per night, but eventually, the mounting costs became unmanageable. Stranded without accommodation, Ndlazi resorted to sleeping on the streets of Bangkok.Despite this ordeal, she remarked on the safety of the city and the kindness of its residents, asserting, 'I slept outside the hotel foyer when I could not pay for my room stay and was not robbed, harmed nor touched'. However, sleeping outdoors poses its own threats. Ndlazi expressed concerns about mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria, which is responsible for approximately 608,000 deaths annually. Additionally, she pointed out the growing pressure for Thai citizens to retain jobs for locals, leading to limited opportunities for foreign workers. Yet, despite the overwhelming obstacles, Ndlazi remains determined to continue pursuing her passion for teaching
Education Zohar Ndlazi Thailand South Africa Teacher Unemployment Job Market Foreign Workers Bangkok
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