Sabie received support from the Parental Employability Support (PES) team to support her with her professional career and creative project.
Through a partnership with the Culture and Wellbeing team and the Parental Employability Support team, we have supported a cohort of creative parents to develop their project. Through the Diversity and Inclusion Fund, successful parents were awarded with a one-off payment to develop their creative project, connect with other members, and access spaces to work.
Sabie found about the Diversity and Inclusion Fund through the support from her Parental Employability Support officer, Kristee, who is continuing to support her with her career choices.
Tell us about you/your project
My name is Sabie, and I am a South African storyteller based in Edinburgh. I bring stories from South Africa to Scottish audiences through storytelling, song, movement, language and audience participation.
My storytelling is rooted in my childhood in South Africa, where stories, songs and imagination were a big part of growing up and bringing communities together. I want to share that experience with children, families and communities in Scotland, introducing them to South African culture in a fun, accessible and engaging way.
My project is about creating spaces where people can experience African stories and culture, while also encouraging children to be curious about different cultures, languages and ways of seeing the world.
How did you find out about the Parental Employability Support team?
I found out about the Parental Employability Support team while looking for support to develop my career and explore opportunities that would allow me to build something meaningful alongside being a mum.
What were your expectations?
I was hoping to get guidance and encouragement as I explored a career direction that felt more connected to my strengths and passions. I wanted to understand how I could turn my creativity and experience into something professional and sustainable, rather than simply keeping storytelling as a hobby.
Did you have any personal or professional goals coming into the programme?
Yes. Professionally, I wanted to develop myself as a storyteller, gain performance experience, build a portfolio and find opportunities to share my work with schools, libraries, festivals and community organisations.
Personally, I wanted to build the confidence to believe that it was possible to create a career around something I genuinely love, while also being a mum. I wanted to take my creativity seriously and give myself permission to see myself as a professional creative.
How did the support given help you to develop your project/professional career?
The support gave me encouragement, confidence and practical guidance at a time when I was trying to figure out what the next chapter of my career could look like.
It helped me to take my storytelling more seriously and start thinking about it as a professional project rather than something I simply enjoyed doing. It encouraged me to put myself forward, develop my ideas and look for opportunities to perform and connect with organisations.
Since developing my project, I have had opportunities to deliver storytelling sessions, work with schools and community organisations, and perform for audiences. I am also building my portfolio and developing my vision for bringing South African storytelling and culture to more people across Scotland.
Has this programme had any impact on your wider life or wellbeing as a creative mum?
Definitely. Being a mum can sometimes make you put your own dreams to the side, because there are so many responsibilities competing for your attention.
The programme reminded me that I can be a mother and still have ambitions, creativity and professional goals of my own. Having someone believe in my ideas has helped me to believe in them more myself.
It has also given me a sense of purpose outside of my day-to-day responsibilities. Storytelling allows me to connect with people, share where I come from and hopefully inspire others — and that has had a really positive impact on my confidence and wellbeing.
Would you encourage others to contact Edinburgh Guarantee/Parental Employability Support team?
Absolutely. I would encourage other parents, especially those who have an idea, passion or career goal but aren't sure how to take the next step, to reach out.
Sometimes you don't need someone to give you all the answers — you need someone to help you see what is possible and give you the confidence to take that first step.
For me, the support helped turn an idea I was carrying in my heart into something I am now actively building. I am still on the journey, but I can genuinely say that I now see myself as a storyteller and a creative professional.