Siphokuhle Mdluli and Samkelisiwe Dlanzi are shining examples of how youth empowerment and sustainable agriculture can transform lives and communities. Both participants in the WESSA South32 Eco-Hub Project, joined the programme in 2022, each with unique backgrounds and aspirations.
Siphokuhle, initially disinterested in agriculture, now holds a profound love for the soil and the art of growing food. Reflecting on her journey, she shares, “Sometimes what we thought we wanted arrives in a different package than expected, but when we unwrap it, it is far more beautiful than we ever could have imagined. It is a gift we never asked for, but we never knew we needed. That is what being part of this project has meant to me. I have gained lifelong skills that will sustain me.”
Samkelisiwe, who grew up with exposure to subsistence farming, has found the programme to be an avenue for innovation and growth. “The training has equipped me with theoretical knowledge and allowed me to innovate,” she says. Today, uMkhoma Eco Hub is not only providing employment opportunities for unemployed youth in the community but has also signed a partnership agreement with Boxer Supermarket Richards Bay to purchase their entire harvest. Another success story from the South32 Eco-Hub Project is the establishment of eight agribusinesses over the past two years. Eighteen young job seekers have now transformed into job creators, significantly impacting their communities through ventures ranging from poultry farming to crop production. These young agripreneurs received comprehensive support, including solid business plans and exit funds, ensuring the sustainability and growth of their enterprises. The WESSA South32 Eco-Hub Project, launched in 2022 in the King Cetshwayo District, has established four Agriculture Eco-Hubs situated in Amangwe, uMkhoma, uMhlathuze and Madlankala communities.
This initiative is a powerful platform for youth engagement, employability, and entrepreneurship in the agriculture sector, ensuring climate-resilient food systems in the communities.
In just two years, the WESSA South32 Eco-Hub Project has created a transformative impact. By preparing youth ambassadors with comprehensive agribusiness development support and equipping them with tools for self-employment, the initiative has fostered sustainable development and ensured a brighter future for these communities.