Phalaborwa woman creates hope for unemployed youth
Loveness Mkansi is empowering Phalaborwa's youth through skills programmes, having helped over 1 500 with training and opportunities.
PHALABORWA – In a town where unemployment continues to rob many young people of hope, one woman is quietly rewriting the story. Armed with determination, lived experience, and a passion for change, 32-year-old Loveness Mkansi from Namakgale is turning hardship into opportunity by creating pathways to employment for Phalaborwa’s youth.
Mkansi is the co-founder of Building Our Future Production (NPO), based in Phalaborwa, and established seven years ago. She also has a private company established a year ago, and through these organisations, Mkansi and her team focus on empowering unemployed youth with skills development, training, mentorship, and access to work opportunities.
“As a multi-talented individual, my passion for creating employment opportunities stems from my personal experience of growing up in a disadvantaged family.
“Witnessing others face similar struggles motivated me to act. The high unemployment rate, crime, and teenage pregnancy in Phalaborwa further fuelled my determination,” said Mkansi.
Together with her co-founder, Nothando Ngwenya, they conducted research in the community and discovered that many unemployed young people were facing desperate situations.
“We found that some young girls were resorting to exploitative relationships, while boys were engaging in crime just to support their families,” she explained.
Building Our Future Production offers learnerships, skills development programmes, internships, and 18-month in-service training, as well as diploma opportunities. The organisation is accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, ensuring that participants receive recognised and relevant training.
The impact of the initiative has grown significantly over the years. In 2022, the organisation assisted 165 young people.
This number increased to 415 in 2023 and 782 in 2024. In 2025, 115 youth benefitted from the programmes. In 2026, 87 participants are set to complete their programmes in January, with four interns finishing in July for diploma opportunities and eight interns completing in August under the gender-based violence and theatre programme.
Mkansi encourages unemployed youth not to lose hope.
“My advice is to start your own business because jobs are scarce. There are many opportunities in areas such as craft and bead-making, dance academies, music production, poultry farming, crop production, baking, salons, nail services, or sewing. Creating your own sustainable venture is key,” she advised.
She added that young entrepreneurs can apply for equipment funding from agencies such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency or the Industrial Development Corporation, as long as they have the required documentation.
