Nonhlanhla woman of many talents

MADLANZINI businesswoman, Nonhlanhla Ngonyama has taken the community’s unemployed youth into her fold and is helping them develop skills and access entrepreneurial opportunities.

She is the founder of Beautiful Pillars Foundation, an organisation aimed at equipping young women with life skills and knowledge on how to become independent by focusing on entrepreneurship and tapping into the agriculture and aquaculture sectors.

Currently working on establishing a skills centre in Madlanzini, Ngonyama is also involved in a fish farming project in eSikhaleni, which she hopes will encourage more youth to explore the concept of fish farming.

She is also spearheading an organic fresh produce tunnels project and believes the two concepts will complement each other as these types of projects can provide ample job opportunities.

‘Growing up in a family which was heavily involved in farming, I understand the important role it played in sustaining our family of 12 children.

‘My father was in sugar cane farming while my mother sold her fresh produce and that is where my passion for agriculture comes from.

‘We need more youth to become entrepreneurs and self-sufficient and I have secured several learnership and skills programmes for youngsters to develop skills in agriculture as well as baking and cookery,’ she said.

Ngonyama believes unemployed youngsters should focus on scarce skills and must strive to be trend setters and not rely on handouts.

‘As a mother of three boys, I have also wanted a daughter and through these projects I am able to adopt all the young girls in my community and host seminars and talks to educate them on teenage pregnancies, peer pressure and encourage them to focus on their studies to realise their dreams of success.’

When she is not working on community projects, Ngonyama runs her guest house and cultural village in Madlanzini, a daycare centre, catering business and Masituse Farming Project, which focuses on agriculture and aquaculture training.