At just 27, Priscilla Mndebele is proving that sometimes the road to purpose leads back to where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Based in Rietvlei, Rustenburg, Mndebele is a full-time farmer and the founder of Lisakhanya Farm, a growing agricultural business that is turning her childhood experience of farming into a promising enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her journey into agriculture was not necessarily the path she had initially envisioned for herself. Having grown up in a farming household where agriculture was the family\u2019s main source of income and livelihood, farming was familiar territory. Yet, like many young people looking for opportunities beyond their upbringing, Mndebele initially chose a different direction.She pursued studies in IT, Finance and Business Management at Orbit TVET College, hoping to establish a career outside agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But when employment opportunities did not materialise, she was faced with a choice: wait for an opportunity or create one.She chose the latter.Instead of viewing unemployment as the end of her journey, Mndebele returned to the very foundation she had known since childhood \u2014 farming.That decision marked the beginning of Lisakhanya Farm.Turning roots into opportunityWhat started as a return to farming has evolved into a business with ambitions beyond simply producing food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Lisakhanya Farm, Mndebele grows, processes and sells fresh vegetables to restaurants, supermarkets and local consumers. Her entrepreneurial approach has also seen her move beyond selling fresh produce by developing value-added products, including dried herbs and chilli sauce.The farm also provides prepared vegetable packages, including chopped vegetables for weddings, funerals, catering services and households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Mndebele, this is more than farming.It is about building a sustainable business, responding to market needs and creating opportunities from the resources available to her.Her journey demonstrates the potential of agriculture as a viable avenue for young people seeking economic independence \u2014 particularly at a time when unemployment remains one of the major challenges facing South Africa’s youth.Finding purpose in the path she left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is an important lesson in Mndebele’s journey, sometimes the path people try to escape is the very path that ultimately leads them to their purpose.Although she initially pursued a career in other fields, her return to agriculture allowed her to combine her upbringing with the knowledge she gained through her studies and her entrepreneurial ambitions.\u201cSometimes the path we try to run away from is actually the path that leads us to our purpose,\u201d she says.For Mndebele, farming has become a vehicle through which she can do more than build a livelihood for herself. She is also creating employment, contributing to food production and building an enterprise that she hopes will continue to grow.Her story is a reminder that entrepreneurship does not always begin with significant capital, sophisticated infrastructure or ideal circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, it begins with recognising what is already within reach and having the courage to start.As Women\u2019s Month provides an opportunity to celebrate women who are breaking barriers and creating opportunities, Mndebele’s message to other women is grounded in action rather than waiting for perfect conditions.She believes women should not allow limited resources or difficult circumstances to prevent them from pursuing their ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt does not matter where you come from or how little you have. Start where you are,\u201d she says.Her advice is simple but powerful: use what you have, learn as you go and take one step at a time.For aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly young women who may feel overwhelmed by the size of their dreams, Mndebele believes starting small should never be viewed as a weakness.A small beginning, she says, can become something much bigger than initially imagined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her own journey is evidence of that philosophy.She started by returning to farming a world she already knew and gradually transformed that experience into a business with a growing customer base and a range of products and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her message to women is ultimately one of courage.Believe in yourself. Be willing to learn. Remain consistent. Do not wait for perfect circumstances.Most importantly, begin.Because the seed of a much bigger future may already be in your hands.\u201cStart with what you have, where you are, and trust yourself enough to begin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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