By Doreen Mokgolo
When Sheila Mawela resigned as a community development worker for the City of Tshwane in 2015, she had ambitions of empowering young, unemployed women in her community of Hammanskraal.
And the 42-year-old founder of Tirani Fresh Produce has certainly achieved her goal.
Scrolla.Africa visited Tirani Fresh Produce in Suurman Village, Hammanskraal, to see Mawela’s work in action and was welcomed by well-kept gardens filled with various vegetables being tended by a group of young women.
Another group of women was busy in the bakery, which was filled with the delicious smell of freshly baked bread, biscuits, and other delicacies.
Over the years, Mawela has trained more than 500 young people in agriculture, baking, and basic business skills – some of whom have started their own businesses.
“It warms my heart when I see some of my students delivering their vegetables at big retailers and creating employment in their communities,” she said.
As a community development worker, Mawela helped deliver food parcels to poor people and pensioners.
“I felt the government was not doing enough by giving the indigent food parcels as this was a temporary solution, and they would be without food after a few days.
“I believed they needed to be given skills they could use in the future to sustain themselves,” she said.
While helping the pensioners, Mawela learned some valuable vegetable gardening skills from them – skills she is now passing on to a younger generation.
Ofentse Pitsi, 21, said she learned about the free training offered by Mawela in January after completing her matric and could not find a bursary to study further.
“I needed to keep busy while I waited to find employment or a bursary. Through this organisation, I was able to undergo various trainings in agriculture, and I have found my true calling.
“I will now enrol for a university qualification in the field to empower myself further,” she said.
Pictured above: Some of the trainees of Tirani Fresh Produce.
Source: Supplied
