Africa-Press – Eswatini. University student Samkelisiwe Dlamini(24) and her partner Sandile Mndzebele (25) have taken the initiative to start a poultry business in Moneni, showcasing how young people are actively creating opportunities through entrepreneurship. Through personal investment, they are helping to drive a culture of enterprise and independence.
“Sometimes what destroys great ideas is fear,” says Sandile. “But what if it does work out?”
That mindset is what sparked their startup. With Samkelisiwe in her final year at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), studying towards a Bachelor of Science degree, the reality of post-graduation uncertainty loomed large. Rather than waiting for a job that might take long to come, she proposed the idea of starting a small scale poultry business.
“I approached Sandile because I knew he was a faithful and reliable person,” says Samkelisiwe. “He had access to a location where we could raise the chicks, and we both agreed to go in 50/50.”
Starting Small- Building with E6,000
Neither of them had a lot of money, but they had the will to start. Samkelisiwe used part of her monthly government allowance, while Sandile contributed from his wages. It took two to three months of disciplined saving before they had enough to begin, a total of E6,000, which covered materials, feed, and the first batch of chicks.
They agreed to start with 100 chicks, purchased in two batches of 50, spaced two weeks apart to reduce risk and help them manage feeding and care more easily.
But being student entrepreneurs came with its own set of challenges. “We started the business during a very busy time at school, around exams,” says Samkelisiwe. “Because of academic pressure, I couldn’t always be present to help with daily feeding, and that put extra strain on Sandile.”
They also faced environmental challenges. Despite using a small heater, several chicks died due to the cold, and because they were often away at school, the chicks were not exposed to enough sunlight. Still, the losses were minimal fewer than ten chicks and they viewed them as part of the learning process.
Marketing on a Budget
Without capital for formal advertising, they relied on tools they already had: WhatsApp and Facebook. Samkelisiwe shared updates and contact details on her social media platforms, creating local awareness and attracting early buyers.“We’re still a small operation,” she says.“But word of mouth and online visibility have helped us reach people.”
“If We Don’t Start Now, Who Will?”
For Sandile, the business is more than a way to earn money it’s about breaking cycles and creating new ones. He speaks passionately about the need for young people to take ownership of their future and build something that lasts. “It is important for the youth to be in the business sector because if we are honest, there are few job opportunities,” he says. “If we are not starting businesses now, it means even our future children will face the same problems of unemployment like us.”
He adds that running a business teaches financial independence, decision making, and leadership qualities that are hard to learn from school alone.
Limited by Capital, Not by Vision
Though they hope to expand, the main thing holding them back is funding. With more capital, they could improve the chicken house, invest in better heating, and possibly scale production. But for now, they are making the most of what they have. “We would love to explore more business opportunities,” says Samkelisiwe, “but our main limitation is capital.”Still, they remain hopeful and committed.
A Message to Other Youth
If there’s one message they want other young people to take away, it’s this: don’t wait. “You don’t need to have everything figured out,” says Sandile. “What destroys great ideas is fear. But the real question is, what if it does work out?”
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