How Brinjals Bought School Shoes: Mzwandile’s Agroecology Hustle (And Why Farming Isn’t ‘Uncool’)

Loading player...

Youth unemployment in SA hits 46%, but in rural KZN, a quiet revolution is growing—literally. Thanda’s agroecology program has generated R43M in food value since 2015, with youth like Mzwandile Khule turning scrap metal into fences and brinjals into school fees.

🎧 Listen as Thanda co-founder Angela Larkan explains:

Why farming is SA’s untapped job-creation secret (hint: it’s not khaki socks).
How R3.6M direct income in 2024 changed entire households (meat on tables, kids in school).
Their bold goal: 40% youth participation by 2045—and the ‘cool factor’ strategy to
get there.
👉 Want to help scale this? Visit Thanda.org to support or partner. #MzansiRising #Agripreneurs

28 May English South Africa Business · Non-Profit

Other recent episodes

Ditch the 9-to-5: How 57% of SA Women Are Building Freedom Through Entrepreneurship

This Women's Month, we spotlight a growing shift 57% of South African women now identify as entrepreneurs. In this inspiring episode of The Social Impact Show, Karen Loader, CEO of F45 Training South Africa, shares her personal journey from corporate hotel boardrooms to building one of SA’s fastest-growing fitness franchises…

19 Aug 17 min

It’s Not About Being a Guru – It’s About Being Generous: The 1-2-3 Mentorship Drive

In this episode of The Social Impact Show, Sam Marshall speaks with Fiona Tabraham, Executive Director at UMUZI’s Experience Lab, about an inspiring new initiative transforming how mentorship is done in South Africa. With over 44 million young people not in employment, education, or training, UMUZI's 1-2-3 Mentorship Drive offers…

19 Aug 20 min

Flipping the Script: Why Women Hold the Key to Unlocking Involved Fatherhood

This Women’s Month, Heartlines is challenging the narrative—not by shifting focus from women, but by empowering them to activate one of the most powerful forces in a child’s life: an engaged father. Join Sam Marshall in a crucial conversation with Zamabonga Mojalefa from Heartlines, the social change organization behind the…

19 Aug 11 min

Decentering Women & Redefining Manhood: The Unfiltered Conversation on Men's Mental Health

In this powerful and raw Monday feature, host Sam Marshall and Diane Naidoo are joined by Ofentse Makonya, founder of Conversations With My Brother, to tackle the complex, often silenced crisis of men's mental health in South Africa and beyond. This isn't about blaming women or defending the patriarchy—it's a…

19 Aug 44 min

European Social Impact Round Up Stories Ep4

Every Weekday at 9:30, we bring you the Social Impact Roundup Stories —your go-to spotlight on the innovators, deals, and movements driving real change across the continent. Here’s what’s making waves this week: 💡 This Week’s Top Stories: 1. Moldova: Youth Social Enterprises Gain Ground Through EU Support 2. Spain:…

19 Aug 3 min

All episodes