Germination is the process when seeds grow into plants after a period of dormancy. One important factor that is needed during this process is water. Mawethe Hlumbayo is passionate about agriculture and just like the seeds he plants, he too went through a process of germination with the training he received from the Emdeni Skills Development Centre.

“In 1986, I knew I had to be a farmer and I passed my agricultural studies with flying colours but could not pursue it as there were no opportunities available at the time”, says bab’ Mawethe.  He had to put his dream on hold and worked in construction for years. It was while working on renovating a school in Mahikeng that bab’ Mawethe’s green fingers started itching again. “I enquired about the neglect of the school’s garden. In the time I spent there, I started a gardening project that helped feed the children of the school. I would work in construction during the day and tend to the garden in the evening. I also managed to secure a sponsor to help keep the project going but sadly today, the garden is no longer operational.  I wish I could go back and revive the project”.

Bab’ Mawethe recently graduated with a certificate in Hydroponics (Tunnel agriculture), a course he says he took to help him understand the business side of agriculture. “I want to run my business professionally and the centre has offered me those tools.”

Caring people who share his belief in the miracle of life from the earth contribute to fulfilling his lifelong dream to grow things and feed people. The actual course cost is funded by donors. The R350 commitment fee paid by the students, is affordable for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“This qualification means a lot to me. It has opened doors for me because the years before this were very difficult. Today I can confidently apply to a college with this certificate in hand. I can go as far as I want in terms of education now. I now work and earn an income with the produce from my own work. The knowledge gained helps me to sustain myself”, says bab’ Mawethe.

“My dream is to create agricultural projects in all nine provinces. I want to help feed our communities and alleviate poverty by creating much needed job opportunities. I am earning an income via the tunnel I have at the skills centre and also manage one of the plots of the PB Mpyana Foundation in Zuurbekom and am making headway in my career. I recently lost out on a big opportunity to supply one of our local Pick n Pay stores with spinach, because I did not have transport to deliver my produce.  An old bakkie would help me to carry out my dream. If anybody can assist, please contact me”, pleads bab’ Mawethe.

His mother drilled hard work, consistency, planning, persistence and discipline into bab’ Mawethe as a young boy. With her support and that of the rest of his family, bab’ Mawethe is well on his way to fulfilling his dream and we wish him all the best.

Die wonder van nuwe lewe

Ontkieming is die proses waardeur sade in plant ontaard nadat hulle vir ‘n tyd dormant was. Belangrik vir die proses is water. Mawethe Hlumbayo is vol passie oor landbou en net soos die sade wat hy plant, het hy ook deur ‘n ontkiemingsfase gegaan tydens die opleiding wat hy by die “Emdeni Skills Development Centre” ontvang het.

“In 1986 reeds het ek geweet ek wil boer en ek het goed gedoen in my landbouvakke, maar ongelukkig was daar nie toe geleenthede om dit verder te neem nie”, vertel bab’ Mawethe.  Hy moes sy droom eenkant skuif en het vir jare in die konstruksiebedryf gewerk. Terwyl hy in Mahikeng besig was met die herstel van ‘n skool het sy groen vingers weer begin jeuk. “Ek het navraag gedoen oor die verwaarloosde skooltuin. Terwyl ek daar was het ek ‘n groentetuin begin, wat gehelp het om die skoolkinders te voed. Ek sou bedags die konstruksiewerk doen en saans die tuin versorg. Ek het selfs ‘n borg gekry om die projek aan die gang te hou. Ongelukkig is die tuin vandag ook al tot niet. Ek wens ek kon teruggaan en die projek weer van die grond kry.”

Bab’ Mawethe het onlangs ‘n sertifikaat ontvang vir die suksesvolle afhandeling  van ‘n kursus in hidroponiese landbou. Hy het veral die kursus gedoen om hom te help om die besigheidskant van landbou te verstaan. “Ek wil my besigheid professioneel bedryf en die sentrum het my die middele gegee om dit te kan doen.”

Gelukkig is daar mense wat omgee en sy geloof deel in die wonder daarvan om lewe uit die aarde voort te bring. Hulle het bygedra om sy lewenslange droom om plante te verbou en mense te voed te help bewaarheid. Die werklike koste van die kursus word deur donateurs gedek sodat ‘n bekostigbare verbintenisfooi van slegs R350 betaalbaar is deur minderbevoorregte studente

“Die kwalifikasie beteken vir my baie. Dit maak deure oop, want die jare voor dit was moeilik. Vandag het ek selfvertroue en kan ek aansoek doen by kolleges met ‘n sertifikaat in die hand. Die pad na verdere opleiding is oop. Ek werk nou en verdien ‘n inkomste uit die produkte wat ek groei. Die kennis wat ek opgedoen het help my om myself te onderhou,” sê bab’ Mawethe.

“Ek droom om landbouprojekte in al nege provinsies te begin. Ek wil help om gemeenskappe te voed en armoede te verlig deur werksgeleenthede te skep. Ek verdien ‘n inkomste deur die tonnel wat tot my beskikking gestel is by die sentrum en ek hanteer ook een van die plotte van die “PB Mpyana Foundation” in Zuurbekom. My loopbaan vorder. Onlangs het ek die geleentheid gehad om spinasie aan ‘n plaaslike PicknPay te lewer, maar dit het deur die mat geval want ek het nie vervoer gehad vir die produkte nie. Ek is op soek na ‘n ou bakkie om my droom verder te neem en sal bly wees om te hoor van enigeen wat daarmee kan help,” pleit bab’ Mawethe.

Sy ma het harde werk, deursettingsvermoë, beplanning en dissipline by hom ingedril as ‘n jong seun. Met haar ondersteuning en die van die res van sy familie is bab’ Mawethe goed oppad om sy drome te vervul en ons wens hom alle voorspoed.