By: Monelisi Sigabi
With impulse and sense of purpose to change their situation, 5 young people, 3 females and 2 males, namely Kholeka Bewula (33), Sithembele White(35), Andiswa Mabulu(31), Anele White (33) and Anelisa Bewula(28) started Nealabella Primary Cooperative.
They registered the first co-op in Phumlani village due to the lack of employment opportunities.
“We registered the cooperative because there are no jobs. We wanted to do something that would sustain us,” said Kholeka Bewula.
They faced various challenges while trying to register the co-op, as they lacked knowledge and formal training on how and where to start.
“It was difficult to get started because we are in a rural community that lacks people and facilities that can help us do research, however, through those challenges we managed to register Nealabella Primary Cooperative,” she said.
The co-operative has multiple projects which include egg production, a vegetable garden, a sewing project, piggery farming and a recording studio.
“Our core business is egg production, we currently have 500 chickens. We also have pig farming and crop production which we use to supply local general dealers and spaza shops. To help the youth, we also have a recording studio for local artists wanting to do music,” added Bawula.
In the midst of daily challenges that the cooperative faces, the co-founder believes that keeping their customers happy plays a big role in ensuring that the co-op grows.
“We sustain the cooperative by making sure that our customers are satisfied with our products. Being disciplined also plays a major role in the project, as it only depends on us to grow,” explained Bawula.
With money being the main barrier for many start-ups, Nealabella approached various institutions for funding.
“We went to the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development, NYDA and SEDA to ask for funding. We needed a business plan and proof of concept and if our project was feasible enough to get funded. Upon producing then, Social Development funded us with R285000.00 in 2018 and NYDA with R50 000 in 2019,” said Bawula.
Speaking on their future plans, Bawula said they want to employ locals, especially youths that are unemployed.
“We would like to grow and have our own egg production farm factory which will sell eggs and benefit every young person in Phumlani village. Another goal of ours is to be one of the Eastern Cape’s leading cooperatives and help boost the economy of the province,” she added.
Bawula appealed to the youth, chiefly to those wanting to start their own co-ops or businesses to find something they are passionate about and be self-disciplined.
“Find something you love and you will never work a day in your life, she concluded.
Ndaba General Dealer director, Zandile Mawela, said the co-op is their main supplier of eggs and vegetables. She encourages everybody to buy from the Nealabella Primary Cooperative as they sell fresh vegetables and supply medium-large eggs. She added that co-op has helped their general dealer gain popularity amongst the locals through its fresh produce.