By Lebogang Mashala
Traditionally, farming has been viewed as a job for the elderly, but the Thanda programme is reshaping that narrative: young people are stepping into roles as producers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
A nonprofit organisation based in rural KwaZulu-Natal is tackling poverty and unemployment through community-based farming programmes that have been in operation for over ten years.
In light of last week’s Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) unemployment report, which revealed an alarming unemployment rate of 46.1%, the nonprofit Thanda is expanding its Food Security and Economic Development (FSED) Initiative. This expansion will place a renewed emphasis on supporting youth in building dignified, sustainable livelihoods through agroecology.
According to Thanda, participating farmers earned R3.6 million in direct income in 2024 alone. This income not only supports their families but also circulates within and uplifts their communities. Currently, Thanda is intensifying its support for young people at a time when KwaZulu-Natal has experienced the largest provincial employment decline in the country, with 104,000 fewer people employed in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter.
Angela Larkan, Thanda’s Executive Director and Co-Founder, stated that over the next five years, the organization aims to support 1,350 smallholder and household farmers, with at least 100 of them being youth aged 18-35. By 2030, the organisation expects that 20% of all supported farmers will achieve entrepreneurial-level livelihoods, with a year-on-year production growth of at least 15%. By 2045, Thanda anticipates that 40% of programme participants will be young people. This translates to an increase from approximately 30 youth enrolled in 2024 to 250 youth actively earning income through farming by 2045.
Thanda’s youth-focused initiative equips young people with the tools, skills, infrastructure, and mentorship needed to grow both food and income right where they live. Traditionally, farming has been viewed as work for the elderly, but this program is reshaping that narrative: young people are stepping into roles as producers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
Mzwandile Cele, a beneficiary from Buhlebukhona Farm in Mtwalume, has been part of the Thanda programme since 2022. He has shown enthusiasm for all training opportunities and is committed to upskilling himself as both a farmer and a businessman with Thanda’s support.
“When I first started farming with Thanda, I was still finding my footing,” Mzwandile said. “Now I see it not just as a way to sustain myself, but as a step toward becoming an entrepreneur.”
“As we harvest this brinjal, I’m already thinking ahead – how much I need to sell to buy my child’s school shoes and cover other household expenses. This farm helps me provide for my family.”
“Working with Thanda has made me an independent thinker. We sit with our mentor to plan what to plant and how to make it profitable. They’ve truly given us ownership – what we reap is a direct result of the work we put in.”
“It’s just a matter of being consistent and working as a team. That’s why this youth farm is thriving,” he explains. “We respect each other and are open to learning.”
“The weather this year was tough. The soil was dry, and not everything grew as well as before,” Mzwandile says. “But with support, we adapted – adding kraal manure, cutting grass to cover the soil, and learning to mulch. It worked. You can see it in the brinjal.”
“I think the biggest mistake the youth in my community make is being afraid of hard work and worrying too much about what people will say,” he adds. “Farming isn’t seen as ‘cool.’ But every day, I wake up and come to the farm with the conscious decision that I want to be better—for myself, for my child, and for the future.”
“When we first started the FSED Initiative ten years ago, farming here meant planting sugar beans and amadumbe, primarily by the elderly,” said Larkan.
“Now, young people are farming with intention and innovation. They are running their operations under Thanda’s mentorship, feeding their families, and building a different kind of future.”
As part of Thanda’s long-term strategy, the nonprofit aims to establish a Youth Case Study Farm – a four-hectare site that, pending necessary funding, could serve as a practical training ground for eight young farmers, with each managing a half-hectare plot. These larger-scale plots are designed to test and showcase growth potential, surpassing the current scale of any local farmer. With guidance from experienced Thanda mentors, youth farmers will experiment with different techniques, refine their business models, and gain firsthand experience in managing and scaling agroecological operations.
The Youth Case Study Farm is designed not only to produce results but also to change perceptions. “What gives me hope is watching a 22-year-old step into the field with pride, knowing they’re not just growing food—they’re growing independence, identity, and opportunity. That’s what transformation looks like,” Larkan continues.
