While the scourge of unemployment continues to ravage prospects for many youths to improve themselves and their future, a young man from Tshandama village made the effort to start his own shoe-manufacturing business to try and survive.
After considering different business opportunities around the Vhembe District, including opening a spaza shop at home, or selling sweets on the streets, Israel Mbedzi decided on starting a shoe-making business. "I am from a very poor family, and I had always worn very old shoes. Sometimes they would just tear apart while I was walking, so I decided to fix them myself," he said.
He said the situation had been so bad that, at one point, he had walked around the village completely barefoot. "I felt very down, especially when I had to go to town barefoot. It was also difficult to greet girls. So, I made my own shoes from cardboard, but this became a problem when it rained."
He thought long and hard about it and eventually started making different shoe models from cardboard to give him the right idea to work from. He then used leather and textiles from old shoes and foam to make himself a proper pair of shoes. That was the start of his shoe-making business, which he runs from his home in the village.
"My biggest challenge is the financial muscle to buy materials like leather and glue to make more shoes. At the moment, I can only afford to make about two pairs of shoes a month. If I can get more of the materials I need, I can make at least five pairs a week, and maybe teach others to help me grow my business. I can employ other youths who are suffering like myself," he said.
Mbedzi is calling on school children around the Mutale area with torn shoes to contact him if they want these to be fixed. Mbedzi can be contacted at 079 559 6334.