MAKONDE – A grade 10 learner at Raluvhimba Secondary School is slowly winning the war against his family’s poor financial background by conducting a small business which helps him to pay his school fees and to buy some basic needs for himself and his family.

The inspiring story of Sylvester Mudau (18) started when he realized that his single mother, Johanna, who does not have a decent job, could not provide for all the five kids in the family. During weekends and after school, Sylvester worked at the local car wash and saved R150, which he used to buy his first stock of chicken feet.

He now roasts and sells the chicken feet at R1 each next to a busy public road at Makonde village outside Thohoyandou.

“As a first-born son in the family, I had to do something to make sure that life is going on, despite our poor financial background. I thought of establishing a small business that would benefit me and other members of the community, but I was not sure which business I could start at first. I then approached a local car wash owner to offer me a part-time job and I saved some money to start my own business. I bought a box of chicken feet, spices, salt and wood to kickstart my business earlier in February. Since then, I have never looked back. I am happy because I can now take a loaf of bread home and I can also assist my mother in supporting the family,” said the aspirant entrepreneur during our interview.

Sylvester says he never cooks chicken feet for his customers; instead, he uses a braai to roast them. “Chicken feet are more delicious when spiced and roasted. At first people, were amazed by my style but they are now used to it and they buy the chicken feet from me regularly.”

He says he can sell between 60 and 70 chicken feet per day and he uses part of his profit to buy more feet to keep the business going. “I can take home between R60 and R70 per day and I feel happy because of the support I am getting from community members. I encourage other young learners, especially from poor families, to take matters upon themselves and do something to uplift their family backgrounds. They will never benefit anything from crime and the only recipe for success is hard work.”

Mirror found Victor Mutovholwa (14) buying roasted chicken feet from Sylvester. Victor said: “We support Sylvester because he is encouraging other young learners to work hard during their leisure time. He did not engage himself in criminal activities and he dedi-cated himself to hard work.”