I chose my agricultural career because where I come from people see agriculture as a punishment, so I wanted to inspire others to see it as a source of income, just like we did at home. My father used to sell cattle when he could not pay for our school fees, and that is where I learnt that agriculture is a source of income.

Thandanani Nongalo, Grain SA’s schools programme facilitator, wants us to think differently about agriculture. This 26-year-old career educator and beauty queen (she was crowned Miss Nyandeni Local Municipality 2017 and Miss OR Tambo 1st Princess 2017) travels to schools to educate mainly grade eight and nine students about the viability of a career in agriculture, food sustainability and economic growth through agriculture.

Nongalo, who hails from Mthatha, was brought up with a farming background, and developed a love for taking care of plants and animals from a young age. After matriculating from Zingisa Comprehensive High School she obtained her diploma in agriculture from Cedara College of Agriculture and a BTech in agricultural management from the University of South Africa. She’s now working on getting a diploma in business management from King Sabata Dalindyebo FET College.

Teaching and learning are important tools to Nongalo, and she enjoys teaching people about the variety of careers agriculture offers, as well as motivating people to get involved in how land is used in South Africa. The main objective of the agricultural awareness programmes Nongalo facilitates is to promote the essence of agriculture and get students interested in joining the agricultural industry, for economic growth purposes and for sustaining livelihoods.

“My favourite part about teaching is knowing that I impact lives. I empower other people. I get to encourage learners to be open-minded about economic growth and development. I get to teach them that agriculture is not dead: it has a lot of potential, but it needs people who are patient and passionate. What drives me is knowing that every day I get to play a positive role in their people’s lives,” she says.
— Youlendree Appasamy

Instagram: @ thandananinongalo