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A teenager undeterred by unemployment

By Vuyokasi Bam

A 19-year-old lady, Taylor Khensani Lukhele, born and bred in Vosloorus is pursuing her dreams.

She is currently a final year student at the Vaal University of Technology studying tourism management. Taylor Lukhele started baking at the age of 14 in grade 9, after she extensively observed what her mom and siblings where doing when they baked during family gatherings and events with extended families.

They always made sure that they baked biscuits and cakes. The woman mentioned how she wished she went to culinary school during the enrolment session because baking and cooking are her passion, but at that particular time she was indecisive about her career path. Primarily, she established her business in August 2020 as she has been unemployed for some time and during the pandemic she had to find something that will help her generate income. She started school at Fortune Kunene primary school, then proceeded to Lethulazwi Comprehensive School. At the age of 17 she completed an 18months internship programme.

Thereafter she started her small business by baking a cake for her sister’s birthday in July. She used her food allowance money to buy material to kick start her business. She further mentioned that google became her best friend as she did not have any knowledge about decorating cakes; she then started advertising herself through other people’s work as she was still in the learning curve.

She got her first clients during the first week after she established her business, because they saw her spontaneous work through her sister’s cake. As it was her first time plying her trade, she was nervous but managed to do well on the cakes and that paved the way for her business. As she made more cakes that illustrated that her business was growing and becoming better. Lukhele adds how she would always make sure that she gets the technique of making cakes right all the time. Five months later her business grew better and better as she has more than 60 customers that support her. Lukhele started her business after being unemployed for some time as that frustrated her and during the pandemic she had more than enough time on her hands as she was studying remotely.

She encourages young people like herself to follow their dreams, as young as she is, she is yet to do more things. Taylor encourages people to start their businesses no matter how small as they will eventually get there. Taylor adds that a business is like a baby which needs to be nurtured to get where it needs to be, “if there is something you are passionate of, start now it’s never too late”. Food has always been her passion as she plans on cooking and having a catering company of her own. She adds that she does not encourage young people to drop out of school to start a business but to rather have a back-up plan.

The young baking chef has told Ekurhuleni News that she has been approached by different people who want to learn how to bake and she would love people who are willing to be part of this journey and also mentor them when they are ready to establish their own bakery or cake business. Taylor mentioned that “I will be providing classes for both during the week and over the weekend for those who will be unable to attend during the week.” Taylor told Ekurhuleni News that she would like to encourage young people to go for their dreams and never give up, she emphasised that the youth should not waste their 20’s they must chase their dreams, passion and work hard.

Taylor told Ekurhuleni News “My long term vision for my Empire is to see myself growing, having different branches in different areas and also to those whom I’m teaching, i want to see them go far with their businesses as giving back to the community is also something she would like to do and empower.

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