We asked Zandile Thenjwayo, a 2020 graduate from the Kingdom of Eswatini, to share how her journey at African Christian College (ACC) has transformed her life. This is her story.
When I graduated from African Christian College in 2020, the world was in turmoil. The COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted economies and communities everywhere, and like many recent graduates, I struggled to find a job. It was a frustrating and uncertain time. Despite my education, opportunities felt out of reach, and entrepreneurship seemed risky — people were just trying to survive.
Determined not to sit idle, I sought volunteer opportunities and was fortunate to be accepted by World Vision Eswatini as a Home Visitor. My role was to visit families and children supported by the organization, assess their well-being, and report back to the regional office.
This experience changed everything for me.
As I visited homes across different communities, I witnessed firsthand how many educated individuals, some with degrees like mine, were sitting at home without jobs or direction. That’s when a powerful realization hit me: it wasn’t about luck or lack of effort. The world was changing, and it required a new way of thinking. I remembered a concept we had explored in a community development class at ACC: identifying problems in your environment and creating solutions. That idea, once just a backup plan, became my new mission.
ACC didn’t just prepare me for a job, it equipped me to be a leader, solve real problems, and create impact in my community.
Zandile Thenjwayo, 2020 Graduate.
When my initial contract with World Vision ended, I applied for a new role and was brought on as a Life Mentor. I now worked at a community center that offered life skills classes to children. I loved this role interacting with people, sharing knowledge, and guiding young minds. But even with all its fulfillment, it couldn’t provide the financial stability I needed to support my family.
Then, an opportunity presented itself.
The community center had a kitchen, but it was rarely used. Meanwhile, everyone: staff, children, even people from the nearby school and clinic had to walk a distance to buy just basic items like fat cakes and scones. I saw a clear problem: limited access to healthy, convenient meals. And right there was my solution: a kitchen, unused and full of potential.
I began planning. Thanks to the entrepreneurship courses I took at ACC, I understood how to calculate capital costs and develop a business plan. I approached my coordinator with a proposal to rent the kitchen space. While he was sad to see me leave the mentorship program, he supported my vision because of the trust and work ethic I had shown.
In less than a month, I launched my kitchen business. Starting out was challenging. Getting the word out required creativity and persistence. But I drew on the marketing skills I learned at ACC. I applied the 4P’s of marketing: Product, Place, Promotion, and Price to tailor my offerings to the community’s needs and budget. Social media helped me reach people, and soon I had a steady stream of customers.
This business not only allowed me to provide for my family, it gave me purpose. My long-term dream is to empower young girls to realize their potential and take up space in a society that often sidelines them. I envision expanding my business to multiple locations, using the income to establish an organization that helps young women access education and start their own businesses.
I am deeply grateful for the education and values I received at African Christian College. ACC didn’t just prepare me for a job, it equipped me to be a leader, solve real problems, and create impact in my community. I’ve learned that success isn’t just about waiting for opportunities; sometimes, it’s about creating them.
Join African Christian College, and become a transformational leader who brings hope, solutions, and lasting change.
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