From Borrowing Tools to Building a Future - ENYC

From Borrowing Tools to Building a Future

For many years, 33-year-old Banele Dlamini from the Holneck community in the Shiselweni region carried a dream that never left his heart. He wanted to run a successful welding business of his own, a place where his skill and creativity could support his family and open doors for others. But without the right tools, that dream stayed out of reach.

Banele remembers the frustration clearly. He often had to borrow tools from friends in order to complete orders for customers. Sometimes the tools were delayed, and he would miss deadlines. He lost customers and income because he did not have the equipment he needed to work. He knew he had the talent, but the lack of tools kept pulling him back. It was a daily reminder that opportunity is not always about ability. Sometimes it is about access.

In early 2025, the Eswatini National Youth Council, through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, issued a national call inviting young people with vocational skills or those in training to apply for support. The aim was to strengthen youth livelihoods by giving young people the means to start or grow their work. More than one hundred young people from across the country applied and were selected to receive starter toolkits. For Banele, this became the moment that changed everything.

He received his welding starter toolkit in June. What followed was a turning point in his life. With his own tools, he no longer depended on anyone else to deliver his work. His confidence returned. His timelines improved. His customers came back and brought new ones. Today, his work can be seen across Nhlangano. He builds tank stands, car shelters, window and door burglars, gates and fireplaces. His workmanship is trusted because he completes his projects on time and with care.

Banele smiles when he speaks about the change this opportunity has brought. He has been able to employ two young people who help him complete projects. The young men are gaining experience and earning an income because one person was given a chance to grow. This is how transformation begins. One person receives support. That person creates opportunity for others. Communities become stronger.

The impact has also reached his home. With the income he now earns, he is able to buy food and other essentials for his child and family. Since June, he has made more than fifteen thousand Emalangeni from his work. For him, it is more than money. It is the ability to stand on his own feet. It is the dignity of providing for his loved ones. It is the feeling that he is finally building a future that once felt impossible.

“This is only the beginning,” he says with confidence. He dreams of registering his business and supplying his work to large companies. He believes that the toolkit he received was not only a set of tools. It was a doorway to a new life.

The story of Banele is a reminder of the power of opportunity. When young people are supported with the right resources, their dreams become real. Their skills grow. Their communities benefit. They become providers, employers and creators of change.

For ENYC, this is the heart of their work. To unlock the potential of young people. To restore dignity where it has been lost. To give youth the tools to shape their own future.

And for Banele, the future is bright, steady and full of promise. What began as a simple dream in Holneck is now a growing business in Nhlangano. A business born from dedication, skill and the belief that every young person deserves a chance to succeed.

Anyone who wishes to support or connect with Banele for welding services in Nhlangano and nearby areas can reach him at +268 7629 3116.