My name is Faith Matata Mulengwa, from Isungulu village, Kai sublocation, Makindu Location in Makueni County. I have served as a volunteer in various organizations, including KRD, Africa Harvest, Fadhili Trust, and the Makueni Youth Network, among others.
After working for five years and diligently saving, I decided to open a butchery in Makindu in 2021. The business started off well, but by the sixth month, the profits dwindled, and before long, I had to close it down. The disappointment weighed heavily on me, and I found myself feeling defeated—like my world had come to an end. I returned to my village with a heart full of despair.
In August 2023, KRD organized a meeting at our area’s assistant chief’s office. I attended and was fortunate to be elected as the youth representative for our community. On September 1, 2023, KRD invited us to a lead volunteers' meeting in Kitise, where I was introduced to the project Community-Driven Systems Change for Youth Resilience and Belonging.
This project was a turning point for me. Through various training sessions, KRD equipped us with the knowledge and skills needed to form and train youth groups in our community. On April 18, 2024, KRD brought the lead volunteers together for a transformative training session led by Mr. John Kimuli (AGPO Official) on How to Access Opportunities. This training ignited a spark in me. Mr. Kimuli outlined three pathways to opportunities:
- Career
- Hobbies
- Family Business
I found my calling in the second option—hobbies—because of my passion for poultry farming. It was here that I realized the world owed me nothing, and my progress was in my own hands.
During this journey, I connected with a friend who introduced me to Africa Harvest. Two weeks later, I attended a training in Kathonzweni under the Drought-Tolerant Crops for Youth Job Creation project. This one-week training unveiled countless opportunities to combat youth unemployment. I discovered that success in the modern economy requires skills, creativity, and adaptability. Inspired, I decided to specialize in poultry feed formulation.
I started by producing feeds for my parents' chickens and saw significant improvement within a week. Encouraged, I approached a neighbor who is a commercial poultry farmer. After a productive business discussion, she ordered 50 kg of feed for Ksh 2,250. Impressed with the results, she doubled her order the following week and referred me to three other commercial farmers. My business began to grow steadily.
I then expanded my product line to include Azolla and other homemade protein supplements for chickens. My journey continued when I was invited by CGA for a youth peer-to-peer exchange visit at Mary Mathuli's Farm in Kathoka. There, I learned about Azolla farming and how to create local supplements like sinyu and muthwa. Armed with this knowledge, I introduced Azolla to my farm, further enhancing my products.
In December 2024, Africa Harvest trained us as community service providers, focusing on vaccination schedules. I gained the skills necessary to diversify my services further. By January 2025, I had established Wings of Wonder Farm, employing two youths from my community.
Today, my enterprise serves the community with:
- Poultry feeds
Services such as vaccinations and training
- Eggs
- Chickens
- Manure
My Vision
To become an international feed formulator and distribute my products globally.
To acquire advanced grinding and mixing machines.
To create more employment opportunities for youth through Wings of Wonder Farm.
I would like to leave my fellow youth with one piece of advice: stop expecting, stop conforming, and start taking ownership of your journey.
I am sincerely grateful to KRD and Africa Harvest for transforming my life and helping me spread my wings.
#PesaMfukoni