Bakery owner empowers others

Daveyton resident Marilyn Sepeng felt like she did not know what she was doing in life and had no place to call home.

Until she turned 16 and discovered she had so much to look forward to in life.

The baker said she was placed in several children’s homes until her court order expired and her sister was contacted to take care of her.

However, due to having a traumatic childhood, Marilyn could not adjust and found herself yet again looking for a place to call home.

“I came to Kids Haven through Boksburg Social Development and when I came here, I just felt loved the first time I walked in,” she said.

“I had a chance to speak my story and nobody criticised or judged me. Instead, they listened and gave me a chance to be Marilyn and let me show who I am.

“It made me realise there is a meaning to life. I received counselling and they helped me find my history.

“I was pushed to eventually see the reason of life and that made me strong, positive, emotionally stable and loved. I found belonging, where to this day I know Kids Haven is still my home.”

The 39-year-old entrepreneur had a dream to start her own business, and not knowing where she belonged while growing up did not stop her from dreaming.

“I started my bakery when I was 30 and I am still employed at Kids Haven as an admin assistant,” she said.
“I work closely with the directors, social workers and other staff members.”

Despite Marilyn’s husband, Thabo Sepeng, not being a resident of Kids Haven, he and other residents at Kids Haven were given the opportunity through Siyabonga Africa to learn how to bake.

This further fuelled the duo’s love for baking and Marilyn opened her business, called Avalanche Bakery in Daveyton.

ALSO READ: 

Young entrepreneur proud of her business milestone

As all businesses come with their own set of challenges, Marilyn had her fair share and due to not being able to deliver bread, they lost major clients, but she is committed to looking at the bright side.

“The bakery has more customers now because we are baking freshly baked bread and confectionary products every morning,” she said.

“The community now has a bakery next to them, so they are saving transportation money.

“It doesn’t happen overnight. You need to work hard to achieve success.

“We are also getting financial support from Kids Haven to train aftercare youth, which is helping us to sustain the business with more ingredients,” she said.

“We now have successfully trained two aftercare children from Kids Haven who are ready to start their own businesses.”

She advised up-and-coming entrepreneurs: “Don’t let your past distract your present, work towards your future.”

ALSO READ: 

Young man uses lockdown restrictions to start a business