A humbling impact by The BEAT family

When the fairly unknown Mpho Chuene (23) of Bela-Bela made contact with The BEAT newspaper to share news about his project of raising chicks for profit, it was one of the many stories published over time.

But then on Tuesday an excited Chuene spoke to The BEAT about how after seeing the article in your favourite read, agricultural authorities invited him for a meeting.

The broader story — published in The BEAT on Friday 29 November — was based on the growing number of unemployed youths who create their own work.

At the time Chuene had spoken with compassion about how he came up with the idea of raising chicks, to sell them as broilers in his home township.

Now it has emerged that the story has fired the imagination of agricultural authorities in Bela-Bela.

The BEAT shall most certainly follow up on the story, and report on the unfolding developments going forward.

The newspaper also reported on Modimolle’s Ghanian-born sidewalk shoemaker, Frank Kwesi, who he came up with the idea of refurbishing discarded takkies to look splendid new.

Also forming part of the story was a couple of youths from the township in Bela-Bela, who have set up a co-operative, growing and selling “moringa” plant seedlings.

The six are namely Martha Ngobeni, Mahlatse Thema, Jan Koketso Motlhoki, Isaac Dlomo, Jim Modimola and Thomas Modimola.

In Modimolle, in recent weeks The BEAT ran the story of self-taught portrait artist, Brendon Zambuko, who earns a living transforming photographs into artwork.

— The BEAT