South Africa: Elsie Pieterse

Elsie Pieterse’s journey is one of reclaiming confidence, independence, and dignity through entrepreneurship. Through the Sunrise Campaign, she learned to rely on herself, plan her finances, and speak openly about her life to inspire other women, while drawing strength from a supportive group of peers. 

These lessons became the foundation of Elsie’s Meat Supply, a community‑based business built on selling fresh, affordable meat and later expanding into birthday cakes. As her business grew, so did her confidence—she no longer tolerates abuse, contributes steadily to her household, and is respected as a businesswoman in her community. Despite challenges such as load‑shedding, lack of delivery transport, and customers who buy on credit and delay payment, Elsie adapted by buying stock in bulk, managing weekly stock‑taking, improving record‑keeping, and making firm decisions about credit. 

Today, she earns her own income, saves consistently, and looks ahead with plans to expand into a spaza shop and add more products, proving that economic empowerment can transform not only a livelihood, but family life and self‑worth as well.