South Africa: Kereeditse Johanna Lucas

Kereeditse Johanna Lucas’s journey is one of steady growth, resilience, and renewed dignity through entrepreneurship. With the support of the Sunrise Campaign, she learned to manage her emotions, communicate with confidence, and run a business with a clearer understanding of finances and customer care. These skills helped her grow M & K Cleaning Products, a small enterprise supplying household cleaning products such as jik, pine gel, and dishwashing liquid to farm workers, schools, and the wider community. 

Despite facing challenges such as debt collection and competition from local tuck shops, she kept her business running by improving packaging, offering discounts, buying stock in bulk, and keeping careful records of sales and expenses. As her income increased, her household quality of life improved, bringing a stronger sense of dignity, respect from her family, and the ability to save. By adding fast‑food sales to strengthen cash flow and beginning training to manufacture her own cleaning products, Kereeditse is building a more sustainable future and proving that with the right skills and persistence, small businesses can become a powerful source of independence and hope.