South Africa: Oshenia Nxongo

Oshenia Nxongo’s journey reflects a powerful shift from struggle to self‑reliance through determination and entrepreneurship. Through the Sunrise Campaign, she gained confidence, self‑esteem, and the strength to stand against gender‑based violence, learning that independence was possible for her and her children. 

These lessons became the foundation of Kamphile Projects, a growing business serving mainly working women and students with clothing, doeks, beauty items, and personal‑care products. As her customer base expanded through word of mouth, social media, and creative promotion, her income stabilised, allowing her to consistently put food on the table and support her children without constant stress. Although she faced challenges such as late payments, slow‑moving products, and unreliable customers, she responded by managing stock carefully, saving for emergencies, keeping financial records, and building strong relationships with loyal clients. 

Today, Oshenia no longer worries about daily survival; instead, she looks ahead with purpose, planning to add new products, open her own shop, and continue growing proof that economic empowerment can restore dignity, confidence, and hope for the future.