Ever since I could remember, I had a dream to be an entrepreneur.  Even as a small boy, I would sell lemons on the street to help my parents buy food and I always said that one day I will save enough money to start my own business. I wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives, because I knew how it felt not to have enough food and electricity. We had to boil water at night for our baths and had to use candles at night to study for school exams. 

I always worked very hard to reach my goals. I started working for a feed mill company as an assistant feed miller when I was 18 years old and 2 years later, I was promoted to feed miller and shift supervisor. I also attended college to advance my education level to become a production manager. Not long after this, I met my lovely wife and shortly thereafter my daughter was born. 

Two years later, I received a phone call from another company that offered me a job as shift production manager and I could hardly contain my excitement. I accepted the position and studied for a production management diploma.  My next goal: Factory Manager. I was so serious about this, I took the business card of the person who was my Factory manager and put it against my fridge to look at it everyday. I said to myself “One day you will be a factory manager as well”. 

Six years later I received another call. A company offered me a job as Factory manager and of course I accepted. Within 3 years I was promoted to operations manager. Life was good, until... I was retrenched in January 2020. 

We lost our company home and everything we work so hard for.  I applied for more than 200 jobs. No response. I decided to use the money we have saved to start a party planning business for my wife - it was barely enough. The plan was for her to organise kids’ parties and weddings. I also bought a few small skips with a trailer for me as a second business to get us back on our feet. At this point we have been without a home for five months then covid hit and they closed down all the entertainment businesses (non-essential), which means my wife is not allowed to do any parties.

My small skips that are used for rubble and building materials are still running but they are not big enough to cater for the larger community - I get requests every day, unfortunately, for bigger skips, and I am unable to help them. I’ve also tried to obtain a loan from the bank to buy bigger skips, but to no avail; I am unemployed, therefore I cannot get a loan. 

On top of that, we also have other challenges with my oldest daughter who has been diagnosed with depression - a struggle since she was a little girl. She must see a psychologist which also costs a huge amount of money. Our youngest daughter has not had it easy: with COVID and lockdown, she is struggling with her schoolwork, so much so that she needs after school classes to help her and we can’t afford it. 

Also everyday expenses such as food on the table, rent, vehicle payments, school fees and electricity and water bills. At the moment, my wife bakes and decorates cakes in order for us to stay afloat - luckily it is a passion of hers and with my skip business and other small side hustles, we get by - if only just.

Why we need your help

With your help, we can give our children the help they need: education as well as with mental health and wellbeing. It will help us to get back on our feet, to grow this small business which in turn will create job opportunities for others (and in South Africa’s current financial climate, every little bit helps to reduce the unemployment rate). Your contribution will help me follow my dream to be an entrepreneur and you have a chance to make a difference in more than just one family’s life.

Any donation would be greatly appreciated. If you are unable to donate, please share and say a prayer for the van Rooyen family.

Thank you so much.