Rose-Mary Haufiku
Namibia has a large number of unemployed graduates.
Many have been sitting at home for years, waiting for that government job to come to their rescue.
Savelia Valombola, a graduate of the University of Namibia (Unam) with a Bachelor of Education majoring in Biology and Home Economics, urged the youth not to wait for that government job to come through.
“If you have a certain skill, use it as a source of income, it may not be easy in the beginning but for as long as you are very committed and consistent in what you do, you’ll always thrive and trust me customers see you and they will always come through,” she advised.
Valombola is a full-time self-employed baker who has been in business since November 2019, when she finished her studies at Unam.
The 24-year-old hails from the Omusati region’s Epoko village and is currently based in Windhoek’s Okuryangava informal settlement.
She said that she learned to bake in Home Economics class. She now makes and sells cakes and cupcakes for all occasions, as well as the traditional cake/bread known as oshikwiila or oshingome.
“I’ve learned about the basics of baking and expanded my cake decorating skills on my own.
I literally spend most of my non-busy days learning new cake decorating techniques and how to archive quality professional work,” she added. It takes her a day or two to finish one cake, depending on how much work the cake demands.
She went on to claim that she took a few free online classes and also received assistance from other bakers.
Valombola continued, “From the moment I started baking in school, I knew I wanted to keep doing it because, like any artistic pursuit, baking is a kind of self-expression that helps me relax and unwind.”
“I’d say baking is very therapeutic and seriously, who wouldn’t want to have a job that brings them peace all the time?” she queried.
Valombola said she bakes because she enjoys it and it is also a source of income for her because she is now unemployed and needs to make ends meet.
Wedding cakes and cooperative orders, according to Valombola, are by far her most complex and challenging projects because she worked on them alone, but she claimed it was a fantastic experience. She also stated that she operates out of Okuryangava, and that her baking business mostly caters to all types of celebrations that require cake, such as birthday parties, weddings, baptisms, bridal or baby showers, or simply for individuals who have a cake craving at home.
One of her top skills is excellent customer service.
Valombola claims that she provides true value to her customers, meaning that she offers them exactly what they paid for.
Valombola aspires to build a large and devoted customer base while also developing a business plan that will allow her to meet her expenses.
She furthermore wants to register her business and open a bakers training academy for young people. Additionally, she wants to improve her working conditions and create jobs.
Those interested in seeing her work can go to her Instagram and Facebook accounts (Cakes By Tangi), where she posts all her work as well as instructions on how to order.
To place an order, call her at 0818963802.
- rosemaryhaufiku5@gmail.com