Rachel Peninnah Ndeilenga, also known as Linga, is ready to cook for those who are “lazy” or too busy to cook for themselves and their families.
“They can always call me to cook for them,” she tells Youth Corner, adding that she will soon be selling lunch and dinner packs.
This self-taught chef has loved cooking since childhood; she was inspired by her late aunt Elizabeth Nghilokwa, who raised her.
“She always told me to work very hard, to remain positive and never give up on my dream,” said Ndeilenge, adding her aunt also advised her to never depend on men.
Specialising in Oshiwambo chicken, gizzards, wings, beef, pork and vetkoek, Ndeilenga started her business, Rachel’s Kitchen, at Shipondo Park in Ongwediva in 2018.
In 2019, she rented a restaurant for the first time until last year, but she now rents somewhere else.
Ndeilenge (32) never completed school due to financial hardships.
“The reason I started this business is to help my family because I am the eldest and breadwinner in my family, and also to help myself since there is nobody to help me,” she narrated.
Ndeilenga encountered various challenges in her business, especially during the devastating ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“There were times when I wanted to give up on business, but something keeps telling me to never give up but rather push on.”
She is now giving the same advice to her fellow youth.
Ndeilenga said she will remain committed to her business so that she can help orphans in her community and also those in need of food.
She plans to extend her business, eyeing at least three restaurants, so that she can create employment for her fellow youth in the society.
Ndeilenga, however, needs money to buy equipment and build a big restaurant; hence, she is pleading with good Samaritans for sponsorship.
She is based in Ongwediva and can be reached on her Instagram page: Rachel Ndeilenga or Facebook: Rachel Peninnah Ndeilenga.