Zimasa Mretyana

I was born in the Eastern Cape and grew up in Pretoria, the child of a devoted housewife. My mother filled our home with love, but our pantry was often bare. I watched local soup kitchens bring warmth and compassion to people who felt invisible. As I got older, I saw women and children searching through dump sites for food. That moment changed me. I realised that I could not ignore their dignity. I began volunteering at a soup organisation and quickly understood that a simple bowl of soup could bring hope, connection, and belonging. I launched the Rivoni Foundation to fight food insecurity and restore dignity. We opened a soup kitchen and created a community space where people are welcomed, nourished, and supported. Over time, our work grew to include a vegetable garden that supplies fresh produce and a youth development programme for school leavers. Our garden is not just a source of food — it is a place for learning, collaboration, and pride. Community members of all ages share knowledge, and the crops help sustain our kitchen and generate funds to reinvest in the Foundation. StreetBiz and Be a Nelson were game-changers for Rivoni. They exposed us to entrepreneurial thinking, financial literacy, and global networks. Through the Democratizing Innovation Institute, we pitched our idea to students at 12 universities. These connections helped us secure grants and set a new goal: land acquisition for a permanent community hub. We now need support to grow our work into a lasting model of social entrepreneurship, skills development, and dignified care. I want Rivoni to be a role model for other communities across South Africa.