Food security, sustainable agriculture and access to affordable energy are among the challenges shaping conversations about South Africa’s future. For undergraduate University of the Free State (UFS) student Ntombinkulu Khumalo, these are not issues to think about after graduation. They are problems she is already working to solve.

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry student at the UFS Qwaqwa Campus spends much of her time where science, entrepreneurship, and community development intersect. Through projects focused on supporting farmers, improving crop production, and converting food waste into biogas, she is part of a growing group of young people using innovation to respond to challenges affecting their communities.

Her work has taken her from engaging with local farmers in Qwaqwa to representing South Africa on an international stage in Bangkok, Thailand. Along the way, she has launched businesses, led student organisations, and helped fellow students transform ideas into practical solutions.

Responding to community challenges through innovation

Khumalo’s introduction to entrepreneurship came in 2022 when she joined the UFS’s Enactus team. Enactus is an international non-profit organisation that empowers students to engage in social entrepreneurship in an effort to tackle pressing social and economic issues such as poverty, unemployment, and climate change. “Through the programme, I was introduced to social entrepreneurship, where businesses are created not only to generate income but also to solve real challenges faced by communities,” she says.

The experience changed the way she viewed entrepreneurship. Rather than focusing solely on commercial success, she became interested in how innovation could be used to improve lives and strengthen communities.

Some of her earliest projects did not succeed, but they provided valuable lessons in resilience, collaboration and problem-solving. Those lessons would later shape projects with a stronger community focus.

One such initiative is Root Rescue, a social enterprise that works with farmers to address challenges linked to declining crop yields and water scarcity. After engaging with local farmers, the team identified a need for an organic fertiliser with strong water-retention capabilities that could support agricultural production while reducing water consumption.

The project earned international recognition and provided Khumalo with the opportunity to represent both the UFS and South Africa at the Enactus World Cup Competition in Bangkok.

Her work later led to Renova, a project that seeks to address energy challenges within the Qwaqwa community. The initiative converts food waste into biogas, creating an alternative energy source while simultaneously producing organic fertiliser as a by-product.

For Khumalo, these projects represent more than entrepreneurial ventures. They are opportunities to apply knowledge in ways that directly benefit communities. “Many of the projects I have been involved in focus on addressing challenges that affect our communities directly,” she says.

Building the future through action

Alongside her involvement in social enterprises, Khumalo has established her own businesses. Rare Designs emerged from her interest in creativity and visual communication, while The Blaze Kitchen was launched after she identified a need for accessible food services within her community.

At the same time, she has remained actively involved in student leadership, serving in various structures across the Qwaqwa Campus and supporting initiatives that encourage student participation, growth, and development.

Her contributions have earned recognition at institutional, national, and international levels. In 2025, she received the Enactus South Africa Evan Paulos Leadership Excellence Award. Under her leadership, Root Rescue was recognised as the Executive Director: Student Affairs (EDSA) Best Student Entrepreneurship Project, while Enactus UFS Qwaqwa received both the UFS Institutional Student Governance Office (ISGO) Best Structure Award and the EDSA Best Structure Award.

For Khumalo, however, the significance of these achievements lies in what they represent. “They show that young people can create impactful solutions, lead with purpose, and compete on national and international platforms,” she says.

Balancing academics, entrepreneurship, and leadership has not always been easy. She admits there were times when other responsibilities threatened to overshadow her studies – an experience that reinforced the importance of discipline and focus.

“As much as I am passionate about entrepreneurship and leadership, I have learned that my studies must remain a priority.”

As South Africa commemorates Youth Month under the theme ‘RESET@50 – The Future Calls’, Khumalo believes young people have a responsibility to begin shaping the future now rather than waiting for ideal circumstances.

Many of the challenges facing communities today require new ideas, practical solutions and people willing to act. Through projects focused on agriculture, energy and entrepreneurship, she is contributing to that work while still pursuing her studies.

Her message to fellow young people is straightforward: start where you are, use what you have – and take action.

“We have many talented and creative young people, but sometimes we spend too much time talking about what we want to do, and not enough time actually doing it.”