This story is one in a series from Frances Chisholm highlighting stories of lives impacted by World Poultry Foundation programs and workshops both in the U.S. and abroad. We encourage you to learn more about Ms. Chisholm and our poultry projects in South Africa.
Mhlekhona Hlongwa has begun distance studies toward a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at UNISA (University of South Africa) in his free time at Rose Acre Farms in Indiana.
We highlighted Mhlekhona’s academic interest in a previous blog, so it’s no surprise to learn that he is continuing his studies during his World Poultry Foundation-funded internship in the US.
Of the South African poultry interns, Mhlekhona says, “We want to become managers. South African poultry farmers don’t trust us to be managers because we don’t have much experience, but we’re getting it now!” He reports that he’s working in variety of areas and on special projects. The aspiring poultry farmer does biosecurity checks on the foot pans and enjoys monitoring production, collecting data, and electronically recording daily figures on production, mortality, water use, floor eggs (it’s a cage-free operation), house temperature, etc. Being business-minded, he’d like to learn more about the sales and marketing side of the operation, but he recognizes production is the focus of this internship.
Mhlekhona hits the books on his days off work. “We work too hard every day for me to study in the evening, but I’m enjoying it a lot. I stand in as house manager when the house manager is off. The managers believe in us and trust us.”
Good luck in your studies, Mhlekhona, and stay safe!
The South African interns participate on a J-1 visa exchange visitor program sponsored by the WISE Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Dyersburg, Tennessee.
Ms. Frances Chisholm
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