In the Words of Lydia Kamho: From Unemployed Youth to Empowered Educator

“I opened my first school right after completing the training which has grown from 20 children to 59, and I’ve since opened a second branch. The skills I learned are the reasons my schools are thriving.”

When I arrive at Mighty Star Preparatory School in Kuisebmund, Walvis Bay, Lydia looks busy. She and her assistant teacher are juggling two lively classes, navigating bursts of energy from pre-grade learners who want their attention. Still, she warmly welcomes me into her school and finds us a quiet spot outside the classroom.

Today, 28-year-old Lydia employs five people, supports her younger siblings through school, and is studying toward a diploma in Early Childhood Development. But just a few years ago, she was at home, unemployed, uncertain of her future, and unsure how to turn her dream of becoming a teacher into reality.

In 2021, Lydia attended EntreprenHer’s Generate Your Business training and describes how she arrived with nothing more than an aspiration and left with something she desperately needed: confidence.

“Managing a business is not easy,” she recalls. “But the training taught us how to plan, budget, market ourselves, and believe that we can actually start something.”

That confidence became the foundation of her business. She opened Mighty Star Preparatory School in December 2021, immediately after completing the training. With only 20 children enrolled, she started small, but her commitment to quality and her love for children quickly transformed the school into a trusted space for families across the area.

Today, Mighty Star Preparatory School hosts 59 children, nearly triple the number Lydia started with. The demand is so high that she often turns parents away for lack of space.

“Some children travel long distances from other neighbourhoods just to come here,” she says proudly. “Parents say they love the care and how we prepare children for Grade 1.”

The success of the first school inspired a second. In 2023, Lydia opened another branch in Swakopmund, where she now runs both a kindergarten and a daycare. The expansion was funded through careful budgeting and disciplined monthly savings, skills she attributes to her time attending EntreprenHer trainings.

In 2024, she joined EntreprenHer Digital Literacy trainings that opened new doors for her business. She created Facebook and TikTok pages to showcase her work, promote enrolments, and document the day-to-day activities at the school.

“When you take pictures for social media, you start seeing where you need to improve,” she explains. “It pushed me to upgrade the environment and keep our classrooms looking professional.”

The trainings also taught her the importance of record-keeping, from attendance to finances, helping her strengthen the administrative side of the school.

As the firstborn, Lydia uses her income to support her parents and three younger siblings, two of whom are studying at university. She also employs six staff members across both school branches, creating opportunities for other young people in her community.

Running the school has transformed her leadership: she now leads her kindergarten graduations and gives public speeches. “I used to be very shy,” she says. “But the training helped me trust myself. Now I can stand in front of people and lead.”

Despite her achievements, Lydia sees this as only the beginning. Space limitations at her current location are her biggest challenge, but she is determined to grow. She dreams of owning a larger property where children can learn through play, with enough outdoor space and colourful learning materials.

Her long-term vision is even bigger: once she completes her diploma, she plans to buy land in northern Namibia and build a primary school with a boarding facility, an investment she hopes will support children from rural communities.

About EntreprenHER
EntreprenHER is a UN Women programme that was originally launched as AWOME (Accelerating Women-Owned Micro-Enterprises) in 2017 and is funded by De Beers Group. The programme supports women micro-entrepreneurs in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa and has reached approximately 3,500 women to date. By providing training, mentorship, and access to markets, EntreprenHER empowers women to grow, formalise, and sustain their businesses. Learn more about the De Beers x UN Women EntreprenHER programme here: https://www.debeersgroup.com/about-us/case-studies/2025/entreprenher

About UN Women:
UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality. Learn more about the impact of De Beers’ partnership with UN Women’s HeForShe initiative here: https://www.heforshe.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/HeForShe_Impact_Report_2025.pdf