In the heart of Genadendal, surrounded by apple orchards and mountain slopes, a young woman once climbed a hilltop during her lunch breaks – not for leisure, but for learning. With her phone balanced to catch the faintest signal, Lucinda Arendse attended her online university classes from a windswept vantage point above Spes Bona Farm near Caledon in the Western Cape. Today, she stands proudly before a classroom as a qualified teacher.
Arendse grew up on Spes Bona, where her father worked as a general farm labourer. It was here, among the apple and pear trees supplying fruit to the Tru-Cape brand, that her story of determination sprouted.
While studying for her teaching degree at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Wellington, funded by an NSFAS bursary, Arendse also worked on the farm during her first and second years, a period marked by the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She served as the team’s bookkeeper, meticulously recording the number of bins harvested each day. But staying connected to her online studies in the rural valley was no simple task.
Planting apple trees while growing a dream
“Lucinda would climb the hilltop during her lunch break just to get enough signal for her online classes,” recalls farm owner Wimpie van Niekerk. “She literally climbed a mountain every day to submit her assessments and attend lectures, without ever letting her work slip. Her dedication was unreal.”
It was an uphill battle in every sense – balancing long work hours, study deadlines, and poor connectivity – but she refused to give up. After completing her degree, she continued working on the farm while searching for a teaching post, helping with young orchard plantings and tying new trees alongside her colleagues.
“It was good, honest work,” she says, smiling. “Although some days were tough, especially in the cold and rain. But I worked with wonderful people, and the experience built my character.”
That resilience paid off. On 1 August 2025, Lucinda achieved her lifelong dream when she joined the staff of Emil Weder High School, the same school where she once sat as a learner with big dreams and limited means. She now teaches Afrikaans home language (Grades 9–10), geography (grade 8), and life orientation (grade 9).
“Being back in Genadendal, close to family and surrounded by teachers who once taught me, is a privilege,” she reflects. “The learners know my background, and I hope my story motivates them to rise above their circumstances.”
Related stories
- Aunty Bettie’s lifelong mission to fight for women farmworkers
- Wealth in dirt: Crop scientist’s plan B becomes farming destiny
- When farmworkers find their voice, work finds its dignity
- University student’s small piggery brings home the bacon
Rising through life’s challenges
Arendse’s passion for education began in grade 7. Throughout her schooling, she was a high achiever, often topping her class and collecting academic awards year after year. Yet, her journey to qualification was far from smooth. During her third year of university, she fell pregnant and had to complete her final year while caring for her newborn daughter, Lakirah.
“There were many challenges on my path,” she admits. “What kept me going was my determination and my daughter, who is now two years old. I wanted to give her a better life.”
She credits NSFAS for making that dream possible. “If it wasn’t for the bursary, I wouldn’t have been able to study. My parents couldn’t afford university fees. Because of NSFAS, I could register, study, and work part-time to save for accommodation and transport. It changed my life.”
Now, as a teacher and mentor, Lucinda’s story resonates deeply within her community – a place where economic hardship often limits young people’s aspirations. “In our area, jealousy and intimidation can be real barriers. It breaks my heart,” she says softly. “I tell my learners: you know my circumstances – let that motivate you. If I could rise above them, so can you.”
EARLY-BIRD TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW!
Africa’s biggest youth-in-agriculture gathering is back – and it’s only getting bigger!
A role model for young and old
One learner recently told her that she is her role model. “That meant the world to me,” Lucinda says. “You don’t hear those words every day.”
Her classroom philosophy blends academic excellence with empathy. “I don’t want to become overly emotionally involved, but I do want to support them and help where I can. I’m still learning every day.”
For Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, Lucinda’s story symbolises the potential of South Africa’s farming communities when opportunity meets determination.
“Lucinda’s journey is deeply inspiring,” says Pienaar. “Her resilience, courage, and commitment to her education are extraordinary. We are incredibly proud of her, and of the example she sets for young people across our farming communities.”
From the orchards of Spes Bona to the classrooms of Emil Weder High, Lucinda Arendse has proved that mountains – literal or metaphorical – are no match for perseverance. Her story continues to inspire not only the learners and she teaches and farmworkers where she once worked, but also every young person who dreams of rising above their circumstances.
READ NEXT: How South African farmers use AI to boost productivity
