Kick4Life is proud to celebrate a major milestone for ‘Malilemo Makhakhe, founder of HydroGrow Holdings and participant in our Climate Enterprise Initiative. No.7, Kick4Life’s social enterprise restaurant, received its first supply of her freshly harvested hydroponic herbs, marking the beginning of her production journey and an exciting step forward for her climate-smart enterprise.
The delivery featured a range of fragrant and flavour-rich herbs including Lemon Balm, Oregano, Fennel, Dark Basil, Sweet Basil and Thyme. All crops were grown through HydroGrow’s sustainable hydroponic system, which cultivates plants without soil using nutrient-rich water, enabling faster growth, cleaner production and greater resilience to climate variability.
This achievement reflects the purpose of Kick4Life’s Climate Enterprise Incubator, supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation’s SESLA programme (Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa). The programme addresses the under-representation of women in entrepreneurship, with only 17% of small businesses in Lesotho owned by women, by equipping young women with mentoring, business coaching, life-skills development, networking opportunities and micro-grants. Since 2023, the Incubator has supported 14 young women in developing climate-conscious businesses that create sustainable livelihoods while promoting environmentally responsible practices.
For ‘Malilemo, her journey into innovative farming stems from her upbringing in Mafeteng, where her family’s crops were frequently affected by droughts, heavy rains and soil erosion. Witnessing the increasing unpredictability of traditional farming inspired her to explore hydroponics as a solution. Today, HydroGrow Holdings demonstrates how climate-resilient agriculture can help address environmental challenges while opening new economic opportunities.
Through Kick4Life’s support, ‘Malilemo has secured essential equipment, begun successful production, expanded her business network and advanced her company’s registration. Delivering her first commercial order to No.7 Restaurant is a proud milestone that recognises her hard work, innovation and steady progress.
Kick4Life congratulates ‘Malilemo on this important achievement. Her dedication and vision are helping shape a greener, more sustainable future for Lesotho’s agricultural sector, and we look forward to seeing HydroGrow Holdings continue to thrive and inspire others across the country.
