“I Am More”: From Farmer to Entrepreneur through Faith and Empowered Worldview
By: Lerato Brown, Communications and Marketing Manager, Lesotho
For much of his life, Tseliso believed that success in business was reserved for the fortunate few; those born into wealth or schooled in entrepreneurship. He had always been a farmer, working tirelessly to feed his family. But when he tried to sell his produce, disappointment and loss met him at every turn.
“I thought entrepreneurship was only meant for the selected few,” he recalls. “I made so many losses, I began to believe that maybe wealth was not for people like me. As the saying goes, ‘money follows money,’ and for us who are not so fortunate, it felt impossible to change our story.”
With farming unable to bring in enough income, he turned to piece jobs: helping to build houses, harvesting for the wealthy, and taking whatever work came his way just to survive. Financial literacy was a struggle; he didn’t know how to budget, keep records, or account for profits. Over time, he quietly accepted that maybe entrepreneurship was simply not for him.
But everything changed in 2024 when he was introduced to the Empowered Worldview (EWV) training through World Vision Lesotho. “At first, I thought the training would be about farming techniques,” he admits. “But my life was about to be changed forever. I learned about faith and spirituality, about identity and vision, and about using the resources already available in our environment. I learned to dream again.”
For the first time, he began to see himself differently. “I used to look down on myself, but I realized that attitude and belief can make a big impact. Fortune favours the brave. I began to dream and envision the future I wanted. I even wrote down my vision, and since then I have worked towards accomplishing it.” With this renewed mindset, he began to declare a new identity over his life: “I am a successful entrepreneur.” And indeed, he has become just that.
World Vision walked alongside him, not only transforming his mindset but also equipping him with practical tools to turn his vision into reality. He was supported to learn how to plan, budget, and keep proper records; skills that helped him track his income and expenses for the first time. He was guided to see farming not just as subsistence, but as a business. No longer planting blindly, he began to farm with a market in mind. And when his harvests began to grow, World Vision connected him to reliable buyers, helping him identify markets where his produce could be sold at a fair value.
Today, he owns two fields where he produces market-ready potatoes, while his once-small vegetable garden now not only feeds his family but also supplies his community. “I now farm with purpose and with a market in mind,” he says proudly. “I am no longer just planting; I am planning.” But the transformation goes beyond the farm. The ripple effect is seen most powerfully in his home.
With his new mindset and steady income, he is able to provide for his children with dignity; ensuring they have food on the table, clothes to wear, and the opportunity to go to school without interruption. His daughter, in particular, has caught the passion. Watching her father dream, plan, and execute with purpose has awakened something in her too. “My daughter loves farming,” he says with a smile. “I see how she looks at me when I work. She wants to follow in my footsteps, and I know I am setting an example she can build on.”
What was once a man doubting his worth has become a father building a legacy. His vision now stretches beyond just today’s harvest; he dreams of owning a delivery truck to transport his produce with ease and one day opening a fruit and vegetable shop and multiple vegetable stalls in the city; business that his children can inherit and grow. His journey is proof that poverty is a mindset. Empowered Worldview did more than teach him farming; it gave him a new identity, restored his hope, and awakened the entrepreneur within.
“I never thought I would own multiple farms. But today, I know that with the right attitude, belief, and planning, I can. I am more than I thought I was. I am a father, a provider, an entrepreneur. I am building a future for my children.”
Through the Empowered Worldview model, Tseliso learned that transformation begins in the mind. By renewing his faith, embracing his identity, and envisioning a better future, he broke free from doubt and dependency. Today, his actions; from carefully planning his farms to connecting with markets reflect a life lived with purpose, hope, and confidence.