YOUNG OBSERVER | Young women encouraged to dream beyond borders

Patience Makwele

Young Namibian women have been encouraged to pursue entrepreneurship, embrace uncertainty and create opportunities for themselves after the founder of Lazilia Travels shared how she built a growing travel business despite having no background in the tourism industry.

Lazilia Travels founder and registered quantity surveyor Lidiinikeni Ndapewoshali said she was only 22 when the idea of organising trips for Namibians first came to her.

“Honestly, there’s no dramatic or ‘wow’ story,” she said.

“After completing my studies, I worked as a vacation assistant at my university residence and was exposed to the idea of organising group trips. I thought, ‘Why not do something similar for Namibians?’”

Although the idea came to her soon after graduating, she waited another two years before taking the leap.

“I started with no experience in the tourism industry,” she said. “I was working full-time in construction when I launched. Looking back, I believe it was God-ordained.”