Startup Story
Lombuso Mthethwa, founder of Moms Club Eswatini, has built a social enterprise and specialist support group helping Eswatini’s pregnant women and new moms through their healthy new parenting journeys. It provides antenatal classes, pregnancy yoga and Lamaze classes, together with a specialist online shop that provides everything moms need in those early weeks and months.
LoA spoke to founder Lombuso Mthethwa about her passion for helping women to navigate their new parenting experiences.
What does your company do?
Moms Club Eswatini is a social support group for all pregnant women, new moms and single moms in Eswatini. We provide antenatal classes, pregnancy yoga and Lamaze classes. We also have an online shop that provides everything moms need, and we are a one-stop-shop for all of things that mothers need but cannot get in Eswatini. We also provide counselling for women who have had miscarriages and those who have postpartum depression. We organize and host family centered events such as Baby Expo, family fun days, and seminars that are focused on promoting healthy parenting.
“Moms Club Eswatini is a social support group for all pregnant women, new moms and single moms in Eswatini.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I am a single mother of two, both my pregnancies were extremely difficult, and I needed a lot of support. However, I could not find this support anywhere in Eswatini. That was when I decided that I would create a community where mothers who are going through what I went through can get help and assistance. In Eswatini we have a large number of parents who separate when a baby comes along. Moms Club provides support to all mothers going through any difficulty during or after pregnancy.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
It is a first of its kind in my country, and it tackles a serious issue that the government needs help with. That issue is postpartum depression. In every newspaper issued in my country there is a story about a mother who has either abandoned or killed her new-born baby. When the mother gets interviewed, they all say the same thing - they felt alone and neglected by the father. Moms Club aims to provide support to mothers who feel alone and overwhelmed by the pressures of motherhood.
Tell us a little about your team
I am a psychologist who is passionate about children and I believe that a child's success in life strongly relies on the relationship they have with their parents. I work with another psychologist who is starting her family and loves helping women achieve all their goals. Together we want to help the people of Eswatini, one mom at a time.
“In Eswatini we have a large number of parents who separate when a baby comes along. Moms Club provides support to all mothers going through any difficulty during or after pregnancy.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I do not have an entrepreneurial background; I have always been passionate about health. Therefore, when I had this idea, I realized I needed to find a way to learn more about business if I had any chance to turn my passion into a successful business. This is why I was so eager to be a part of the Lioness Lean In program because I knew that the best people to teach me are the women who have found a way to make successful businesses in a male dominated world.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Since Mom’s Club is aimed at being a one-stop-shop for everything mothers need, including things that cannot be found in Eswatini, we hope to have an app that will make it easier for moms to get what they need. Eswatini currently doesn't have a maternity shop or provider, so we at Mom’s Club want to provide that and more. Moms should be able to log-on and order pants from South Africa, or nursing tea from China, and know that they can have it delivered at their doorstep within days. They can also get advice about parenting, schools, or food cravings all in one app, knowing that they are being advised by people who know what they are going through.
“Moms Club aims to provide support to mothers who feel alone and overwhelmed by the pressures of motherhood.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
My satisfaction comes from knowing that not only do I have my own business, but it is something that I am passionate about. The work that I do means something, and it changes people’s lives for the better. It makes me feel like I am answering a calling.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
I would say know your customer and provide a product or service that will first make their lives better, then make your money, because if you take care of your customer and their needs, you will never run out of customers.
Contact or follow Moms Club Eswatini,
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | EMAIL momsclub.eswatini@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
We love to hear the stories of women who feel compelled to build impact driven businesses that make a difference to other people’s lives, based on their own personal experiences. Lombuso Mthethwa is one such social entrepreneur, and she is creating real positive and lasting change in the lives of new moms in her country through her enterprise. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa