Born and raised in Stellenbosch – Wendy Pekeur knew from a young age that she was passionate about helping people, especially women in the farming sector. Pekeur started volunteering at a NGO called Women on Farms, where she planted the seed for women empowerment in a largely male-dominated industry. She then went on to establish the first women-focussed trade union in South Africa. It was to champion the employee rights of female farmers.