Being one of only 28 students graduating out of a class of more than 50 is truly an achievement worth celebrating. And this is exactly what the graduates of the Asisa Foundation\u2019s Saver Waya Waya Financial Literacy and Micro-Enterprise (FLAME) Programme did recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flame is a development programme run by the Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (Asisa) Foundation, a public-benefit organisation with the primary purpose of enhancing financial literacy and enabling greater economic participation of its beneficiaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruth Benjamin-Swales, CEO of the foundation, believes its interventions has helped to change the trajectory of the lives of poor and previously marginalised South Africans, equipping participants with financial education that would enable them to create sustainable livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The programme, consisting of various phases, started in Hermanus in October 2022 with more than 50 entrepreneurs participating in a month-long boot camp during Phase 1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phase 2 ran over the course of nine months and involved more intensive training and coaching. The third and final phase entailed still more intensive coaching and mentorship and equipped participants with the necessary tools and knowledge to network in order to explore and access new markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through the programme entrepreneurs were able to transition from the informal to formal economy by registering their businesses with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and by applying for industry-specific certification they can also be listed as accredited suppliers to larger organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the programme formally ended in December 2023, participants are expected to continue to apply the learnings to achieve greater success for themselves and their businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students said one of the most important things they learned was how to make informed financial decisions that helped them to increase their revenue and profits by up to 70%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Exponential growth<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many were able to grow their businesses to the extent that they could create a number of job opportunities within their communities. Malepa Setloboko, founder of Sebotloko Security Services, truly shone in this field of job creation, earning him the award for Most Jobs Supported. In addition to this, he also won the award for the Flame Best Performer in the Western Cape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since starting with the Flame programme Setloboko has managed to grow his business from having only one client to four contracts. \u201cMy business has really grown,\u201d he said. \u201cI now have 15 permanent employees and 15 to 20 part-time staff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jacoline Louw, whose company Butter Flour, sells baked goods to local coffee shops and markets, and also does catering for special events, showed a 900% growth since starting the programme, earning her R436 000 in profits as well as the award for Most Improved Profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The People\u2019s Choice Award for most inspiring and most supportive participant and best leader went to Marion Baardman, founder of Treasure Chest Consulting and Coaching Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the heroes operating their small businesses within the Overberg District are Juan Lewis, who runs a successful construction company, Lewis Construction, in Gansbaai. He has been able to attain significant growth which enabled the business to employ more skilled workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another successful graduate is Gloria Mayimbana, who established Ncaneni and Hoyi Health Clinic after identifying a growing need for health-care services in Masakhane, Gansbaai. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She uses her skills and wealth of experience as a clinical-nurse practitioner to offer primary health-care services, such as family planning and general wellness checks and care, to the community for a minimal fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sivuyisiwe Dyani, who was left blind after a shooting incident, doesn\u2019t allow his disability to be a stumbling block. He started Ministaz Technological Innovations, a non-profit company that provides internet-caf\u00e9 services to job seekers and those seeking access to essential services such as South African Revenue Services (Sars) and South African Social Security Agency (Sassa)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dyani has managed to grow his business and move to larger premises. Flame further capacitated his business to operate during load shedding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Become involved<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since its inception, the Flame programme has benefited more than 450 businesses across four provinces. All programmes of the Asisa Foundation are made possible by voluntary grant contributions from organisations that are members of the foundation and other interested parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It invites interested stakeholders who share its vision to partner with it to achieve the collective vision of eradicating poverty. To contribute or find out more about these consumer financial-education programmes, send an email to info@asisafoundation.org.za, or visit www.asisafoundation.org.za.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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