Jayree Olivier from Tafelsig saw a need in the community to clean their bins and grabbed this as an opportunity to become a young entrepreneur.
He walked from door-to-door asking residents if he could wash their bins and currently he has between 70 and 85 customers.
“I started (last year) but late this year I decided to go on my own due to a lack of teamwork. The residents were all interested and inspired by my idea and I am hoping to have 500 customers (next year),” he says.
Olivier is in conversation with his local councillor, Washiela Harris, to help him register his business.
“After my registration is approved I hope to have the necessary equipment to deliver the service to the best of my ability next year.
“My brother Jade inspired me to start the business. My friend Keeno Hofstander, my jogging partner, helps me with washing the bins.
“In the past, I was always involved in mischief but I’ve turned my life around after I found Jesus,” Olivier says.
He hopes he is an inspiration to the youth in Mitchell’s Plain who is lost and have no knowledge and understanding.
“I was also hopeless until I changed my life around. It was tough going on my own and I had to push myself. Then I got more customers and things became better.
“We first clean the bin with a broom inside and outside before we dry the bins with towels. I buy my cleaning detergents and I can assure you the bins never smelled like that before.
“We are all familiar with the saying, charity begins at home and I started cleaning the bins in my street and took it from there, street by street,” he says.
Harris says she was impressed by the initiative.
“If we all start small, we can make a difference and I want to encourage the youth of Mitchell’s Plain to start their own businesses and if you need help, go to your local councillor for assistance, we need to empower the youth,” Harris says.
