Ten entrepreneurs received complimentary business start-up kits to expand their businesses.
The handover and graduation took place at the Blue Bay lodge on Monday 3 October. The kits included make-up and beauty, salon and barber apparatus, sewing machines, woodwork tools and photography equipment.
Vredenburg-based photographer and owner of Be Seen Solutions, Bradley Maarman, said the graduation is a dream come true. “My dream in life is to be a leading photographer who can travel the world to meet new people, work with new clients including celebrities and all other people. I am grateful to Mfesane and all the people that made this dream possible. The equipment I received today will put me in a position to make my dream a reality.”
The ten entrepreneurs completed a six month full-time entrepreneurial programme with training in Basic Entrepreneurs Socionext, Small Business Venturing, Mobile Literacy, Brand Building, Design and Digital Marketing, Basic Bookkeeping and Tax Turnover, Job Readiness and training in beadwork and sewing.
The job creation grant-funding partnership between West Coast based civil society organisation Mfesane and poverty eradication agency National Development Agency (NDA) has to date produced 30 youth start-up businesses in the Western Province of which 20 are based in the West Coast. The job creation programme facilitated by Mfesane received a grant of R368 883,69 from the NDA to provide the business training workshops and supply start-up kits for the ten self-motivated entrepreneurs.
Yolandi Afrika, Chief Executive Officer of Mfesane, said the programme is running for the second year and is growing in popularity but also has an impact. “Through our vision and mission of empowered communities, sustainable families are brought to life with this programme. We are hearing back from our last participants on how they are financially independent and are able not only to help themselves but also those around them.” Afrika said the programme is strengthened through partnerships and they are proud of the partnership with the NDA which has now produced 20 entrepreneurs.
“We wish this new group of entrepreneurs well and trust each of them will succeed in their own way.”
NDA Western Cape Provincial Manager, Ardiel Soeker, said the NDA’s partnership with Mfesane is premised on reducing levels of poverty in disadvantaged communities. “In this instance we are deliberately targeting motivated youth with a vision to change their livelihoods and in the near future be in a position to change the lives of others through providing jobs within their communities.”
Cameron Titus, who participated last year, attended the graduation to offer support and words of encouragement to the new graduates – along with representatives from the Small Enterprise Development Agency and Snyer Business Consulting who presented further business opportunity ideas to the group.
The entrepreneurs will continue to receive training, mentoring and coaching for a year from Mfesane.
