Unlocked entrepreneurial potential of Self Help Groups

By Mapule Cheela

 In strengthening our youth to deal with issues of unemployment – Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (SLP) is successful in this area. We now have 13 youth Self Help Groups, active in entrepreneurship, advocacy and filming and documentation. These youth are based in KwaZulu Natal, Free State and North West Province. New Mind Made Innovation (our SLP Youth group from the Free State) visited Sao Paulo, Jundiai, Osasco, Campinas in Brazil from 23rd November to 4th December 2019 to film and document work done by the second generation of Ladysmith Black Mambazo during the Khense Cultural programme in this country. Their travel and accommodation costs were covered by the KwaZulu Natal Department of Arts and Culture.  

Our Self Help Youth Group in Makhune in Eshowe is doing well with their poultry project and has increased its sales on eggs and chickens. It is still supplying two Spur restaurants in Eshowe and Richards Bay. We met the manager of Spur restaurant in Eshowe on the 29th February 2020 to share our appreciation for his support for this group and thank him personally for his contribution to this project. 

The Tshwaro Youth Group in North West province is also doing well in their egg selling project. They are now supplying three guest houses in Mogwase with eggs, selling in the community of GaMabodisa, and they are planning to supply the local holiday resorts around Sun City before the end of September this year. Please note that the Group Leader of this project visited their peers in Makhune, Eshowe to learn more about egg selling business. This is an SLP initiated group exchange programme. 

The Majakathata youth Self Help Group is also doing well in its advocacy programme. It has reached eigh schools targeting grade 8 to 12 learners in addressing the issue of drug and alcohol abuse. It is also doing well on its printing service project and servicing customers in the Moruleng area. It has also printed beautiful 2020 Calendars for the Fund’s staff to show case their work and as a way of saying “Thank You” to the Fund for its support. They are also planning to diversify their business by producing school uniforms for the local primary schools in the area. They have already identified a sewing trainer who will assist them in this area.

The Dempisi Youth Sewing project is also doing well in Thaba Nchu. They are sewing school uniforms and recently they were requested to produce a special uniform for the teachers of Woodbridge Primary School in the village of Woodbridge. This project is managed by youth that benefited from Boikhuco OVC programme when they were still at primary school as orphans.