Alex youth on the move
ALEXANDRA – Young creatives position themselves for better things to come.
Young entrepreneurs in Alex are tagging onto the Alexandra Museum precinct to promote their budding business ventures.
They regard the facility’s information and knowledge dissemination role as a platform around which they can market their wares to tourists, reduce youth unemployment and retain the local economy.
Although the facility which opened to the public last year is still pending an official ceremony, the youth are using it as a base for a bigger market with appropriate ambience for an anticipated thriving business environment when well-established tour companies start unleashing hordes of tourists to the area. They have secured themselves lockable stalls and linger around the spot daily cementing their presence for a future they anticipate will be bright for their business.
Helena Mtshumayeli of Greater Alexandra Tourism and Heritage Association said, “Tourist’s thirst for knowledge goes beyond perusing documents to engaging with aspects daily lives of people like dressing, food and entertainment in order to gain a holistic understanding of their hosts.” She said they want to be found ready to enthrall and make tourists their ambassadors to others, further exposing and expanding Alex’s business market and widening its circle of friends.
Mtshumayeli’s stall distributes free brochures, pamphlets and artifacts on Alex and other tourist spots countrywide. “The information exposes tourists to local spots of interest, artifacts expose them to our rituals and, complement the geology and geography of the township exposed in the facility. This in addition to telling them the story of how we heal spiritually and emotionally through entertainment.”
Linda Mbhele, Sello Letsoalo and Bongiwe Masilela of Kasi Wear, are upbeat about the museum they regard as a godsend platform to fly off from. “We benefit mutually. Our kasi-style clothing brands add to the museum’s story about who we are, what we think, do and our appearance,” Mbhele said pointing to the range of clothing designs for and by the youth, jewellery, bags and other artifacts. “We are here to also dispel the myth associating township life and youth in particular, with vice, crime and substance abuse.”
He attributed these social ills to boredom saying they were in business to encourage youth to restore hope in themselves by applying their education, skills and creativity into marketable products. “Its the only way for them to reduce unemployment and dependency on other areas and, to improve the township’s financial security.”
Mbhele discouraged the reliance and mental enslavement on name brand chains in the clothing industry saying their fashion range was of equal quality and representative of the local culture. “Black brands are for the future and are available locally at reduced costs, less transport.”
He commended the food stalls yet to emerge saying they will provide exquisite finger-licking cuisine to leave lingering memories of the township. “We will also share our skills with other youth to increase critical mass in the industry. Also, we will inject professionalism in the local industry by sharing our hangers and rails with old dressmakers who display their products on dusty streets turning off potential customers.”
Letsoalo is keen to utilise the partnership to ensure maximum exposure of the township’s diverse creativity. “We want to be reckoned with as we turn the often maligned township into a proud model for others to follow on how to use local opportunities and facilities to promote and sustain emerging businesses.”
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