We Love Alex Community Makeover Project is committed to keeping Alexandra clean, creating investment opportunities for the community, and revitalising the local economy for the benefit of all.
This according to the vice-president of the project, Lawrence Ruele who was speaking at a Youth in Business workshop at Alex Mall on June 22, where young entrepreneurs shared their innovative ideas.
In conjunction with South Africa Day, Alex philanthropist Linda Twala launched the project at Phuthaditjaba Centre in Alexandra on 8 May.
“The project promised people that it would fund their organisations and businesses, which would create jobs for Alex people, especially youth, but we must first clean up the environment to attract sponsors for funding,” Ruele said.
According to him, the project will take close to 15 years to complete its goals and it will be only successful if people are involved.
Thabang Sebata, director of Alex Biz, said young people should ensure their organisations were legally registered so they could qualify for future funding from the project as funds were being raised through the Alexandra Investment Fund for the initiative.
“Registered organisations are the only way to ensure your legitimacy since such organisations will provide new ways to open work opportunities in the future. The job market is competitive, and it is especially tough for people who lack qualifications in critical skills.
“Some graduates leave universities armed with degrees and feel passionate about their career paths but later realise they want to follow another endeavour,” Sebata said.
Alex Mall marketing manager Ntokozo Lily Bophela urged the youth to master the digital world and use it to promote their businesses
sing remarks, she said, “The workshop provided young people with information on how to start a business, as well as ways to market their organization.”