A first-ever two-month Alexandra Youth Entrepreneurial Summit has pumped new vigour into the sleeping entrepreneurial spirit of the youth in the township.
This follows a partnership between Khulisa Social Solutions, the Greater Alexandra Chamber of Commerce (Galxcoc), Qalisa Hub, 243 Pro-network, Ubuntu Business, and TuksNovation which is designed to awaken the sleeping potential of the youth through a summit that was held in September to October at the Greater Alexandra Digital Incubation Hub.
The summit sought to empower young people in the township to realise the small business opportunities that exist around them and are designed to provide them with the necessary tools on how to leverage them.
Galxcoc is one of the only five SMME hubs in Gauteng that is fully equipped with digital resources for small businesses. The hub has also been appointed as the implementation partner of the Gauteng Township Economic Development Act by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development.
Jacqui Zimba, a representative at Galxcoc, said; “Alexandra is the epicentre of greatness that is overshadowed by crime and unemployment. This youth entrepreneurial programme has brought about hope and growth in our children.
“We are now grooming a generation of innovators and change-makers as opposed to recipients and jobseekers. No economy has ever grown without SMMEs, and we are proud to have contributed to such a change.”
One of the beneficiaries of this partnership, Shane Malatji, started Phumula Toilet Paper Manufacturing, after losing his job during the Covid-19 pandemic. He maintains that his love for the toilet paper business began when he started selling toilet paper to make ends meet after losing his job.
Because of his entrepreneurship journey, Malatji indicated at the summit that his dream is to acquire the necessary equipment to increase the output of his manufacturing business.
Lesley-Ann Van Selm, the managing director founder of Khulisa, said; “We are happy to have partnered with the various organisations in this alliance which should make it possible for youth to pursue businesses and contribute to the development of township economies.
“South Africa is blessed with resilient people who are capable, and this is their chance to discover the power of entrepreneurship and make their peers realise that running a business is not a pipe dream.”
ALSO READ: