Diepsloot youths spread festive cheer

Granting disadvantaged youths of Diepsloot the necessary skills to start a business is non-profit company, Enrich Foundation’s mandate, which now sees youths opening a Christmas pop-up store at Forest Hill Mall this December.

The foundation’s Roz Sandham explained that in order for their entrepreneurship development programme to become a reality they were funded by Rebosis Property Fund Ltd.

“We used a company called Khulisa, which went into Diepsloot to find candidates for us. We also advertised on Facebook and we received about 200 candidates, 20 of whom we chose to participate in this programme. We are now sitting with 17 candidates comprising of five guys and 12 women.”

She explained that the youths went through practical and theoretical training where they were taught all the aspects around entrepreneurship. “Our candidates learnt about the employee and employer relationship, recruitment, cash handling and disciplinary hearings.

“We also taught them about sales and marketing, business management, customer relations and financials,” Sandham said and explained that candidates did the practicals at the stores at the mall.

“Rebosis Property Fund owns the mall and they funded the programme with the view to open retail stores in the mall. They are currently working on a business plan as part of their project which is to open this pop-up store for our candidates to operate from.”

All the candidates have an entrepreneurial background from working at a shop to owning their business. “So, we as a foundation are here to show them the right steps to take in order to run a successful business which they will venture into once they graduate next year February.”

One of the candidates, Solwandle Nkambule explained that he was exposed to entrepreneurship from a very young age from his parents.

“I have always had the idea of business, I just didn’t know the principals to follow in order to have a successful business. When I met Roz [Sandham], I explained to her the reasons why I wanted to be part of this entrepreneurial programme which was learning the tools and know-how on the business ideas one might have.”

Nkambule said that he was happy to be part of the entrepreneurial programme which has given him growth and a different outlook on business.

Another candidate, Katlego Makgareetsa said, “I grew up seeing my father run his business of fixing TVs and appliances as well as construction. With me being exposed to the business at a young age, I then opened up my own spa which was going well for three years until I started wasting my profit instead of putting it back into my business – that led to my business collapsing.”

Makgareetsa explained that the entrepreneurial programme has taught her a great deal on investing back into your business and business management.

Sandham shared that they plan to mentor the candidates for the next year to see that their businesses grow.

“I believe the foundation will be part of the youths’ lives forever. I am so excited to see what the future has in store for them.”