Market showcases small enterprises
MONTECASINO - The Montecasino Christmas Market is set to delight visitors, but will also provide a platform for many non-profit organisations and small enterprises to sell their products.
Glenn Joseph, Montecasino’s general manager, said corporate social investment forms a strong part of the entertainment precinct’s business strategies. “The Christmas Village is the ideal opportunity for us to not only give Gauteng residents a truly authentic experience of Christmas, but to also highlight the true spirit of Christmas by supporting self-employed entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profit enterprises,” he said.
An extensive two-week radio campaign by Montecasino, aimed at enticing small businesses to submit applications, resulted in over 250 hopeful Christmas Market applicants from which the best and most varied array of exhibitors was selected on the basis of their product range and the merit of their enterprises.
The exhibitors at the Christmas Market include Just My Job Trust that evolved from a feeding scheme for orphans and vulnerable children in 12 villages in Mpumalanga to a job creation project for those children when they reach the age of 15. The youth produces arts and crafts and the profits from these are ploughed back into the Trust for equipment, maintenance and other costs. Kanyekanye is an enterprise development initiative that creates employment for young adults in the welfare system and produces sewn fabric products from waste fabric, which will be on display at the Christmas market. The income from the sale of the fabric helps to support Siphumelele Children’s Home for 14 abandoned, abused or neglected children aged between five and 18. Church Mouse Chocolate was born when home chocolatier Laura Church was making more handmade chocolates than her friends could eat and was also looking for an outlet for her autistic son to be gainfully employed.
“We believe that this will be a Christmas to remember for everyone who visits the market, but possibly more importantly, it will make a tangible difference in the lives of many beneficiaries of these worthy enterprises,” Joseph said.
The Montecasino Christmas Market will run from 3 to 7 December and entry is free.
Details: www.montecasino.co.za
