Highlights 2017
The first Global Entrepreneurship Congress on the African continent was held in March in Johannesburg, attracting over 5 000 delegates. JA South Africa had a stand with our top funder, Transnet, and three of our alumni were amongst the 50 finalists to pitch to investors.
The JA Entrepreneurship Academy and Youth Enterprise Development Programme were both Services SETA accredited at NQF Level 4. A pilot intervention was initiated, aimed at exposing the same cohort of learners to successive JA programmes as they move through primary school and high school, at Elethu Themba Combined School, in the South of Johannesburg.
JASA participated as a thought leader at the Trialogue CSI Conference in May. The implementation of the Youth Enterprise Development Programme for women, in partnership with Mastercard and Siyafunda Community Technology Centres proved to be successful, with 16 new businesses starting during the programme and more than 60% of the programme participants enrolling for business mentorship.
We commissioned one of the alumni to make shopping bags for us to be used as corporate gifts. The Mastercard Johannesburg team also visited the programmes and went on the field trip with the students. On Mandela Day, the More than Money Programme, in partnership with Absa and the Boys & Girls Club SA, reached 90 Grade 5 to 7 learners.
Our year ended on a high note with JA South Africa hosting the JA Africa Regional Competition of the Year, which took place from 6 – 8 December at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg. Over 40 student representatives from 11 African countries competed for the sought-after titles at the annual competition by pitching and presenting their business products or services to a panel of judges composed of business professionals and influencers from across South Africa. This event took months of preparation and working in close collaboration with the wonderful JA Africa team, based in Ghana. The climax of the week was the awards dinner, where the winning teams were announced. We were also honoured to have Johannesburg Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba addressing us, as well as entrepreneur, Lebogang Chaka of Afro Visionary Legacy.
A full list of the awards is as follows:
– Regional Company of the Year Award – first place: Recycling Industry, JA Gabon
– Regional Company of the Year Award – second place: Digera, JA Kenya
– Regional Company of the Year Award – third place: Artistic Scorpions, JA Swaziland
– The FedEx Access Award: Wot Art, JA Uganda
– Citi Client Focus Award: Digera, JA Kenya
– Oliver Wyman Best Financial Performance Award: Candle Lit, JA Botswana
– Delta Social Impact Award: Wot Art, JA Uganda
– Rogers Capital Entrepreneurial Spirit Award: Recycling Industry, JA Gabon
– Rogers Capital Innovation Award: Candle Lit, JA Botswana
– Facebook Social Media Award: St. Mary’s Very Own, JA Zambia
– Marketo Excellence in Marketing Award: Azurro Ltd., JA Mauritius
– Afro Visionary CEO Rising Award: Tebenguni Ndwandwe, Artistic Scorpions – Swaziland
Doing a JASA Success Skills Programme and gaining a certificate, in addition to having the experience of job shadowing at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi really helped Karabo Prince Maluleka to get a holiday job he applied for at the end of Grade 11. He also gained the confidence to handle himself in a professional environment. “It was also interesting to interact with people from different backgrounds and different cultures and making sure that they are comfortable with me,” he explained.
“This programme helped me to run my business more effectively, especially when it comes to managing finances and cash flow. I also understand better how to make a business plan for future growth. My dream is to open branches across Gauteng and Limpopo and to have my beauty course accredited.” Anolia Lusunzi, Anolia’s Beauty Salon and Academy, Olievenhoutbosch, Gauteng
