JA South Africa in partnership with Itirele Trust has empowered 16 young women through the JA South Africa Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme. The programme, which was implemented at Jerry Moloi Library Daveyton, Etwatwa ran from March to June 2021 and was hosted by Ekasi Net Organisation.
The programme focused on empowering female tertiary graduates and women in SMMEs with necessary skillset to advance to the next level of their careers. Small business owners were provided with much needed mentorship to ensure business sustainably, with exposure to micro finance platforms whilst female graduates were assisted with the required skillset for job placement opportunities. The two-pronged approach took into consideration the high number of women in training but aren’t employed and women in business who were previously not exposed to micro finance and mentorship platforms, thus ensuring a particularized approach for the two groups.
“We are excited that our offering provides the right skillset to graduates and women in business as such lessening the burden for graduates who are struggling to access work opportunities and women in business needing access to finance”, says Nelly Mofokeng, Managing Director at JA South Africa.
The feedback from the beneficiaries is testament that the intervention bore the desired outcome.
Here’s what one participant had to say:
“I learned that I was doing a few things wrong. I did not understand my target market and was marketing to the wrong people with the wrong pricing method. In the pricing, marketing, and branding session I realised I was under charging my products.
The session also gave me a clear understanding of what marketing and branding is and why the two complement each other.
I am going to change my prices; I am going to market the business to the target market since I understand who they are and where they are. I am going to get feedback to continue building a stronger and successful brand. Going forward I will be keeping a record of my finances and get help from a person with better skills of accounting and finances.” – Lebogang Mashigo_ Founder of Eggsellent –free range eggs.
The session on Marketing, Branding and Pricing was a clear winner for participants this is how it helped another participant:
“the beginning of the programme struggled with marketing her business. After session 2, of the programme which addressed marketing, she was confident to market her business and acquired a strategic approach to designing marketing plan.
During the process of the programme, Ms Sibongile obtained a business opportunity as a service provider to Telkom SA and was tasked with a project to install fibre cables in her community. Her first payment for this project amounted to R37 500.00” Sibongile Shabangu – G & F Works Projects
We are grateful to Itirele Trust for their unwavering commitment to women empowerment.
