Broadening Horizons in South Africa
At Teach A Man To Fish we are constantly inspired by the young changemakers we work with all around the world who are making a difference not only in their own lives but also in their families and communities. Minenhle Khumalo is one of the EEESAY (Entrepreneurial, Environmental Empowerment for South African Youth) student entrepreneurs whose award-winning School Business team particularly impressed us with their diligence and creative thinking.
EEESAY is partly funded by the European Union and is being implemented in partnership with the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and Business World Development Trust (BWDT). The project supports young people in schools and out-of-school youth to plan, set up and run educational and environmentally sustainable and profitable enterprises. EEESAY focuses on 6,050 youth in Uthukela and Amajuba districts in KwaZulu Natal, and Amathola and Chris Hani in Eastern Cape. The project will help these youth to gain the knowledge, skills, experience and attitudes to be employable, study further or to start their own profitable and sustainable enterprises.
A YOUNG TRAILBLAZER
Minenhle was nominated by her teacher for the 2018 Enterprising Student Award for her amazing dedication, infectious energy and enthusiasm in promoting the business throughout her school.
“Our School Business has given me a different look towards life. I initially wished to be a teacher in the future, but now I wish to be a teacher and a business woman. I feel happy to be already taking steps towards this goal as women in my community are still undermined in my community business wise and that is the mind-set I wish to change in future!”
She not only enjoyed learning to make jewellery, but particularly loved growing her skills in her sales role: “I take the role of being a salesperson as I have a free spirit so my personality allows me to interact with different people and convince them in investing in themselves through buying our products. This was identified as a team strength and my team members voted me into the role.”
Minenhle was really excited to join EEESAY and learn how to launch a successful business, and can’t wait to put her new skills into action. She has learnt the importance of market research and problem solving to be a good entrepreneur. Her team showed their true entrepreneurial spirit by setting up their stall in their community shopping centre and local parks, to attract new customers and increase their profit.
RAISING ASPIRATIONS
What we most admire about Minenhle is that she is determined to use her new entrepreneurship skills and business knowledge to benefit others: “the experience of the school business has developed me in multiple ways which motivated me to go out and tell my friends to start your own business. You do not have to wait until you finish school! I have even tried spreading the word to those who surround me in the community”.
It is trailblazers like Minenhle who will start to lead the way out of unemployment and poverty. She is well on her way to achieving her dreams of being a teacher and business woman, so will be inspiring future generations of students and girls in her community for many years to come!
“Our School Business has given me a different look towards life. I initially wished to be a teacher in the future, but now I wish to be a teacher and a business woman. I feel happy to be already taking steps towards this goal as women in my community are still undermined in my community business wise and that is the mind-set I wish to change in future!”
