Teens from high schools in Atlantis, where opportunities are limited, got to experience a super practical initiative where they were taught and experienced running their own businesses! In South Africa where the job market is straggling on, knowing how to run a business is one of the most important lessons our youth can be taught:
Atlantis, South Africa (21 February 2024) — Learners from high schools in Atlantis got to be part of the Loshkin Economiz initiative—a chance to dip their toes in the world of entrepreneurship!
Developed by the non-profit enterprise Taking Care of Business and iKamva Youth as well as volunteers who have experience in the finance industry, the programme ran over 8 months, and the business bug certainly bit the young cohort.
For young people in Atlantis, where unemployment is major and crime is prevalent, providing young people with practical skills to break out of tough life cycles before they get into them is all important. As such, the initiative played a very big role in teaching the learners all the basics they needed to know about starting their own businesses as well as other skills essential for any active member of the economy: ethics, self-identity, presentation skills and money management.
Taking Care of Businesses that have helped shape many lives for the better, donated clothing, jewellery and accessories from their Resell Programme for the groups of learners to sell. The money they raised soon became seed money to help them start their own businesses!
TCB’s Nicky Edwards shared that she was delighted with the transformation she saw in the learners. “During this programme, I saw these learners blossom. They went from timid or disinterested to engaged, confident and open to learning.”
The groups of learners were in the running for a big prize based on their entrepreneurial achievements. Team ‘The Money Chasers’ made an impressive profit of R1655 selling popcorn, scrunchies, water bottles, mugs and biltong, while ‘The Multi-taskers’ Team earned a profit of R2915 selling muffins, biscuits, popcorn and lemon squares.
They got to go to the Ferris Wheel at the Waterfront, enjoyed a shopping spree at Taking Care of Business and ventured from Sea Point to Hout Bay, topped with a prized fish and chips lunch.
“The learners were very grateful for the outing and for exposing them to things they were not used to or would not have had the opportunity to enjoy,” shared Nicky.
Hopes are high that the teams will continue to flex their business savvy muscles, as many of the teams from previous runs have. According to Celeste Erasmus (one of the programme trainers) who commented on how many learners part of the 2022 cohort are still running their businesses, it comes down to the valuable skills shared.
Related Story
“Learners are realising that they don’t have to wait around for a job to come along or rely on handouts. When you are self-employed you can care for yourself. The power is in their hands to run a successful business and to provide for themselves.”
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 