National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) marks Global Entrepreneurship week

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) will join the world in marking Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) from 12 to 18 November 2012. Celebrated annually, GEW is the world’s largest campaign to promote entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking.

During GEW all NYDA access points across the country will address the “what, how, who, when and where” of the entrepreneurship world and further encourage young people to be innovative and creative in their entrepreneurial thinking. Some of the activities that will take place at NYDA access points include business awareness sessions for high schools learners, seminars where business support organisations will make presentations to aspiring and established entrepreneurs, exhibitions  where young entrepreneurs will showcase their products  and services, NYDA beneficiaries sharing their experiences  and  lessons learnt and motivational  speeches by seasoned entrepreneurs.

Since inception, the NYDA has disbursed 33 975 loans to the value of R97 293 934.85 and young people have accessed NYDA sourced business opportunities to the value of R 50 853 945.00. The NYDA also offers Business Mentorship Programmes where 3 932 youth are currently active in this programme and 71 922 youth have gone through our entrepreneurship training. Tamari Mavasa, Economic Development Executive Manager, explains that the NYDA also offers a low business loan interest rate which currently stands at 6%.

Among the young people who have benefited from the NYDA’s business support programmes and services is Nqubile Nkosi, Soweto’s first black-owned jewellery manufacturing  and retail business owner, who has also been chosen as one of the 2012 Hot 100 in the UK jewellery trade, a first for a jewellery brand established in Soweto. Nkosi also benefitted from a NYDA business loan that he used for the purposes of purchasing equipment and material.

Another NYDA beneficiary is Khulekeni Khanyile, the proud owner of a Pietermaritzburg based air conditioning company who was assisted to draft a business plan and acquired a business loan. Khulekeni targets black home owners. “There is a misconception among blacks that air conditioners are a luxury. My aim is to make them understand that air conditioners can be affordable,” he explains.

Nomfundo Dzingwa is the owner of the first black and female-owned physiotherapy practice in KwaZulu-Natal that specialises in gynaecological physiotherapy; she acquired a business loan from the NYDA that she used to purchase medical equipment and an electric fence for her practice.

“Even though the NYDA has made strides, much needs to be done. We will continue to assist more young people to nurture the entrepreneur within,” Mavasa concludes.

For details on NYDA business support programmes and services, young people are encouraged to visit NYDA access points weekdays from 8h00 to 17h00. To locate their nearest NYDA access point, young people can visit www.nyda.gov.za or call 0800 52 52 52.

For media enquiries please contact:
Refilwe Mphane
Tel: 011 651 7175
Cell: 071 037 6559
E-mail: refilwe.mphane@nyda.gov.za

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