Four young female entrepreneurs were each awarded with a voucher for business valued at R12 000 redeemable for necessary business services like marketing or website design by National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Deputy Executive Chairperson, Yershen Pillay.
Hundred (100) young female entrepreneurs were mentored at the Women’s Month Mentoring Programme held at Pembi Conference Centre, Mbombela, Mpumalanga on 19 August before the winners were selected based on the viability of their business concepts.
With entrepreneurship becoming a growing trend amongst young people and particularly young women, proper mentorship and guidance from the initial stages of conceptualising a business can minimise the chances of failure. Many young entrepreneurs from the Tourism, Agricultural, Manufacturing and Construction sectors found that they needed an experienced professional to consult when it came to practical operation or start-up of their business.
According to Pillay, “Providing funding to youth owned enterprise is by no means adequate if these funds cannot be properly managed to ensure the sustainability of the business. Our Volunteer Enterprise Mentorship Programme serves as a means of supporting these start-up businesses.”
Innovative ideas such as township fitness centres, vegetable farming and brick and jewellery making were concepts exchanged at the mentoring session attended by guest speaker Nawaal Motlekar, Managing Director of Mamas and Papas magazine and Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana who encouraged young women to be proactive in business.
Enquiries:
Nawhal Kara-Foster
Tel: 011 651 7208
Cell: 084 894 4838
E-mail: Nkara-Foster@nyda.gov.za
Female entrepreneurs score at Women's Month mentoring programme
