It is important for South African students to partake in entrepreneurial initiatives and opportunities made available to them so that they can be empowered to own businesses.
Recently, Vuk’uzenzele Newspaper held a dialogue with youth in Kimberly in the Northern Cape through its Vuk Talks initiative, in partnership with the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) as part of their annual Student Entrepreneur Week.
Vuk Talks is a quarterly community engagement that is carried out by Vuk’uzenzele newspaper to interact with communities, readers and organisations that advance community empowerment.
It created a platform for approximately 100 students at SPU to have a conversation about entrepreneurship and provided information on how to go about starting a business.
The youth were also empowered with information about career opportunities, skills development, and pitching for funding.
Economic Activation Officer at the SPU, Chad Lucas encouraged students to participate in initiatives that are aimed at improving their lives.
Representing the provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), Daryll Christians encouraged students to identify industries that they are interested in and research relevant opportunities including funding they can benefit from.
“Our department offers funding specifically to entrepreneurs in townships and rural areas. We encourage existing businesses to apply for equipment to the amount of R100 000,” he said.
Kagisho Monyatsi of Harambe Youth Employment Accelerator emphasised the need for upcoming business owners to utilise services available at their institution.
“Some of our services include upskilling unemployed youth and empowering entrepreneurs with information that helps them to successfully apply for funding,” he explained.
Vuk Talks also held a similar dialogue session with students at Westcol TVET College in Randfontein. The session was supported by Harambee Youth Accelerator, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSETA) and Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
The students learned from game changers in the business and tourism industries and were encouraged to grow their networks within these industries for future opportunities.
For more information on CATHSSETA
visit www.cathsseta.org.za
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator: www.harambee.co.za
NYDA: www.nyda.gov.za
DEDAT: www.northern-cape.gov.za/dedat/
Sol Plaatje University: www.spu.ac.za/index.php/spu-annual-student-entrepreneurship-week-sew-20…
Email
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp