As a build up to Youth Month activities, the Gauteng Department of Social Development together with Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) hosted a youth business showcase and entrepreneurial opportunities that are available for the youth in Gauteng.
The event was held at Saul Tsotetsi sports and recreational centre in Sebokeng on Thursday.
According to Neli Sibisi, department's Community Development Policy Manager for Youth programmes said the purpose of the event was to showcase the young people's talent and skills that they have acquired through department's development programmes which are implemented by the NPOs, funded by the department.
These NPOs offers different skills such as artisans, electrical, sound engineering and poultry farming skills to name a few. The day was about showcasing the businesses they have started after being trained by the department.
Organizations such as Tshepo One Million and labour assisted young people registration on their database for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities
Vanessa Hlabiwa, a beneficiary from Making Us Youth Organisation, one of the funded NPOs said she was part of the incubation for twelve (12) months, where they were trained on self-development, business compliance and how to commercialize the business ideas. Hlabiwa said she was also assisted with access to funding to start her own business.
Another beneficiary, Khethiwe Abrahams from Empower, a funded NPO that specializes in sound engineering skills, expressed gratitude to the department for helping her with an opportunity to be upskilled and the support to run the program that currently has twenty (20) beneficiaries learning for free.