Tsakani entrepreneur hosts Kasipreneur event to empower young people with business skills
Entrepreneur Thabang “Shyman” Shayi says entrepreneurship and survival skills can help young people build a better future.
Tsakani – Entrepreneur Thabang ‘Shyman’ Shayi hosted the Kasipreneur Community Network event at the Tsakane Community Hall on June 20 to equip young people with entrepreneurial and life skills and to create networking opportunities.
Various businesses and stakeholders attended the event to showcase their services and interact with aspiring entrepreneurs and community members.
Shayi said the initiative aims to inspire people to create opportunities for themselves rather than rely solely on the government.
“This event is called the Kasipreneur Community Network.
“It is about bringing information to the people and teaching young people life skills and survival skills, things that are not taught in school,” he said.
“The biggest thing about this event is to make people aware that they can do things themselves.
“They do not need to depend on the government because they can create their own opportunities.”
He explained that the programme targets everyone, including learners, through the organisation’s school network.
“Our current education system does not cover certain aspects of entrepreneurship and life skills.
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“That is why we bring young people together so they can learn and prepare themselves for the future,” he added.
Shayi said the programme starts with the basics of entrepreneurship.
“We teach people how to sell, what entrepreneurship is and survival skills.
“Not everyone will become an entrepreneur because entrepreneurship is hard, but we want to encourage more people to consider it as a viable path,” he explained.
The event featured guest speakers, who addressed issues around education and personal development.
Shayi said the Kasipreneur Community Network was founded this year, although his own entrepreneurial journey spans more than two decades.
“I have been in business for more than 20 years. I own two shops in Duduza, a marketing agency with 25 employees and a distribution company with 15 employees,” he cited.
Reflecting on his journey, Shayi described cash flow as one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face.
“The biggest challenge is cash flow. I always encourage people to start while they are employed because it is easier to fund a business when you have an income.
“It is much more difficult to start a business when you are unemployed,” he said.
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He encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs who lack start-up capital to begin with whatever resources they have and remain patient and disciplined.
“Do not wait for everything to be perfect before you start. Use the little you have, learn continuously and take advantage of networking opportunities.
“Success does not happen overnight,” he mentioned.
Guest speaker Nongo Solo said events that empower young people are crucial at a time when South Africa is grappling with high unemployment, a struggling education system and the growing impact of drugs in communities.
According to Solo, many young people are losing hope and are turning to alcohol and other harmful coping mechanisms.
“We need platforms like these to revive hope and restore the values we believe in as Africans and particularly as South Africans,” she said.
Solo said youth need to be equipped with practical skills that will enable them to create opportunities for themselves rather than wait for employment.
Solo said her message is centred on three key areas: understanding the causes of societal challenges, analysing the current state of affairs, and identifying practical solutions.
