Raised in Wattville, Ntsiki Mkhize is not just a pretty face; the 22-year-old holds a B.Com Honours degree in logistics and a B.Com marketing management degree from the University of Johannesburg.
From her experience and knowledge gained, Mkhize aims to inspire young individuals who hope to follow the entrepreneurial route.
Mkhize and her business partner, Bonginhlanhla Dube, founded Creating Revolutionary Entrepreneurs and Moguls (Cream), a non-profit organisation.
She stated that Cream was founded in 2010, due to concerns surrounding entrepreneurship, South Africa’s poverty rate, low levels of entrepreneurship participation and high levels of unemployment.
According to Mkhize, Cream will be embarking on a road show, which will see a series of talks around the country, starting in Ekurhuleni, in April.
“The aim of the road show is to introduce the youth to the concept of entrepreneurship and to get them thinking about how they can engage the community through their own ventures,” she said.
The organisation will also host learning live workshops.
“These are sessions which will take place throughout the year, focusing on power workshops and sharing skills and knowledge on a number of topics, such as entrepreneurship.”
Mkhize added that the organisation aims to make entrepreneurship cool, creative and funky, and the voice for aspiring young entrepreneurs.
She is also part of Shaping our Young Generation (Song), which is a non-profit organisation started by Poppy Pule, and has a team of five women volunteers.
Song aims to empower young girls in high school through mentorship and support in various life challenges.
“It’s aim is also to assist in sourcing and mobilising additional reading or learning materials needed to help them in doing their school work, and enable them to excel in their careers,” said Mkhize.
She joined Song with the aim of hosting an entrepreneurship challenge, which was run for the first time last year.
“Thus far the Song foundation is visiting Qedilizwe Secondary School, in Evaton, where we meet a group of five Grade Eight girls every month,” she added.
The foundation also ran a book drive in 2013.
“We collected books and appropriate magazines and gave some to each girl to read,” said Mkhize.
The Song foundation has been rewarding; Mkhize stated that it’s been a success watching the girls grow and become women, as well as to see them gain confidence.
She hopes the project will be expanded to various schools in Benoni.
“At the moment we are still in talks with the Department of Education on the schools with which we can work,” said Mkhize.
For more information on Cream and Song, visit www.cream.co.za or email Songfoundation@vodamail.co.za.
