Phumzile Mthembu wins R100 000 in challenge
The programme attracted over 100 participants between the ages of 18 and 30 from previously disadvantaged communities
Phumzile Mthembu won over R100 000 and received multiple accolades, including a top 10 finish in the 2019 Entrepreneurs Challenge at the Youth Ideas Development (YID) Programme.
On October 1, 2018, Citi Foundation and TechnoServe launched the YID Programme, a 12-month commercial and social entrepreneurship development programme aimed at building a culture of creative and innovative thinking within South African youth.
“The programme attracted over 100 participants between the ages of 18 and 30 from previously disadvantaged communities in Tembisa, KwaMashu and Khayelitsha, but only 90 candidates from the three locations could be selected,” said TechnoServe project manager Thabang Lentsoana.
The YID Programme is financially supported by Citibank through the Citi Foundation and implemented by TechnoServe. This is an ongoing partnership that aims to grow entrepreneurship and upskill the youth so they may play a meaningful role in the economy of the country. The programme also collaborated with government bodies (NYDA, SEDA), municipalities (City of Cape Town, Ekurhuleni Municipality, City of Durban) multiple local businesses, placement agencies and sector-specific organisations to recruit candidates and deliver an impactful programme.
Lentsoana said the finalists had the opportunity to earn an income through two streams. The first stream entailed experiential learning opportunities in a variety of sectors to further the participants’ experience in their specific industry.
“The second stream was enterprise development and incubation where participants would receive support through training and continued mentorship to commercialise a product or service in order to earn an income,” said Lentsoana.
“After an intense eight-week masterclass on creativity – idea mapping, innovative thinking and entrepreneurship – the youth were taught how to effectively pitch their business ideas.
“This was followed by a pitching competition, where the candidates presented their improved ideas to a panel of judges. Thirty-seven promising young people were shortlisted, of which 28 received grant funding to start their businesses and nine secured experiential learning placements in host companies related to their business interests.
“The programme has profoundly impacted the lives of the participants in various ways. One participant is Phumzile Mthembu, a 26-year-old from Tembisa who owns Ingcweti Cosmetics which manufactures a coconut-based cosmetic range, with a focus on baby skincare.
“Through the programme, she learnt how to pitch her business and has gone on to win over R100 000 through the pitching competitions and received multiple accolades, including a top 10 finish in the 2019 Entrepreneurs Challenge, despite her business being only 11 months old,” said Lentsoana.
Speaking on her experiences with YID, Phumzile said: “I believe what they are doing for our businesses is great as entrepreneurship is needed, especially now that the youth unemployment rate has increased to 55 per cent. The amazing support we get even after classes are over is just amazing and I am begging them not to end this programme because it’s going to bring a lot of change, especially to our township economy.”
Lentsoana further thanked the sponsors of the programme.
“The programme would not have achieved these milestones without the Citi Foundation’s ongoing commitment to the development of entrepreneurship and job creation in emerging economies around the world. To contact Mthembu for business contact her on 081 774 5138 or at pmfngwenya@gmail.com,” said Lentsoana.
