Entities formulate partnership to empower local women
The Sense Fragrances initiative addresses this gap by offering participants access to discounted products and a basic stipend made possible through partnerships.
Through a collaboration to combat youth unemployment and poverty, the Lulalab Foundation, in partnership with Yes4Youth and Afrika Tikkun, launched the Sense Fragrances initiative. This groundbreaking entrepreneurial project seeks to uplift young, previously disadvantaged women across SA.
This programme offers women the chance to become financially independent through entrepreneurship, giving them the tools to market and sell a range of high-quality fragrances and cosmetics in their communities.
The initiative aims to create sustainable incomes and drive economic growth in vulnerable areas.
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“The formal job market is shrinking, and corporates cannot absorb the large number of unemployed youth. We must think creatively and provide alternative, sustainable employment solutions,” said Errol Freeman, the CEO of the Lulalab Foundation.
Freeman noted that while the fragrance industry holds promise, one of the biggest challenges for aspiring entrepreneurs is the lack of start-up capital.
“Business doesn’t create jobs; consumers do. We must meet them where they are. The fragrance sector offers great potential, but access has always been limited by initial costs.”
The Sense Fragrances initiative addresses this gap by offering participants access to discounted products and a basic stipend made possible through partnerships with Yes4Youth and Afrika Tikkun. This support allows participants to launch their small businesses with minimal financial risk.
Over the next 12 months, the programme will expand to 200 participants, with the first 20 women already active in the field.
These young entrepreneurs are learning how to run their businesses and gaining essential life skills and mentorship.
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To ensure a long-term impact, the foundation has integrated a data-driven system that uses advanced AI tools to collect information on the participants’ socioeconomic backgrounds, cultural environments and psychosocial needs.
This data informs a targeted mentorship programme, pairing participants with trained social workers who offer ongoing guidance and support.
“We understand that sustainable success requires more than just training. Our support continues after the programme ends with mentorship, sales tracking and post-training assistance,” Freeman explained.
“Our mission is to help these women build lasting futures for themselves and their communities.”
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This multi-stakeholder partnership is a powerful example of what can be achieved when the private sector, non-youth unemployment, poverty and economic inequality.
The Sense Fragrances initiative offers a pathway to financial independence and inspires social change, proving that young SA women can thrive, lead and uplift their communities with the correct support.
