AfterSkoolsLit empowers Cosmo City youth through manufacturing
Through a skills programme, students are learning to produce and sell household cleaning products while gaining essential business knowledge.
AfterSkoolsLit, a non-profit company (NPO) based in Cosmo City, Randburg, continues to instil entrepreneurship lessons and skills in young people within the community.
Sifisokuhle Mkhwanazi founded the NPO in 2016 because, as a young creative in Cosmo City, he struggled to access information and wanted to close the gap between opportunity and education for other young people in the area. The organisation prides itself on youth development centred around five pillars: career guidance, personal development, health awareness, entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability through mentorship and manufacturing initiatives.
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A four-month youth-focused manufacturing skills programme takes students through a process of manufacturing products such as thick bleach, dishwashing liquid, foam bath, pine gel and degreaser. According to Mkhwanazi, beyond manufacturing, students are taught how to sell their products from basic cost pricing, selling price, profit margins, door-to-door marketing, branding and customer service.
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Mkhwanazi shared what the programme and NPO have achieved since their establishment. “AfterSkoolsLit proves that talent is everywhere, even when opportunity is not. When you teach a child to make a product, you teach them to make a living. We started with no resources, just passion and mentorship from Dr Lesego Mawela, and Holly Friends of Hope’s consistent support has sustained us. We are still here to grow leaders and our motto, ‘Discovering hidden potential and overcoming obstacles – clean today – lead tomorrow’, remains,” he said.
Community members are called upon to join and support the sustainable work and youth empowerment by purchasing products made to fund a learner, volunteering as mentors, marketers or trainees, or partnering as businesses under their ‘Proudly supporting youth’ partnership to host learners for practicals.
Interested individuals can contact the organisation at afterskoolislitpr@gmail.com or 068 154 4537.
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