SEDIBENG.-  “We acknowledge that despite the societal inequalities they face, especially barriers to economic participation, women are strong agents of change in our communities, and this is just one reason we are embarking on this programme,” said Prudence Masike, Manager of ArcelorMittal South Africa Foundation.

ArcelorMittal South Africa is partnering with Lusa Community Chest, an organisation that has been working in the communities for 20 years and with whom the company has previously worked on various social welfare initiatives in the Vaal region. Abigail Enterprises is a product of Lusa Community Chest aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs and with an in-depth knowledge of the challenges facing women entrepreneurs.
The training programme targets women aged between 18 and 40 years who already own small businesses but require support to ensure the sustainability of their enterprises.

The broad objective of this programme is to develop and empower women to develop their personal and entrepreneurial skills so that they can run successful and profitable businesses to support and provide for their families, their communities and ultimately motivate more women to start small businesses. Training is conducted over four months (one week per month) and includes personal mastery, psychometric testing, leadership, personal image branding, business and product branding, financial management, business management, marketing, mentoring as well as pertinent life skills.

“This programme is not just about enabling financially independent women but, through their economic participation and ownership of productive assets, there is a much broader knock-on effect in their families and communities by facilitating development, overcoming poverty, reducing inequalities and improving children’s nutrition, health, and school attendance,” adds Masike.

This programme is closely aligned to the broader strategic objective of the AMF’s socio-economic development plan, which is to strengthen and broaden the economic capability of the Sedibeng/Emfuleni Municipality by investing in the development and growth of black-owned small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).