QUARTERLY INSIDER
An update for partners and alumni September 2017
Meet Africa’s young entrepreneurs
Participants at the inaugural Youth Business mini-conference held on 15 July 2017
If emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses are to drive economic growth in Africa, it is essential that they receive solid support. This was the thinking behind a mini-conference on Youth Business hosted by the YALI Regional Leadership Center for Southern Africa, in collaboration with South African online cohort one alumna, LindelaniXhanti.
The objective of the Saturday morning session, held on 15 July 2017, was to bring together RLC SA alumni, youths who are already running their own businesses, budding entrepreneurs and stakeholders who support and promote small enterprises. Panellists included Shelton Mawoyo (bakery and food technology incubation), Neville Erasmus, incubator manager at the South African Manufacturing Demonstration Center, and LionelRidderhof, business coach at Awethu Projects Incubation.
The session allowed for stakeholder engagement in different areas of business development and support services for small enterprises. Participants explored views on what drives and motivates engagement in incubation.
The presentation on the Lean start-up methodology clearly resonated with the audience, with the speakers emphasising that if start-up companies invest their time in building products or services to meet the needs of early customers, they can reduce market risksand sidestep the need for large amounts of initial project funding and expensive product launches.
Alumni Outreach
YALI RLC-SA was on the move again, reaching out to alumni in their home countries. The team visited Madagascar and Mauritius and was able to increase awareness of the program through engagements with potential partners in the private and public spheres. Events for alumni were held in both countries.
Participants at a workshop titled “Shaping a prosperous Mauritius through youth entrepreneurship/cooperatives”.
The future of Mauritius looks bright, judging from the quality of discussions at a highly successful workshop for youth entrepreneurs and cooperatives on 31 August 2017.
The workshop, based on the theme, “Shaping a prosperous Mauritius through youth entrepreneurship/cooperatives”, was the brainchild of the YALI RLC-SA Mauritius alumni representative committee, with the assistance of the Embassy of the United States of America, and Greenwich University (Pakistan-Mauritius).
Various invited speakers offered their advice and insights. Among them were Mr Dana Chengan, President of Mauritius Council of Social Service, MrBasantRamsahye, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and Mr G Seechurn, Director of National Co-operative College. They shared their ideas on how to drive social passion for entrepreneurship and how cooperatives can be vehicles for instituting social change, and emphasised the critical role that youth entrepreneurship plays in the Mauritian economy.
The workshop reached over 90 participants and facilitated much networking and many connections.
During the workshop, certificates were awarded to six YALI RLC SA online cohort one graduates from
Mauritius. Receiving her certificate is RinashaApavoo (centre). With her are Tedde Thompson (left), Public Affairs Officer, Embassy of the United States in Mauritius, and Alonzo Wind, Deputy Mission Director at USAID Southern Africa.
Alumni Impact
Our graduates continue to make an impact. Here are two stories from some of our outstanding graduates.
JacquelinElizara: Cohort 2, Madagascar
During training at the YALI RLC-SA, Jacquelin acquired leadership knowledge which he used in his work and as a result he was promoted to the position of General Manager of the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Madagascar. He attributes his leadership ability, confidence and motivation to YALI RLC SA.
He is also using the knowledge he gained to train and mentor other entrepreneurs. To-date, he has trained 25 youths who he also placed for internships in his organization.
Esther Echelu: Cross-Platform Mobile Application – Cohort 8, South Africa
As a participants of the Regional Center, Esther was introduced to Microsoft’s MySkills4Afrika initiative, which seeks to empower African youth to think boldly and contribute more to the world economy by matching them with mentors and enhancing their remote collaboration skills.
Through this initiative, Esther’s mentor supported her in coming up with a complete business plan and coached her on the fundamental concepts of business strategy and road mapping. Esther was quick to learn about application feature breakdown, market segmentation and persona identification. She is currently working on a mobile application which aims to centralise medicine management for patients, offer them better and cheaper alternatives to prescribed medicines and provide nutritional services that will mitigate the risks of further diseases.
Exciting plans in store for the rest of 2017 and early 2018
Time to elect new alumni advisory board members
It is election time. Starting in December 2017, the Center will facilitate democratic elections for new alumni advisory board members. The board will consist of 14 alumni - one from each of the 14 countries in our coverage area - and will assist the Regional Leadership Center Southern Africa in an advisory capacity. This will be another opportunity for all interested alumni to self-nominate and campaign for election by the entire alumni community.
Reaching out to two more countries
As promised, YALI RLC-SA is reaching out to young people in more countries. In February 2018, Angola and Namibia will be targeted for outreach activities. These will involve meeting with potential private sector companies and NGOs, arranging a get-together to which all alumni will be invited, and broadening awareness about the program.
Partnerships and Alumni Team
Mr Harry Ntombela
Partnerships and Alumni Manager
Tel: +27 (0) 11 652 0000 |Ext: 0242| F: +27 (0) 11 652 0299 |Skype: harry.ntombela1 E-mail:
Mr Peter Folkard
Alumni Specialist
Tel: +27 (0) 11 652 0000 |Ext: 0247| F: +27 (0) 11 652 0299
E-mail:
This newsletter is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the University of South Africa (UNISA) - Regional Leadership Center - Southern Africa (RLCSA) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.