Almost a year after the launch of a new entrepreneurship programme, the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) has provided business skills and leadership training to over 300 women and young people in rural parts of the province.
To date, the union has reached 364 women and young people through its Women and Youth Rural Entrepreneurship (WYRE) initiative, which provides basic business skills training and in-depth business administration training for those already involved in a business. The union aims to eventually provide training to 1 500 people.
In a press statement issued last week, Kwanalu says that it had launched the initiative to counter the devastating fallout of the unrest which had hit the province in July last year.
“Contrary to what is believed, the looting and rioting was not only centred in the larger cities and towns, but also in smaller communities in KZN, says Kwanalu CEO Sandy la Marque.
“We at Kwanalu are solutions orientated, and from our years’ of working in the rural sector, we identified that poverty and lack of skills … can only be truly reversed if we commit to a sustained programme that supports people throughout the entire entrepreneurial process.”
Great success in less than a year
WYRE has provided training to the communities of Msinga, Greytown, New Hanover, Matimatola, Eshane, Muden, KwaNyuswa, Embo, Molweni, KwaNgcolosi, Pietermaritzburg, Ulundi, Msunduzi, Vryheid, Port Shepstone, Mahlabatini, and Paddock so far, with the vision of providing “the real and easily implementable tools, mentorship, networks, and resources to start their own businesses”.
“We are delighted by the success of the programme so far,” says La Marque, “and we look forward to assisting many more women and youth in all areas of rural KZN in starting their entrepreneurial journey, growing their businesses, creating employment in their communities and inspiring others to do the same,” says La Marque.
Kwanalu says it would welcome businesses and individuals who want to get involved through funding. The union invites interested businesses to get in touch with WYRE Project Manager Kathy Hurly at WYRE@kwanalu.co.za.
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