EARLY CHRISTMAS FOR SIYAZAKHELE MEMEBERS
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AND PERSEVERANCE: FROM FAR LEFT: Danielle Geddes and Siyazakhele coaches.
Christmas came early for the Siyazakhela business coaches and some small business owners from Diepsloot on Wednesday, when they received awards for their efforts and commitment in going half way through the program at the Father Louise Blondel center, Diepsloot, Johannesburg.
The Siyazakhela business coaches were given certificates of achievement, while business owners received airtime vouchers and food packages for their unwavering commitment in making sure they attended the Siyazakhela entrepreneurship sessions without fail as well as working together to grow their businesses.
“Today we felt that we needed to celebrate the fact that small business owners had put so much effort into going half way through the program.”
“And we thought it would be beneficial also at the same time to give small business owners the opportunity to network and learn networking skills.” Said Danielle Geddes, senior project manager for Siyazakhele.
Coach Thabo Mashele, who walked away with a grand prize as the best top coach for Siyazakhele project, couldn’t hide his emotions at the accolade he received and attributed his achievements to hard work and determination.
“I’m very excited man, I feel, I don’t know how to express it, but I’m very happy because looking at where I come from, especially I had to work hard, starting from a tour guide, being part of Grand Pa as coach and being selected from Grand Pa as the best coach.”
“And coming to Siyazakhele, working with Uniliver you know and also bagging another best coach In the next programme, this is the second one, I was chosen from Grand Pa being the best coach and now being the best coach in Siyazakhele is an achievement.”
“The thing is with me, a business coach is not just a business coach, I want to change lives, so I think maybe Dan just saw that in me, that I really want to change lives cause of so far I have improved so many businesses in Diepsloot.”
“I’ve added value to where I can add value and you know I have done so many things, so I think maybe it’s because they saw my potential and they saw my hard working as well.” He said.
Mashele also thanked the coaches involved for their encouragements and working close together with him to make this project possible.
“It is not just me only though, the guys actually, the coaches also contributed to the hard working, cause we’ve been working closely together and they have been guiding, giving me advices on how to do things, so I think I should also thank them.” Mashele concluded.
Amongst the coaches awarded were Michael Mofulo, Sibusiso Shongwe, Emily Motaung, Letta Ramahlo, Nthabiseng Seluma and Peter Ngobeni and all received the certificates of achievement for their hard work and dedication to the project.
Danielle Geddes, project manager said the Siyazakhela program is designed to provide entrepreneurs with practical skills to help them handle their finances with diligence and boost their confidence to run their businesses successfully.
“Siyazakhela is basically as digital skills program, so aim not only to empower entrepreneurs with practical skills on how to manage your money.”
“We also want to influence people’s behaviour and self-confidence so that they feel empowered to run their businesses.” She said
Geddes urged the communities and business owners around Johannesburg to work together to improve the township economy and employ youths piffling with unemployment in the country.
“It’s really tough, the business in economic environment at the moment, and I think it’s important for communities to pull together and instead of competing without collaborating, I think it’s good for people to come together.”
“So i would suggest people collaborate, they come together, they try to grow their business so that they can employ more youths, so we have less of ticking time bomb of our youth unemployment.” She added.
She also advised the people who would like to join the programme to talk to the project coaches in their respective communities, since they are in the process of creating a Facebooks page for people to visit.
“Well, we are in the process of setting up a Facebook page and a website for ourselves, and we are hoping to create an online community and Facebook page where people can really interact, so that would be one way.”
“But the other way would be to get in touch with our community coaches who are the rocks that hold us together here, so they are the best people to talk to and then they will sign them up.” She continues.
The entrepreneurs awarded were Josephine Morake, Lesego Tladi, Sindisiwe, Chipo Kadtsawa, Francina Ndebele, Boitshwarelo Motswere, Abigale Ramatjetje, Simangele, Mashudu, Dukey, Lehlogonolo Kadi and many other.
