YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR IN SOSHANGUVE INSPIRING YOUTH

 

By: Khanyisile Rasmeni

Twitter: @KHANYISILERasm1

Email: khanyisilerasmeni@gmail.com

 

It is very important for the youth to start their own businesses since there are no jobs and unemployment rate keeps getting higher. There are countless reasons why people decide at a certain moment in their lives to start their own business. 

That’s why Naledi Dhlomo in Soshanguve decided to start her own bakery business. She delivers baked goods like bread, scones, rolls, cakes etc to local shops and nearby residents using a bicycle. Although she was the subject of public laughter when she first started, many South African internet users have praised her great hustle. She empowers youth to use their talents rather than waiting for jobs application.

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“It was difficult to start this business of bakery and people were laughing at me because I’m using a bicycle to deliver. I was very excited when other young boys came to my shop and thanked me for inspiring them to also want to start their businesses even though that wouldn’t be easy. By doing this I’m trying to show a black child to take charge of their lives and do something since there are no jobs. I’m now the owner of Nyaleti bread and cakes bakery,” she explained.

In this audio below Naledi explains how she started her business and challenges she faced.

https://on.soundcloud.com/zLRhJ

One of her customers Tshividzo Muzunga said, “ All I can is that keep up the good and you have opened opportunities for young people and thanks for inspiring our children.” Starting a small business can be stressful and it requires much of your time. Being your own boss and building something from the ground up can be amazingly rewarding but it’s not always easy without problems. Being a small business owner can be challenging, requiring a lot of hard work and sacrifice, not to mention funding and planning. 

Tshividzo Muzunga comments in this audio below.

https://on.soundcloud.com/p5MtC

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According to her the challenges she faced when starting her own business was not having enough money to buy things she will need for baking and not finding customers. 

Naledi said, “I overcome these challenges by finding a supermarket that would sell my baked goods and all I did was to bake and deliver my baked goods to that supermarket. that’s how I overcome the lack of customers and not having enough money to buy things to bake.” 

The lack of jobs among young people has consequences on their wellbeing, health, and future. Hence, one of the ways to get young people into the labour market is through youth entrepreneurship.

 

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Naledi said, “What motivated me to start this business was my passion and my talent not money. I always wanted to have a bakery business, but I didn’t know at that time how to start it because I always ask myself what I will use to deliver my goods."

Her talent of knowing how to bake motivated her to start this business and she see herself in the future baking for the big supermarkets. She even managed to employ more young people who will help her to grow this business. Community members of Soshanguve are supporting her business even though at first, they were laughing at her not knowing that she opened opportunities for young people to work at her bakery shop and teaching others how to bake.