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Fin24 user Christien Scheepers seeks advice about motivating students to start small businesses. She writes:
My husband and I have started a small skills development centre and we are trying to help the students to start small businesses.
We got forms from the National Youth Development Agency that they can use to apply for grant funding. It seems, though, that the young black students are reluctant or nervous to get started.
How can we motivate them?
Entrepreneur and Fetola director Catherine Wijnberg responds:
Yes, we have a strange situation in South Africa where so many people are without work, but they’re resistant to start their own business and very fearful of taking financial risk.
This is different from everywhere else in Africa and the world, where starting your own business is applauded and encouraged.
1. Share success stories
Our experience is that the starting point is to share success stories of people who have gone from being dependent on social grants or dependent on a monthly wage to the freedom of creating unlimited income and liberating their full potential as business owners.
2. Provide practical skills and support
Next, you need to provide simple practical business skills training and support that provide these new entrepreneurs with tools, templates and advice that they can use in their business.
Fetola has a great set of SME tools that might be a good starting point.
3. Address the fear in a safe space
Lastly, ask where the fear comes from and deal with that in a safe group environment.
Good luck! Your work is much needed.
- Fin24
* Share your experience of setting up your business and get published or simply ask a question. Our business panel can put you on the right path.
My husband and I have started a small skills development centre and we are trying to help the students to start small businesses.
We got forms from the National Youth Development Agency that they can use to apply for grant funding. It seems, though, that the young black students are reluctant or nervous to get started.
How can we motivate them?
Entrepreneur and Fetola director Catherine Wijnberg responds:
Yes, we have a strange situation in South Africa where so many people are without work, but they’re resistant to start their own business and very fearful of taking financial risk.
This is different from everywhere else in Africa and the world, where starting your own business is applauded and encouraged.
1. Share success stories
Our experience is that the starting point is to share success stories of people who have gone from being dependent on social grants or dependent on a monthly wage to the freedom of creating unlimited income and liberating their full potential as business owners.
2. Provide practical skills and support
Next, you need to provide simple practical business skills training and support that provide these new entrepreneurs with tools, templates and advice that they can use in their business.
Fetola has a great set of SME tools that might be a good starting point.
3. Address the fear in a safe space
Lastly, ask where the fear comes from and deal with that in a safe group environment.
Good luck! Your work is much needed.
- Fin24
* Share your experience of setting up your business and get published or simply ask a question. Our business panel can put you on the right path.
