Tsakani hosts Kasipreneur program to empower entrepreneurial youth with business skills

Tsakani – Entrepreneur Thabang 'Shaiman' Shayi hosted the Kasipreneur Community Network event at Tsakane Community Hall on 20 June to equip youth with entrepreneurial and life skills and create networking opportunities.

Various businesses and stakeholders participated in the event to showcase their services and interact with aspiring entrepreneurs and community members.

Shayi said the initiative is aimed at motivating people to create opportunities for themselves instead of relying solely on the government.

“This event is called the Kasipreneur Community Network.

“It's about getting information out to people and teaching young people life skills and survival skills, things that aren't taught in school,” he said.

“The biggest thing about this event is to make people aware that they can do the work themselves.

“They don’t need to depend on the government because they can create their own opportunities.”

He explained that the program targets everyone including learners through the organization's school network.

“Our current education system does not cover certain aspects of entrepreneurship and life skills.

Also check: Local beauty queen turns dream into reality as Miss South Africa finalist

“So we bring young people together so they can learn and prepare themselves for the future,” he said.

Shayee said the program starts with the basics of entrepreneurship.

“We teach people how to sell, what entrepreneurship is and what survival skills are.

“Not everyone will become an entrepreneur because entrepreneurship is hard, but we want to encourage more people to consider it as a viable path,” he explains.

The event featured guest speakers who addressed issues related to education and personal development.

Shayi said the Kasipreneur community network was founded just this year, although his own entrepreneurial journey spans more than two decades.

He quoted, “I have been in business for more than 20 years. I have two shops in Duduza, a marketing agency with 25 employees and a distribution company with 15 employees.”

Reflecting on his journey, Shayee cites cash flow as one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face.

“The biggest challenge is cash flow. I always encourage people to start while they have a job because it's easier to fund a business when you have income.

“It's much more difficult to start a business when you're unemployed,” he said.

Also read: Tsakani entrepreneur turns passion for scent into growing perfume brand

He encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs who lack start-up capital to start with the resources they have and to be patient and disciplined.

“Don't wait for everything to be perfect before you start. Use what you have, constantly learn, and take advantage of networking opportunities.”

“Success doesn’t happen overnight,” he said.

Guest speaker Nongo Solo said programs that empower young people are vital at a time when South Africa is struggling with high unemployment, a struggling education system and the growing influence of drugs in communities.

According to Solo, many youth are losing hope and turning to alcohol and other harmful methods.

He said, “We need platforms like this to revive hope and restore the values ​​that we believe in as Africans, and especially South Africans.”

Solo said the youth need to be equipped with practical skills that will enable them to create opportunities for themselves rather than waiting for employment.

Solo said his message focuses on three key areas: understanding the causes of social challenges, analyzing the current situation, and identifying practical solutions.