This Women’s Month, we shine the spotlight on the amazing young women who we are proudly empowering through the Creative Entrepreneurship Programme. This 12-week course is a collaboration between our JumpStart skills development programme and the African Academy of Fashion in Cape Town.

A group of 23 fashion-loving young entrepreneurs graduated from the programme in April, while another intake of 22 women is set to graduate at the end of August.  

These young women will add to the tally of over 5,700 women empowered by JumpStart in the 2024 financial year alone, with a resounding 90% employment rate. 

This is significant in the face of South Africa’s unemployment crisis. Youth aged 15-24 and 25-34 have the highest unemployment rates at 60,8% and 41,7% respectively, with 36,6% of young women aged 15-24 not in employment, education or training (NEET), according to Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey Q2: 2024. 

“We believe skills development and education are key to unlocking the doors of opportunity. In providing a platform for young women to acquire practical and hands-on creative training, this course bridges the gap between higher education and economic opportunities,” said Karen Wells, head of Mr Price Foundation. 

The programme combines both garment construction skills and entrepreneurial skills. It includes cutting, sewing and garment construction, and creating basic fashion accessories from waste material. It also encompasses creative entrepreneurship concepts to support graduates to grow their small business. 

“Drawing from our experience with the JumpStart Production Programme in KwaZulu-Natal, we recognise the immense value these skills bring in securing employment or enabling entrepreneurship,” said Karen.

APRIL GRADUATES 

The group of 23 young women from the April cohort includes six young entrepreneurs who have since started or upscaled their own home-based creative businesses, and five young women who went on to gain formal employment.   

Peggy Jacobs, a 29-year-old entrepreneur from Cape Town, is in the process of formalizing her own clothing brand. 

“I am the only member of my family who earns an income. The course has equipped me to not only be business-minded but also be compliant with government and to push my business to access opportunities and grow. I also learnt to understand the importance of networking and collaboration,” said Peggy. 

For 30-year-old Aphiwe Rhonoti from Makhaza in Cape Town, this was a life-changing opportunity. “Youth skills development equips youth with problem-solving skills and puts food on the table, while waiting for employment or even creating your own business.”   

As a qualified fashion designer and graphic designer, Aphiwe intends to apply the knowledge she has gained to create her own brand. She has already embarked on her new journey in fashion, working as an intern at a luxury womenswear brand in Cape Town. 

Gamuchirai Keisha Kumbani, a 21-year-old from Philippi East, was excited to land a sales assistant position at a jewellery boutique at Cape Town’s Waterfront. 

“This course has made me believe that I can be who I want to be with hard work, dedication and thinking out of the box,” said Gamuchirai. 

Twenty-five-year old entrepreneur Nosihle Scina, who is originally from uMzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal and holds a diploma in fashion, plans to use her new sewing and creative entrepreneurship skills to build her fashion business, creating original designs for clients. 

“High youth unemployment has put me and my family under severe financial and emotional stress. This programme has provided aspiring individuals like myself with the opportunity to gain relevant skills and expertise to pursue careers in the dynamic field of fashion, ultimately contributing to economic growth and social stability,” Nosihle said. 

We thank the African Academy of Fashion for the successful execution of this exciting programme.  

“Through our partnership with the African Academy, we’ve taken a meaningful step toward empowering young women in the Western Cape. Our shared passion for youth development, especially in creating income opportunities for women within the retail value chain, made this partnership a natural fit,” said Karen.