Portland entrepreneur Natalie Tempers shed tears of joy last week when her business was named one of 10 grant winners in the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative’s (WPDI) Women Livelihood programme business plan competition.
Ms Tempers was among 162 women from Mitchell’s Plain, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Bellville, Kuils River and the southern suburbs who graduated from the WPDI’s Women Livelihood programme last week.
Her business, NT Corporate Solutions, offers, among others, criminal and credit checks, and identification, driver’s licence, employment history and academic qualification verifications.
Ms Tempers, who started her business earlier this year, said winning the business grant and graduating have boosted her confidence as an entrepreneur.
“I feel valued knowing that someone else can also see the need that my business offers. Surely I want to make money, but employing others and enabling them to put bread on the table for their families is so satisfying.
“I found the (WPDI) training so valuable. I learned how to work out a profit, how to calculate an hourly labour cost, and even the simple business etiquette was so helpful.
“I am definitely more disciplined in the way I now operate my business and would encourage other businesswomen to do this course,” Ms Tempers said.
The Women Livelihood programme is supported by the City of Cape Town and sponsored by L’oréal Fund for Women and RCS.
The graduates, who were mostly unemployed and aspiring entrepreneurs, received six-months’ business plan training.
The business grant recipients’ journey continues next year with monthly mentorship sessions from the WPDI.
Congratulating the graduates, WPDI executive director Caroline Descombris, WPDI’s executive director, said serving the community is close to the hearts of the organisation.
“Most of you play central roles in your families. See this graduation as a beginning of a new path, go forward, and never give up. If we have many more women in powerful positions, the world would be a better place,” Ms Descombris said.
Nyanga graduate Nosipho Kuse thanked the WPDI, especially their trainers, on behalf of her peers for the opportunity to be part of the initiative.
“These opportunities are rare to find in our communities. We have learned a lot from the programme, from self awareness to numbers.
“The content of the manual was easy to understand. It wasn’t just theory in a book, but we can apply the information in our daily lives and our businesses,” she said.
Ms Kuse called on the private sector and all levels of government support the initiatives of the organisation.
“The journey does not end now. We continue to fight against hunger, poverty, gender-based violence and other challenges we face everyday,” she said.
Commending the WPDI and its partners, deputy mayor of Cape Town, Eddie Andrews, said collaborations between government, private sector and individuals are crucial in uplifting under-resourced communities such as the ones where the graduates come from.
Mr Andrews encouraged the graduates to be ready to embrace opportunities that may come their way.
“The journey does not end here today, the hustle must continue. Some of you seated here wont be successful, that’s the reality. Some of you will, and the difference is your choice and desire to hustle.
“To be a better person and an entrepreneur, utilise the skills that you have been given. As you hustle, have substance. Show up, step up and find those opportunities,“ he said.
“Never lose sight of the fact that you’re not just representing yourself, you’re representing your family and community.
“You are ensuring that that there is a shift in the consciousness of people in how they look at our communities. Whether you come from the Cape Flats or townships, show yourself approved and step up and hustle away.”
Regan Adams, chief executive of RCS, acknowledged the contributions of the City, other sponsors and stakeholders, especially the WPDI trainers.
“There is nothing more gratifying than being at an event like this where you see the tangible expression of what we are investing in. This is where one can make a real tangible difference in communities and people’s lives.
“It takes a collective effort of all these bodies to make things happen. Finally, I want to honour the trainers. The work they do going into schools, communities teaching you on these programmes is exceptional,” Mr Adams said.
