Economic Development South Africa Project #14801

Help 50 South Africans Build Small Businesses

by One Global Economy

Dec 1, 2015

Mobile Entrepreneurs Program 2016 Launch

By Alyssa Perez - Project Leader

MEP Women Entrepreneurs

Thanks to the support from our Global Giving donors, One Global Economy (OGE) will be launching its Mobile Entrepreneurs Program for 2016 in the coming month! OGE has continued to measure the impact of its past programs and reflect on the success of this past year's program (see our last report) to incorporate new efficiencies and components into its model to deliver high quality entrepreneurship and digital literacy training to informal small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Our upcoming program will continue to take place in rural townships in Johannesburg such as Orange Farm and Meyerton, where access to entrepreneurship training and mentors has the potential to help combat high rates of unemployment, inspire individuals to pursue their passions and contribute towards creating vibrant and sustainable communities.

OGE and its local team are currently in the planning stages for the launch of its 2016 program, which will have a particular focus on implementing a sustainability model that will allow local trainers and partners to adopt the program fully.

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Jul 31, 2015

Mobile Entrepreneurs Program: 2015 Results

By Alyssa Perez - Project Leader

MEP graduates after completing training

Through this year's South Africa Mobile Entrepreneurs Program (MEP), OGE has trained 215 aspiring entrepreneurs, street vendors and informal small business owners in entrepreneurship, technology and Internet safety skills. Here's a look at the results the entrepreneurs achieved after completing intensive in-person training, receiving advice and tips via text message and exercising new skills:

75% of participants have created a business plan or improved upon their existing business plan

72% of MEP participants, who own businesses or have started businesses, have established an online presence for their business.

65% of MEP participants have created marketing plans

53% of MEP participants are incorporating the use of social media into marketing plans

72% of MEP participants have created and are accessing a LinkedIn profile for online professional networking

100% of MEP participants learned how to conduct online research to increase business knowledge and access information about government or private funding, or additional support through local entrepreneurship-focused organizations; 83% are utilizing this skill to advance their business.

100% of participants have increased their cyber security awareness

100% of participants have learned how to recognize common threats targeting small businesses such as information theft and fraud

100% of participants have learned how to protect their small business and personal ID

Thanks to our Global Giving donors for supporting MEP to empower high impact entrepreneurs across Johannesburg!

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Apr 28, 2015

215 Trained: Technology & Cyber Security for SMMEs

By Alyssa Perez - Project Leader

MEP participants, Forum4Change with James

Through its Mobile Entrepreneurship Program (MEP), OGE has delivered entrepreneurship, technology and Internet safety training to 215 aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Johannesburg townships of Ratanda, Daveyton, Thokoza, Ivory Park, Orange Farm and Meyerton.

Over 65% of participants come to MEP lacking basic digital literacy skills. Training in basic technology equips them with the skills needed to set up and use an email address for their business communication needs, create an online presence for their business, learn to use social media for marketing as well as create an online professional profile to build their network.

With a new program focus on cyber security for small business owners and entrepreneurs, participants are learning best practices for protecting personal identity and preventing common threats targeting small business owners such as information theft. Local Trainer, James Sekhonyane leads participants through online and research-based activities during each workshop to learn and practice basic technology and Internet safety skills. OGE is also expanding upon its South Africa Beehive Internet safety content (contributed by the Symantec Corporation) through a monthly article series focused on entrepreneurs and small business owners as first-time Internet users, which, in addition to entrepreneurship-focused resources, are sent to MEP participants following workshops through email and SMS.

The emphasis on technology and Internet safety skills complements MEP's intensive training on hard business skills in financial literacy and marketing and soft skills in leadership, presentation and networking.

Gugu, a 34 year old woman from Daveyton, runs a business selling handbags in her neighborhood. Through MEP, she broadened her basic business marketing know-how by learning new and effective strategies for communicating her offering to her market. Other entrepreneurs, like Gugu, are excited to utilize social media tools to expand their marketing and reach.

Given from Ivory Park owns a car wash in his neighborhood, where he has seen similar businesses enter the market. MEP helped him prepare to compete with other local car wash businesses. "The MEP training has helped me to identify my financial needs and prioritize so that I can save for my business in order to be competitive."

All MEP participants receive weekly text messages to support their growth and guide them through the adoption and application of technology skills essential to starting and improving their businesses.

OGE is grateful for the support it receives from Global Giving donors to continue MEP!

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Jan 27, 2015

Mobile Entrepreneurs Program Launch 2015

By Alyssa Perez - Project Leader

Local Trainer, James Sekhonyane leads MEP workshop

One Global Economy (OGE) is gearing up to launch this year's Mobile Entrepreneurs Program (MEP). In February, OGE will launch the program in 6 rural townships throughout Johannesburg, (Heidelburg, Daveyton, Ivory Park, Thokoza, Meyerton and Orange Farm) to train street vendors, informal small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in technology skills and the soft and hard skills needed for business incubation and micro-enterprise development. With support from Symantec Corporation and Global Giving donors, OGE plans to serve 200 participants and incorporate a new focus on cyber security and Internet safety best practices for small business owners, as well as develop partnerships with local organizations to connect participants to a variety of opportunities and resources.

Training on cyber security and Internet safety best practices can build entrepreneurs’ cyber security awareness, and empower them to protect their businesses from common threats such as information theft and fraud. Small businesses often encounter cyber security issues because they cannot afford state of the art software to protect themselves from loosing information to hackers and competitors. Many participants in the program lack the information to make decisions about and implement adequate security plans. South Africa’s recently approved National Cyber Security Policy Framework was developed in response to the rise of cyber crimes over the past few years that have had a detrimental effect on the economy and target vulnerable populations such as emerging business owners.

OGE is excited to launch this year's program in the coming weeks and offer a new training topic in addition to digital literacy, leadership, professional and entrepreneurship skills building activities and support participants' growth through text messages!

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Oct 21, 2014

8 Communities Reached, 91% Created Business Plans

By Alyssa Perez - Project Leader

Meyerton MEP Graduates

By the end of the 2013-2014 Mobile Entrepreneurs Program (MEP), One Global Economy (OGE) engaged over 400 aspiring entrepreneurs, street vendors, and small business owners. The program reached 8 rural townships and communities in Johannesburg and Durban, the highest number of communities OGE has served in a given year, many of which do not have access to training opportunities in entrepreneurship, technology, and financial literacy skills.

In addition to delivering its intensive training workshops, MEP offered all participants virtual mentoring through SMS. Through text messages, the local trainer reinforced learning, and disseminated tips and information to track progress and success, engaging in 2-way communication at times, to coach entrepreneurs on specific topics. Text message content corresponds to both workshop material and concepts learned, as well as desired results in business planning, financial literacy, and technology skills application, providing participants with guidance at every stage in starting and growing their enterprise.

After the last round of workshops this summer, OGE evaluated the 375 participants, who remained in the program out of a total of 400, and their achievement of the desired results. Program activities have contributed to the following results:

1) 60% opened a bank account

2) 91% created a business plan

3) 29% increased their savings for business growth by 25%

4) 11% monitored bank accounts online and/or through SMS alerts

5) 22% accessed 10 government and/or private local services for education and/or financial support using the Internet

6) 10% increased profits by 20%

7) 14% increased new business opportunities by 15%

8) 40% established partnerships in a joint business venture

9) 25% found a job opportunity online.

OGE hopes to work in partnership with the Symantec Corporation for its 2014-2015 program to incorporate a focus on cyber security for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

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