{"id":3249,"date":"2020-12-14T16:45:34","date_gmt":"2020-12-14T15:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/?p=3249"},"modified":"2022-04-05T14:40:49","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T12:40:49","slug":"wpdi-announces-the-first-winners-of-its-inaugural-business-plan-competition-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/fr\/news\/wpdi-announces-the-first-winners-of-its-inaugural-business-plan-competition-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"WPDI Announces the First Winners of its Inaugural Business Plan Competition in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 14, 2020\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Recently, the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative \u2013 in partnership with the Government of Western Cape, BNP Paribas and RCS Group \u2013 conducted its first Business Plan Competition in Cape Flats, South Africa. After weeks of strong contest and deliberations, the competition resulted in eight winning businesses, allowing WPDI to further advance in its goal towards helping foster sustainable development in the Flats.<\/p>\n

\"Winners<\/p>\n

Business Plan Competitions are a core component of WPDI\u2019s Business Bootcamp initiative, which aims to train local youths in the countries in which we operate about business and entrepreneurship. The initiative resulted out of the understanding that development and successful peacebuilding are closely intertwined; for peacebuilding activities to be successful, communities must be able to create businesses and jobs. After all, both play an empowering role and help create and sustain livelihoods.<\/p>\n

WPDI\u2019s inaugural Business Plan Competition in Cape Flats was open to qualifying trainees who had successfully completed the basic and intermediate levels of the Business & Entrepreneurship training courses that are offered at the Community Learning Center in Athlone. With 73 of the 318 graduated trainees participating, it was well-attended. After the youths designed and submitted a total of 31 business proposals, they worked with a review panel comprised of WPDI staff and local business leaders to help attendees hone their plans. After the proposals were resubmitted for final review, the panel deliberated for several weeks, ultimately selecting eight business plans that will receive support from WPDI and its partners.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

In announcing the winners, Caroline Descombris, WPDI\u2019s Executive Director, told participants that \u201cIn this competition, there were many good business ideas and a lot of talent. This made it very difficult to select the winners. However, the review committee worked incredibly hard, and to the participants who did not win this year, I hope you will submit your plans again at the next competition in 2021.\u201d Nevertheless, participants in the competition \u2013 regardless of whether they won or not \u2013 told us that the experience was exhilarating. As Rashieda, a former WPDI and single mother told us, \u201cI had set my sights on winning the Business Plan Competition since the day I heard about it during my training. I decided to put everything into my proposal and use what I learned to improve it. After I heard that I won, I truly learned that hard work does indeed pay off!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Another<\/p>\n

With the competition now concluded, WPDI and its partners will support:<\/p>\n