October 12, 2022 – In 2022, WPDI, supported by the L’Oréal Fund for Women, ran a series of Business Bootcamps for underprivileged women from communities affected by violence and instability in the Cape Flats area of South Africa. The main objective of the partnership was to expand WPDI and L’Oréal’s commitment to empower women and support marginalized people through business training and financial support. This initiative forms part of WPDI’s wider commitment to elevate women’s empowerment as a top priority throughout 2022.
Each business module, Basic and Intermediate, was taught over a 6-week period by WPDI business trainers in 14 townships of Cape Flats. Over 900 women were able to benefit from the program in South Africa alone with nearly 750 graduating this November, all of them in Basic including around 500 who will graduate both in Basic and Intermediate levels. All courses and exams are now completed, with the graduation ceremony to take place at the end of November in presence of our top management, partners and local stakeholders.
42 businesses are to receive funding by the end of the year, following 16 Business Plan competitions that are currently taking place, with over 200 submissions already. The submitted projects cover a wide range of sectors, from retail and manufacturing to bakeries and butcheries.
The aim of the initiative was to provide groups of women with otherwise inaccessible business training opportunities and the chance to participate in business plan competitions which result in funding for the eventual launch of participants’ small businesses. One participant, Sakiena, was delighted to be given such an opportunity: “I find the training very good because I have learned a lot and it also gave me a better understanding of running my own business. It also made me more confident to engage with business associates and clients.”
The local women really appreciated being given the chance to learn new skills that will help them transform their lives. “It’s extremely beneficial to so many out there. I feel that this should be an opportunity for big and small. I love what WPDI and L’Oréal are doing for our communities. The courses are very well balanced, challenging and really forces a person out of their comfort zone. I feel that those who take this opportunity seriously, will definitely flourish and improve in so many ways. I know I did, Thank you,” said Aaliyah.
This transformative initiative will help foster and maintain peace in communities where such opportunities are rare and people often get caught up in a spiral of violence, with women often suffering more than most.
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