Entrepreneurship in townships has been on the rise with a lot of young, intellectual business leaders shaping their communities through innovative ideas and solutions for the many challenges South Africa faces — from chronic medication delivery systems to dry bath solutions and medical detection kits.
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This year’s eKasi Entrepreneurship Week, happening during the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Cape Town Khayelitsha, will feature key elements including the eKasi Business Venture Competition, the eKasi Business Awards, Touring eKasi, #eKasiEXPO, legal clinic consultations, the #ShapeeKasi Entrepreneurship Conference and more.
The event will feature some of the top national and international experts on topics including: designing our eKasi, scaling social innovation, entrepreneurs in public policy, enterprise development, procurement and supply chain management; and there will be an ideas generation workshop geared at finding solutions across sectors.
The eKasi entrepreneurs will suggest those new solutions to current challenges, such as within enterprise development, funding models, mentorship and incubation.
Forbes 30 Under 30: Africa’s Best Young Entrepreneurs’ list features five entrepreneurs from Cape Town, and all five will be featured at the conference, adding to the discussion.
Young community builders and entrepreneurs from different industries and professions such as international public speaker Vusi Thembekwayo, co-founder and chief executive of Yeigo Communications, Rapelang Rabana, and head of corporate affairs at Capitec, Sbusiso Khumalo, and Western Cape minister for finance, economic development and tourism, Allan Winde will all attend the eKasi Entrepreneurship Week.
The eKasi Entrepreneurship movement is a non-profit started by Mr. Elvis Sekhaolelo, named a Global Shaper at the 2011 World Economic Forum. The eKasi Entrepreneurship Week is committed to shaping the state of townships and rural areas in South Africa through entrepreneurial development, collaboration, social innovation and skills development.
The effort has been recognised by supporters such as The National Youth Development Agency, the Western Cape Provincial Government, South African Breweries, Silulo Ulutho Technologies, The Power of Youth and more.
The event will take place on the 21st-22nd of November at the Look-Out Hill in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
For more information please contact Ms Notukela Mzilikazi or visit the event’s social media websites (Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo)
There will also be a Google Hangout on November 21st that people can join to post ideas around innovations that can help improve the state of South African townships. Until then you can join the conversation at #ShapeeKasi.