Youth entrepreneurship training in our lifetime! Founded by Yusuf Randera-Rees in 2009, the Awethu Project has made it their personal mission to revolutionize the economy by solving the problem of the “Missing Middle”.

According to the Awethu Project website, “In high-income countries, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are responsible for over 50% of GDP and over 60% of employment, but in low-income countries they are less than half of that: 30% of employment and 17% of GDP. This SME gap is called the Missing Middle”.

Awethu Projects has positioned itself as one of the most progressive, young, black and innovative entrepreneurship development company in South Africa. The flagship project is their Entrepreneurial Business Incubator Programme, which uses a groundbreaking model to identify individuals with high potential who either want to start up businesses, or are currently running businesses, and want to see them grow.

The project has incubated more than 500 entrepreneurs and developed some of the world’s most innovative models for investing in SMMEs and this year they are looking to scale the initiative with like-minded partners in order to make an impact.

Here’s how the programme works: if you’re selected for the Micro Business Incubator, you will join a team of like-minded entrepreneurs looking to up-skill themselves on their journey to becoming successful entrepreneurs. In your team, you will work with an Awethu Business Associate who will mentor you during the 24-week Incubation Programme. This programme includes a business course comprising at least 20 practical business modules that will help you become an empowered business owner.

All they need in return from potential applicants is determination, tenacity and the right attitude to succeed – and a small application fee of R100. The application fee will allow you to enter the Awethu Launch Pad (where you will learn how to assess the viability of your business idea, create a business plan and be assessed in order to determine whether you meet the programme’s minimum entry requirements).

If you are accepted into the Incubator after the Launch Pad, the cost is R500 for the first 12 weeks. Based on your performance during the first 12 weeks, you will move onto the remaining 12 weeks, which will cost a further R500. Awethu Project has been awarded a grant from the Jobs Fund to develop over 1500 Entrepreneurs by 2017.

This grant subsidizes your fees which would otherwise be over R45 000.

To apply for this great programme SMS action to 45345 or follow the link for additional information https://goo.gl/m19tuF.