Khanyisa Bafazi Training Programme which launched in Buffalo City on Tuesday, intends to put more women at the helm of local businesses.
Researchers found that women face unequal access to business opportunities, while battling gender stereotypes and prejudice.
The Khanyisa Bafazi Training Programme, led by innovation incubator WomHub, is designed to help women turn side hustles into booming businesses.
The programme teaches financial literacy, digital empowerment, business formalisation, sustainable growth, and peer networking.
WomHub’s Nomfundo Mkhonto said: “We’ve seen the incredible resilience and innovative spirit of Buffalo City women and we want to provide them with the tools, confidence, and the network they need to formalise their ‘hustles’.
“Our purpose is to help them build lasting legacies, not just for themselves, but for their families and communities.”
The training culminates in a certification of completion and access to WomHub’s alumni network — which includes opportunities for on-going mentorship, peer learning, and funding referral opportunities.
Current Consulting MD Bonnie Currin, who is deputy chair of the Border Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB) women’s forum believes that programmes aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in Buffalo City should be inclusive and adaptable to the diverse backgrounds of women in the region.
Currin hopes to see more initiatives, aimed at entrepreneurial skills, digital literacy, networking strengths and leadership.
“Women entrepreneurs face a range of challenges but many have been resolved through the female trailblazers who have led the way,” Currin said.
Local innovation hub Cortex Hub is a partner of the initiative.
Cortex Hub’s Lunga Feni said: “We hope this initiative grows into a long-term platform that equips women to take ownership of their ventures and compete confidently.”
The Khanyisa Bafazi Training Programme is set to begin in mid-August.
To apply, contact: khanyisabafazi.trainingprogramme@womeng.org or call 060-763-5606.
