In 2020, we launched the Job Skills and Entrepreneurship Programme (JSEP) at Bulungula College. This programme provides accredited training and paid internships to bridge the gap between education and employment. While JSEP has seen great success in preparing young people for formal employment, nurturing an entrepreneurial culture remains an elusive challenge.
Unlike other programmes we run, such as Early Childhood Development (ECD), which have clearer pathways to implementation and success, entrepreneurship has proven to be a tough nut to crack. There is no precise “equation” or formula for cultivating successful entrepreneurs. Despite our curriculum’s strong focus on entrepreneurship, most of our learners choose the safer route of formal employment or further studies after graduation. Out of 82 graduates from the programme, only four have started their own businesses.
For many of our young people, entrepreneurship feels like stepping into the unknown. Growing up in poverty, they are understandably risk-averse, as they lack safety nets to cushion potential failures. Unlike formal employment, entrepreneurship doesn’t come with a guaranteed monthly salary, and the road to financial stability is often long and fraught with obstacles. This mindset, shaped by the harsh realities of life in one of South Africa’s most remote and impoverished regions, makes it difficult for young people to embrace the uncertainties of entrepreneurship.
Moreover, our community lacks successful local business models to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. For those who do consider starting their own businesses, there are practical hurdles: limited access to capital, no formal mentorship structures, and the absence of a supportive ecosystem that nurtures small ventures in their infancy.
Our efforts to develop entrepreneurship have been considerable, and one notable attempt is in farming entrepreneurship. Given that our community has vast arable land historically used for subsistence farming, we identified agriculture as a promising business opportunity. We provided accredited training, paid internships, and even guaranteed a market for the produce. However, after a few years of trying, farming businesses never fully took off.
The reasons are multi-layered. Farming is inherently risky and labour-intensive. Droughts, pests, and poor harvests can decimate a year’s hard work. Additionally, farming requires time. From planting to harvesting, there is a long waiting period before any income is generated, a luxury many in our community cannot afford. Even those with the courage and skills to start a small-scale farming business found that with a low profit margin (realistically R1,000 to R2,000 per month), the cost-benefit was simply not worth it. Most chose instead to seek employment elsewhere, where they could earn a better income with less risk.
One key step we’ve taken recently is introducing an Entrepreneurship Specialist to the JSEP team. This dedicated role provides targeted support to learners with entrepreneurial aspirations, helping them develop viable business plans, leverage their internship stipends as startup capital, and offer ongoing mentorship to ensure sustainability after the business has launched.
We also believe that once young people see a thriving business in our community, it will inspire others and set off a wave of entrepreneurship. Seeing success firsthand will help shift the perception of entrepreneurship from high-risk to high-reward.
We know that entrepreneurship is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and we continue to adapt and experiment with new strategies to meet the needs of our youth. While we don’t have all the answers yet, we know the problem well. As an incubator, we believe in working with innovative thinkers to solve our community’s biggest challenges. Do you have a successful approach that has worked for you? We would love to hear from you and connect. You can reach us at info@bulungulaincubator.org.