GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Teaching entrepreneurial skills has become more prevalent in high schools and colleges over the past few years as the unemployment rate has risen.
South Cape College Mossel Bay campus lecturer Nadia Lemmetuis says she has students who have discovered they can do something to make their own money and it has given them new confidence.
Lemmetuis lectures students who are studying human resources and part of their studies is an entrepreneurship and business management course. She says: "They must write a business plan, an executive summary, a financial plan and a marketing plan. "We notice some of the students are afraid and uncertain about going out and starting their own businesses and making money."
South Cape College makes encouraging entrepreneurship a priority. Every year it holds an inter-campus entrepreneurship competition, in which students must present their ideas for a business before an audience and a judging panel.
This year it was held in Oudtshoorn in May for the six South Cape College campuses. The winners will participate in the national TVET inter-college entrepreneurial competition in Cape Town.
Large companies sponsor the regional competitions and the national competition. There are attractive prizes and mentorship programmes for the winners. Marketing days Lemmetuis notes: "We held two marketing days at the college this year. We showed the students that you can buy a few ingredients for R100, make something and sell it to make money.
"One student bought chicken feet, made a sauce and cooked them and sold them and she made a profit.
"She loves preparing chicken feet. People don't have the energy and time to do it themselves, so they buy them from her." She notes that another of her students does women's nails, another blow dries hair and another bakes biscuits to sell.
Lemmetuis notes: "With big weddings and funerals, people don't have time to clean dishes and pots. I have a student who saw the need for someone to do this after functions." She says: "This type of work can become a good side hustle in the long run. "One of my students draws beautifully and I have encouraged him to make money from his art.
"It's important to determine if there is a market for your product or service. Also, do not make your service or product too expensive. "I tell the students to think outside of the box and take considered risks. "I have seen good business plans from them. There are organisations that can assist, such as SETA and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). There are few jobs. Entrepreneurship is the way to go."
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