Newsletter September 2018

EEESAY NEWSLETTER

ENTREPRENEURIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL EMPOWERMENT FOR SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH

SEPTEMBER 2018

My Voice, My Action This year has been about school business teams expanding on the business ideas they put into action in 2017. The annual report from last year was used to further develop the business plan in 2018 – just as this year’s annual report will help the teams further refine their plans for 2019.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Walt Disney

The EEESAY project has reached 1156 learners across the four districts, giving these young people the opportunity to develop skills and experience the need to be leaders of the future. The achievements of the EEESAY team are exactly that – a team effort. The successes achieved would not be possible without the support of the Department of Education, who give ongoing support, guidance and engagement. The project would not exist without the commitment of organisations who have invested in the project’s success. The EEESAY team and schools say a huge thank you to: • The European Community,

I’ve also learned that the biggest lessons came from my biggest mistakes. Gurbaksh Chahal, founder of RadiumOne

The EEESAY project team are very proud of the following achievements: • The project was awarded Gold in the Green Economy category of the Eco-Logic awards, • Cathcart High School was awarded Best Business Idea in the School Enterprise Challenge, and they received special recognition for the Provincial Department of Education, • Amazulu High School was awarded the 1 st Runner Up in the KZN Province Eskom Youth Entrepreneurial competition and won R25 000 for their school.

• The Marr Manning Trust, and • Social Charitable Foundation

CONTENTS

2 3 4 5 6 8 9

Where schools are situated The Start-Up Starts here

Types of businesses started Profit from Food Preparation Tuckshop Businesses Learning about Services Craft & Beading Businesses The Business of Market Gardening Manufacturing / Gaining Video Storytelling Skills EEESAY Noticeboard

10 11 12

EEESAY is a three-year project funded by the European Community and implemented by Teach A Man To Fish and WESSA

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UTHUKHELA

AMAJUBA

• Amahlubi Secondary School • Celukuphiwa Combined School • Colenso Combined School

• Amazulu High School • DNC Combined School • Indonsa Technical High School • Mana High School • Phendukani Full Service School • St Oswalds Secondary School

• Dr Joseph Shabalala Secondary School • Drakensberg Comprehensive High School

• Ekwaluseni High School • Endakane High School • Impolwane High School • Tholithemba High School • Tshanibezwe High School

AMATHOLE

CHRIS HANI

• Byletts High School • Cathcart high School • Fundani High School

• Abambo Senior Secondary School • Bulelani High School • Ekuphemleni High School • John Noah High School • Nompumelelo High School • Phakamani Senior Seconary School

• Isihoboti Public Combined School • Kanana Senior Secondary School • Mzontsundu Senior Secondary School • Ncedolwethu Senior Secondary School • Sobantu Senior Secondary School • St Charles Sojola High School • Toise High School

• Sibuyele Combined School • Vuselela Secondary School • WB Rubushana High School

About the districts Three of the four districts are considered of the poorest in South Africa, with close on 90% of residents living on less than R1600 per month. The highest rates of child poverty are in three provinces, two of which are those where EEESAY takes place. EEESAY is working in areas where the need for improved learning and a focus on job creation is crucial. In his State of the Nation address in 2018 President Cyril Ramaphosa made it clear when he said: “If we are to break the cycle of poverty, we need to educate the children of the poor.”

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Impact on young people in South Africa Since 2017 EEESAY has been supporting 35 schools across KZN and Eastern Cape to plan, set-up and run environmentally sustainable and educational school businesses. Through participation in the school business learners develop the 21 st century skills they require to succeed in employment and in life.

EDUCATORS

LEARNERS

Found practice-based learning to be more effective with learners

Increased public speaking confidence

83%

Gained new knowledge in entrepreneurship education

92%

92%

Improved team working

Increased confidence in helping learners to develop business knowledge and soft skills Shared new knowledge and teaching methods with others

83%

Better problem-solving

83%

IDEA PLAN

REPORT CELEBRATE SET UP

EEESAY WORKSHOP TIMELINE

FEBRUARY

APRIL

JUNE

JUNE/AUGUST

Using a school business as an educational tool 82 Educators Doe Staff

Business development 102 Educators DoE staff

Youth Advisory Group 47 Learners 11 Educators help shape EEESAY

Entrepreneurial Journey Video Story-telling 62 Educators & Learners from 5 Schools

NOW

1156 learners have participated in a school business

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Selling food and snacks to learners and educators is the most popular business of choice

10

Sell soft drinks and packaged snacks

8

Make and sell creative arts products

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Grow fresh produce to sell

Services include hiring out calculators, car wash enterprises and an internet cafe

Make and sell fast food or snacks

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Car wash

Businesses involving crafts and handwork have been possible through community support

Hiring out

2

Manufacturing businesses include making furniture and a science-based business producing floor polish

Sewing

Making things

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Grow fresh produce to sell includes the market gardens as well as a nursery

The school business teams went through a process to identify their best business idea and created a business plan for that idea. The businesses were set up and run. The annual reports will help helps schools to see where they can improve the business in 2019.

BRAINSTORM BUSINESS IDEAS

WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN

RUN THE BUSINESS

REVIEW THE BUSINESS

IMPROVE THE BUSINESS

THE EEESAY BUSINESS JOURNEY

The EEESAY project provides young people with an opportunity to learn by doing through the process of learning from mistakes and learning how to iterate a business plan. The critical thinking, creativity, team work and problem-solving skills gained are an important part of preparing young people for the world of work and/or further study.

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CATHCART HIGH SCHOOL

Besides making ottoman stools and sewing school tracksuits, Cathcart also makes and sells food in their café.

Our school business has taught us perseverance in the light of challenges and how not to pollute and damage our environment. We have also gained plenty business skills.

BYLETTS HIGH SCHOOL

Byletts is a boarding school in a rural area and so the business can only sell to learners and staff, or to the school. They make fat cakes ( vetkoek ) and fish that is sold on specific days. The team also does catering for parent meetings. They have a succession plan in place to help new learners come into the business in 2019.

We have learned that good planning is important. We have also seen how important it is to work as a team.

MANA HIGH SCHOOL

EEESAY has been nothing but a great experience. We have benefited a lot, such as the development of our young entrepreneurs. Our learners are exposed to business management and operations. They also learn a lot about financial management. Mana High School educator

The business team realised they can make money using their baking and cooking skills. The team prepares hot dogs and cakes that are sold to educators,

learners and also to the surrounding community.

COLENSO COMBINED SCHOOL

The Colenso business team has started off making and selling hotdogs to sell to learners and educators. They quickly realised that if they want to make a better profit they have to expand their product range. This school has persevered despite community protests and strikes in their area. The learners are determined to succeed.

BULELANI HIGH SCHOOL

Our market research showed that people are interested in buying hot dogs, muffins, sandwiches, fat cakes, chicken, rolls, fruit, cakes, donuts, salad and cold drinks. This gave us our start-up ideas.

The school business team thought of four business ideas to start off with and they decided to choose a tuckshop business so that it could have a positive impact on the health of learners and they would make sure that all packaging is recycled.

Passion, determination and persistence are always key if you want to succeed in anything in life. I was inspired to join EEESAY by the fact that I want to be independent, be my own boss and learn how to operate a business through acquiring the necessary and relevant skills.

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WB RUBUSANA HIGH SCHOOL This school has taken the EEESAY opportunity and makes the most of it. When the 2017 Grade 11 learners graduated to Grade 12 they handed over to the newcomers, who continued working on their tuckshop and now they are investigating how to expand their business. They sell snacks and doughnuts at break times.

DNC COMBINED SCHOOL The learners at DNC are proactive and engaged; they hosted a beauty pageant and a cinema event to raise the start-up capital needed for their two businesses. The learners started with a tuckshop, selling snacks and cold drinks. EKWALUSENI HIGH SCHOOL Ekwaluseni is another school that sets an example for what is possible when people decide to work through their challenges, rather than giving up. When their garden failed due to water and fencing issues, the business team looked at alternative business ideas and so they started over. The school now has a newly established tuckshop that is starting to do well.

School Tuck Shops

It makes good business sense to focus on a business that has a ready- made customer base, as many schools have discovered. One of the challenges some schools encountered was that the existing tuckshop vendors were concerned about the school becoming a trade competitor.

PHAKAMANI SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL This is school is the most remotely situated of all the businesses. Having chosen a tuckshop business, the school has had to plan really well on how to buy stock for the business. The school is 88 km from Queenstown, on mostly gravel roads. The school business operates by selling snacks, drinks, sweets and chips to learners and educators.

TOISE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL Toise learners are very excited about running a tuckshop; selling snacks to educators and learners. Situated in a rural area, access to these items is not easy and the tuckshop idea is popular among customers.

Participating in the School Business project has help me to be able to communicate with others and I’ve learned a lot from the EEESAY. I am now able to express myself. Balungile Hlongwane, Colenso High School, KZN

In a few months I've learnt many things on starting a business and now I'm already seeing my dream of being a young entrepreneur coming true ..... All thanks to EEESAY. Learner from Sesiyabonga High School

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FUNDANI HIGH SCHOOL The school managed to raise capital through holding a beauty pageant. Learners in the business run the tuckshop during break times, with a rotating team of business members. They sell snacks, lunch packs, fruit and cold drinks. The are looking at how to a diversify their product lines.

SIBUYELE COMBINED SCHOOL Sibuyele faced a challenge when their project leader was off on sick leave for an extended period and the learners were unable to find support from another teacher. Despite this, the team has persevered in setting up their tuckshop business.

As a young entrepreneur I can bring a lot of change in my community. I will encourage people to open their own businesses and that will decrease unemployment. Pumza Magxidolo, Bulelani High School

CELUKUPHIWA COMBINED SCHOOL The Celukupiwa team have demonstrated what it means to keep going. Despite a number of challenges, they have continued with their efforts to get their business up and running. The learners of this business team show initiative and they are proactive in their endeavours.

JOHN NOAH HIGH SCHOOL Like many schools, John Noah faced the challenge of choosing a tuckshop as their best business idea, but there was already a community member using the school for tuckshop sales. They started making a market garden and then, after explaining the value of the venture to the community member, they were able to come to an agreement that enables the school to set up and run the tuckshop business.

ST CHARLES SOJOLA HIGH SCHOOL

Write a good quote here Understanding customers The Sibuyele team described their plan to price their products affordably – but still profitable - because they know that most people are unemployed and don’t have much spare money.

The St Charles tuckshop sells chips, sweets and cold drinks at the school using an empty classroom as their shop. The educator buys the business’ stock.

Get more schools to participate in the project. Get all districts in the provinces to participate, hoping there will be healthy competition amongst districts. It gives learners an opportunity to excel in business skills. Phumzile Hlope Department of Education Uthukela District Office

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A number of EEESAY schools have undertaken service-based businesses; two schools have a car wash, one school hires out calculators, and one school has chosen to open an internet café and is currently raising capital for it.

SERVICES IN EEESAY

DR JOSEPH SHABALALA HIGH SCHOOL

The School started with a market garden and they grew and sold fresh produce. However, the team soon realised that they were not making enough money from it and so they came up with a new business idea – a car wash. Their customers are educators at the school.

Sometimes going forward means you have to change direction

TSHANIBEZWE HIGH SCHOOL

The Tshanibezwe team have managed to expand their market by including local employees, who bring their cars to the school on Fridays

The Tshanibezwe car wash uses a pressure pump to wash cars, therefore they use less water. They wash cars every Friday (except during exams) and their customers are the school staff and local government officials whose offices are near to the school.

DNC COMBINED SCHOOL

This school is running two businesses. They started with a tuckshop and then their market research showed that many learners can’t afford to buy calculators. They opened a second business hiring out calculators. The business is run completely by learners.

Good market research leads to a great business idea

NOMPUMLELELO HIGH SCHOOL

Nompumelelo identified an internet café as their business but struggled to raise the money to start it. They are now getting support to upgrade and repair some of their computers from student teachers and are going to raise additional start up capital by having a joint venture with the existing school tuckshop and use profits from that for their business.

EEESAY has given learners the opportunity to excel in business skills. It is a co-curricular activity that keeps learners and teachers together. It going to bring wealth to our future leaders in business. Phumzile Hlophe, Accounting Subject Advisor for Uthukela District, KZN . To be a young entrepreneur means to be a person who can achieve something from nothing. I, as a young entrepreneur, want to change the lives of many South Africans. If it is to happen, it is up to me to make it happen. Imitha Timla, Phakamani Senior Secondary School

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AMAHLUBI HIGH SCHOOL

Amahlubi learners were taught by a community member how to make beaded pens and cultural items that they sell to local tourist centres in Bergville as well as to the school choir. The learners are very proud of their new skills and they make time to work on their crafts at home and at school. The business is progressing well and the learners are gaining valuable business experience.

AMAZULU HIGH SCHOOL

Amazulu High School, with one of the largest business teams in EEESAY, focuses on arts and crafts. Their team produces paintings and crafts, such as decorated jewellery boxes, that they market locally. After the Business Expansion Workshop, the team realised that their products have a low demand, and so they decided to expand their business. They now also have a tuckshop so that they have an on- going turnover.

Endakane learners raised enough capital in one day to start their beading business. They sold scones that learners baked at home, held a car wash and offered hair cuts. The school business has been supported by a community member who is helping them with craft skills. ENDAKANE HIGH SCHOOL

INDONSA HIGH SCHOOL

NCEDOLWETHU SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

The learners in this business struggled when their educator in charge left the school. Despite these hurdles, the learners have persevered in making their beaded items, such as…, which they sell to… The Tholithemba school business team is making use of old plastic containers, unused cardboard and other waste material to make their products. The business operates during sports times. THOLITHEMBA HIGH SCHOOL

The learners of this school raised funds by themselves. They have acquired beadwork skills from home and have passed these to their peers. The Indonsa learners demonstrate what is possible when young people are determined to succeed.

PHENDUKANI FULL SERVICE HIGH SCHOOL

Phendukani learners create a beaded jewellery range including necklaces and earrings. The business team makes sure that they are always updating their designs to follow the latest trends to keep their customers interested in their products.

ST OSWALDS HIGH SCHOOL

St Oswalds has been working setting up their business but their biggest challenge has been a number of changes in their support structure. Despite this, they continue to do their best.

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ABAMBO HIGH SCHOOL

The Abambo team is a shining example of tenacity and finding a different approach when there are challenges

Abambo is the only agricultural school in the EEESAY project. They have two businesses; a nursery as well as growing food plants for income. Their first produce harvest yielded a very impressive potato crop which the learners graded themselves.

MZONTSUNDU HIGH SCHOOL

Mzontsundu’s business is working well because there is so much support from a dedicated and enthusiastic principal, as well as from the surrounding community. The principal helped the school source topsoil and the community helped them with production skills.

Mzontsundu shows what can be done when a team is working together to support the school business

DRAKENSBERG COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL

The school’s first attempt at their market garden burned down and they had to start over. Having no garden tools and struggling to raise capital to buy them has been a challenge, too. However, they persevere, with support from the community members who have extensive experience in food gardening.

Drakensburg Comprehensive learned how important it is to conduct a risk assessment

EKUPHUMLENI HIGH SCHOOL

Team work, trust, and supporting each other is important

The school chose to start a vegetable growing business, since they have the land available to cultivate. Their business didn’t go according to plan in the beginning but they have managed to keep going.

for a successful business team

VUSELELA SECONDARY SCHOOL

ISIHOBOTI HIGH SCHOOL

Both these schools are facing water-related challenges. Despite this, they have planted, harvested and planted again. They are looking at ways to get Jojo tanks and Vuselela is also investigating ways to apply rainwater harvesting in the fields.

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SOBANTU SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL The Sobantu business has given the learners of this school a valuable learning journey. They are supported by a community member in learning how to sew, plus they have been given some industrial sewing machines to use in their business. They will be making school clothes to sell to learners’ school uniforms and / or tracksuits.

IMPOLWANE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Learners who are taking science manufacture floor polish in the chemistry laboratory and this is sold to customers – the surrounding community and people at school. The Impolwane team have assessed their business and decided that in order to make it more profitable they will begin market gardening, too.

Five schools – two the Eastern Cape and three in KZN – earned a one- day training session on video storytelling, and equipment to the value of R3 000 to help them document their business journey.

EASTERN CAPE Cathcart High School and Abambo High School almost missed out on their training due to a taxi strike. Fortunately they were able to attend a day later.

KWAZULU NATAL Amazulu High School, Amahlubi High School and Phendukani Full Service School attended training at Amazulu High School in May 2018.

The video storytelling was a very interesting course. The participants were excited to learn, and they found the practical activities interesting and useful. Each of the schools are very excited about documenting their entrepreneurial journey and we look forward to seeing their progress.

THANK YOU The EEESAY project would not be possible without the support of both the Department of Education and a number of organisations who are willing to invest in quality learning for South African youth. In addition to the European Community, we say thank you to:

The European Community The Department of Education The Marr Manning Trust Social Capital Foundation

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2019 Workshops and Events

Term 1:

Baseline data collection Workshop 5: Sustaining the Business Field Visits Workshop 6: Cascading the EEESAY Footprint into other schools Field Visits

Term 2:

Term 3:

Field visits Endline data collection

Term 4:

Networking & Celebration event

EEESAY is a three-year project funded by the European Community and implemented by Teach A Man To Fish and WESSA

This project is made possible through additional support from: