South Africa’s future economic prosperity depends on its young people making active contributions to the socio-economic development of the country. Yet with unemployment being a major challenge, the future lies in creating a new generation of entrepreneurs who can make a difference. Beyond the Lemonade Stand, the brainchild of founder Thokoza Mjo, is a social venture looking to do just that!
LoA met with Thokoza Mjo to find out more about this inspirational venture.
What does your company do?
We find and accelerate teenage led enterprises.
"The current reality in South Africa is that 74% of people under the age of 25 are unemployed. The reason for this is that young people aren't seen as creators of economic opportunities, especially teenagers."
What inspired you to start your company?
We believe in an Africa with economically active youth. However, the current reality in South Africa is that 74% of people under the age of 25 are unemployed. The reason for this is that young people aren't seen as creators of economic opportunities, especially teenagers. We want to provide an ecosystem that enables teen entrepreneurs to contribute towards building the economy of our country and eventually the continent.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
If you are tired of living in the possibility of a prosperous Africa and you want to live in the reality of a prosperous Africa, procuring services/products from our teen-led enterprises supports the development of an entrepreneurial culture which has a direct impact on job creation and community development.
"We want to provide an ecosystem that enables teen entrepreneurs to contribute towards building the economy of our country and eventually the continent."
Tell us a little about your team
The team reflects our belief in teenagers' ability to create value - some examples includephotography or video work that is outsourced to a teen-led enterprise. Our social media platforms, for example, are managed by a teen-led enterprise.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I am a finance graduate and worked in the investment field for 3 years before choosing to pursue my entrepreneurial aspirations. My first entrepreneurial project was in high school where a friend and I sold sweets to our peers. This was against the school rules and we had to be creative about how we navigated our way around those rules. In varsity, a friend and I attempted a printing company with a focus on branded clothing. I also partnered with a different friend to start a tour operating company targeted at exposing local professionals to opportunities to use their expertise to support small business owners and NGOs.
"Procuring services or products from our teen-led enterprises supports the development of an entrepreneurial culture which has a direct impact on job creation and community development."
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
As a teen-led enterprise accelerator our aspirations are to create an ecosystem that finds and trains recent graduates willing to use their expertise to support teen-led enterprises while gaining skills and the network to eventually start their own businesses. This will have a positive impact on job creation and the development of a quality entrepreneurial culture.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The opportunities we've created for our teen-led enterprises to deliver products/services for their clients, to procure resources from suppliers for their enterprises at a discounted rate, and realizing their dreams to interact with established entrepreneurs that they have admired from a distance.
"My first entrepreneurial project was in high school where a friend and I sold sweets to our peers. This was against the school rules and we had to be creative about how we navigated our way around those rules."
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Starting a business, for me, is the best expression of backing yourself (taking a chance on you), believing that you have the ability to create value for yourself and for others. Don't put it off any longer, there's no better time than now.
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Why LoA loves it….
Social entrepreneurs who have a passion to make a difference are real game-changers in Africa, and Thokoza Mjo is one woman entrepreneur on a mission to open up economic opportunities for South Africa’s youth to take control of their own destinies through the power of entrepreneurship. Beyond the Lemonade Stand is poised to be one social entrepreneurship venture putting the country’s youth at the top of the business agenda. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and CEO of Lionesses of Africa