The economic hardship of a rural community blighted by unemployment is being addressed by one woman who has recognised the potential of entrepreneurship and empowerment to genuinely change the lives of ordinary people. Mbeksi Maziko (48) is a woman that wanted to change both her own personal life and that of her fellow women in a small rural area in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, through a small business idea that had the potential to grow.
Mbeksi was previously the credit manager for a furniture group for 12 years. Despite having a responsible job that provided a set income, Mbeksi longed to use her talent in sewing to start her own business. In 1996, she enrolled on a Sewing Training Course at the Cicira College in the Eastern Cape and obtained a certificate. In 2000 she started to train women in Mqanduli in sewing and beading, but later decided to venture into the rural areas, where unemployment was severe. Over the last the eight years, she has trained 14 women, all who are now empowered to work for themselves by creating beading and sewing products for tourists and local passers by in the area.
Mbeksi has also received support from the Department of Arts and Culture, who sponsored sewing machines for her venture, Mbeksi's Creation Project. In a container next to the road, with Mbeksi behind the sewing machine and her employees applying their beading skills, the women create traditional Xhosa garments that are sold to local and foreign tourists.
Mbeksi comments on the success of her business initiative:
"I want to train more women to start their own businesses. Mbeksi's Creation Project also needs more marketing to sustain it. Eventually we do not only want to sell the products on display, but want to work on order. Although we're positioned on a busy road, there aren't many tourists who stop here".
The four women who work for Mbeksi are grateful for the opportunity she has provided them and say they've all obtained an important skill and knowledge. Previously they were unemployed and had no means of income.
Lindi Toyi, head of the IDC's Public Private Partnership SBU, provided some much needed hope for Mbeksi and her team when she visited them in October. Accompanied by Tebogo Molefe, Corporate Social Investment Manager, they set out to determine the Mbeksi's Creation Project's most urgent needs. Lindi has been chosen as the champion of the IDC's Women's Legacy Project. Executives at the IDC choose a woman employee annually to be the champion of a Corporate Social Investment Project of their choice. Lindi, who grew up in Mthatha and is familiar with the hardship of the region, chose Mbeksi's Creation Project.
The support from the IDC will be determined by Lindi and will be such that it is reachable within 12 months. "It is important to look at those needs that can be met within a short turnaround time, but with a big impact on the success of the business," Lindi says.
The Project is creating other entrepreneurial spin-offs for the community. In the corner of the container from which Mbeksi's Creation Project is run, is a two point plug which provides a source of electricity for local residents needing to charge their cellphones in an area which has no mains power supply. Villagers are charged a nominal amount for the much needed service. Without Mbeksi, people would not have the opportunity to stay in touch with the outside world by means of telecommunication! In the opposite corner is a small dressing table from which a hair salon is also run - by appointment only.
Lindi comments:
"It is wonderful to see how someone creates something from nothing. These women lead a humble existence, yet there is so much we can learn from them".
