Jozi My Beginning goes to city regions

13 May 2016

 

Entrepreneurs, micro business owners and start-ups across Johannesburg are in a race against time to get their creative juices flowing as the closing date for entries for the second season of the R50-million Jozi My Beginning Community Innovation Fund, draws nearer.

 

The fund, an offshoot of Jozi@Work, a R3-billion mass empowerment and job-creation programme initiated by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau, calls on Johannesburg residents to come up with creative ideas that could change their lives as well as communities around them. These could be in the areas of micro manufacturing, agriculture, recycling, education and skills development.

The closing date for the entries is May 27.

Several meetings to brief entrepreneurs about the fund have been held throughout the city, including three this week – two in Region E and one in Region G.

“I’ve been having this brilliant idea in my mind for a long time. Only I did not know how to bring it to the fore,” said Patrick Maluleke, 24, of Alexandra after attending a briefing session at San Nkopano Community Centre in Alexandra on Tuesday May 10.

There was a lot of excitement around the centre as people arrived from various parts of Region E to listen to the presentations by consultants from service provider Resolution Circle. Maluleke said he was glad that the Jozi My Beginning Community Innovation Fund would give him the platform to showcase his idea.

“I can’t tell you about it now until I have patented it and entered the competition. Watch this space,” Maluleke said excitedly.

More than 2 300 applications were received in the first season of the programme. These were whittled down to 161 and later to 65, from which 17 entrepreneurs were selected for extensive training and development.

More information-sharing sessions will be held throughout the city in the next few days to get as many people on board as possible.