Sustainable Development Project in Vanderbijlpark: Bophelong

		We are actively engaged in identifying and developing aspirant young entrepreneurs from the community with the goal of setting them up in businesses. Thirty young entrepreneurs in Bophelong have been through our comprehensive programme. The programme involves training in life skills, business skills and technical skills, mentoring and professional assistance to develop business plans. Once viable business plans have been developed we assist the entrepreneurs to access start up capital, start their business and then we provide high level mentoring and business support to ensure the success of their business. Eleven of these previously unemployed youth are now proud business owners.

		The businesses which these 11 entrepreneurs have started and own 100% are a Gym, an Internet Café, a Hair & Beauty Salon, a Clothing Shop and a Restaurant. All of these businesses are running successfully with high level mentoring and support in place. The businesses do not pay rent or interest but are required to pay a portion of their monthly gross profit into a development fund which will be used to maintain and further develop the center and the businesses that run from it. This will ensure that the businesses are not operating in a false economy and that they learn and apply sound business principles to their operations.

		Early in the process it became apparent that there was a complete lack of retail or commercial space from which to run these businesses. To provide premises we secured use of a dowdy Industrial Hive owned by the council and commenced an extensive revamping of the building. We are currently developing additional businesses and increasing the size of the Industrial Hive. The plan is to create a centre that will be iconic, an object of admiration and a source of great pride for the community. The center will ultimately include several thousand square meters of retail space, space for light industrial activity, a soccer field, a basketball pitch, and a skate park. The area will be greened and parks will be created between the above developments. The development itself will be held in trust for the community and all income generated by the project will return directly to the community.

		We are working with a further group of unemployed young people who are at various stages of the training and business development programme. These young people will be the next to start up businesses in Bophelong as we find business opportunities and funding for them to start up.

	The African Dream Trust development programme has become a very sought after programme in Bophelong and we are constantly approached by young people wanting to join. The development is already a major paradigm shift for the business owners and residents of the community. The standard of the facilities and the businesses is high, offering something to the residents that they could previously only access in large malls. By providing this in their own community we are transforming the way individuals in the community, and the community as a whole views itself.

	This is true empowerment, a restoration of pride and dignity, an opportunity to create wealth and build prosperity. Through this we are providing a kick-start to the local economy and starting a burgeoning growth in well run and well supported businesses in the community.

	It also became apparent during this project that there are deeper societal issues which need to be effectively dealt with if we are to succeed in our goal of creating prosperity in the community. At an individual level there is a deeply seated lack of self belief which needs to be changed. We have done some work towards addressing this in our participants by the Outward Bound Course, the consistent mentoring and motivation, and by setting them a compelling vision. Ongoing work will need to be done at this psychological level.

	The project has generated a tremendous amount of interest by the community, politicians and the local council. During construction it became necessary to appoint a community liaison officer to deal with all of the queries and demands for information. Clive Chauke, a long time resident of Bophelong, was appointed in November and he remains a key person in ensuring that members of the community and other interested parties have the correct information about the project and that complaints are dealt with and expectations managed.

	We have established good relationships with councillors, officials, community leaders, community members, and other development agencies. We have built up a lot of credibility and good will with the community, the local council, Government agencies and community leaders as a result of meeting our promises and producing tangible results.