As the country focuses on women this August, it’s worth noting that women have always been at the core of Taking Care of Business (TCB), an award-winning, nationwide enterprise development organisation. Co-founder, Tracey Chambers, says, “We know that families are at the core of our economy and women are at the heart of families. Empowering a woman, especially a mother, to overcome poverty through self-employment means empowering her children and her family out of the cycle of generational poverty too.”
TCB uses self-employment and small businesses as tools to combat poverty and unemployment through three core circular economy programmes: Resell, Repair and Remake. These are holistic two-year programmes where participants are exposed to over 1000 hours of practical training and support, covering modules on money management, business skills, marketing, buying and selling, computer skills, and life skills. They also benefit from coaching, mentorship and a support network of like-minded people to help them confront and deal with personal challenges and traumas.
Chambers, who has won numerous international awards for her role in developing this impactful organisation, says, “We approach the development of each person holistically as we believe that if you are a healthy person, with a healthy mind, running a healthy business, you will be able to take better care of your family. Hence, we delve deep, working with the heart to bring healing and hope; then with the head to reignite the love for learning and growth, fostering self-confidence; and finally with the hands, providing access to real, viable small business opportunities and practical experience.”
Resell, TCB’s flagship and women-only programme uses excess clothing and merchandise donated by South Africa’s leading retailers to help mothers become self-employed as clothing traders. Resell is a practical and experiential programme and participants start their small businesses very soon after joining. On average, participants earn R3,854 in monthly profits through their informal clothing trading businesses, well above their average income before entering the programme. Every year, Resell supports up to 1,000 unemployed mothers across their five branches. On average, participants are between 33 and 44 years old with an average of 4.5 dependants each.
TCB’s Remake programme, using the same principles of head, heart and hands, equips seamstresses to run financially viable micro-manufacturing businesses using donations of fabric, cut samples and haberdashery from supply chain partners. Men were introduced to TCB through the Repair programme started in 2015. Repair equips mostly unemployed South Africans (mostly men) – to run appliance repair and trading businesses using damaged, broken and excess stock donated by retail partners and the public.
TCB’s programmes have changed the lives of thousands of unemployed South Africans, mostly women, who have worked hard to become self-employed, socially and financially independent, confident and contributing members of society. We are proud to share a few of these women’s inspiring stories as we celebrate women this month.
KZN: Pinky Khanie
Showing up for yourself and the legacy you want to leave
Mom of four, Pinky lost her job during the COVID pandemic. Although her husband was working, they were not able to cover expenses. She started selling sandwiches at her old company, but it wasn’t enough. Pinky heard about TCB, applied and was accepted. She worked hard, making her targets every single month. She says, “I’ve never been late or absent. I show up for myself, my kids and the legacy I want to leave!” Pinky now has assistants working for her as her online clothing trading business keeps growing.
Limpopo, now in Gauteng: Makhwinepe Winny Kgatla
A leap of faith to success
Makhwinepe lost her job during COVID, she started trying to sell detergents, but her businesses always failed as she made the mistake of selling on credit. She could not provide for her children and, by the time she found TCB, she had almost lost hope. Then she was accepted at TCB and in the same week her old company offered her job back. Makhwinepe took a leap of faith and joined TCB. She thought she would only learn to buy and sell at TCB, but she learnt so much more. Through counselling and mentoring she was able to deal with the pain of her sister’s passing and her business is thriving. These days you’ll find Makhwinepe working hard selling her clothing online to customers all over the country. She says, “TCB gives us a chance to change our lives for the better and to become better people and our own bosses.”
Cape Town, W.Cape Boniswa Mfundisi
Entrepreneurship knows no age
Boniswa was working as a seamstress doing alterations but she lacked the confidence to sew full garments. She was afraid she would do it wrong because she didn’t have enough equipment. Late into her fifties, she joined TCB’s Remake programme. Initially Boniswa struggled, she kept complaining and not seeing her potential, looking like a chicken. Then things began to change. At Remake Boniswa learnt how to remake garments better and plan for her business and her everyday life. She overcame her fear and learnt financial discipline. “I gained strength on how to become a successful businesswoman,” she says, “I started looking up and being confident in my ability like an eagle. Now I am a single mother than can put food on the table for my children,” she says.
Paarl, W.Cape: Xolelwa Vika
From despair to determination
Xolelwa was depressed and desperate; she was trying to live off her SASSA grant when she heard about TCB. TCB challenged her from the first day and she was surprised when she saw that she could do it. She had potential that she didn’t even know about. As her business grew, the coaching she received helped her deal with her past traumas and grudges, transforming Xolelwa into a loving, sharing and forgiving woman who lives the TCB sister values. “TCB is a big opportunity to make your dreams come true,” she says.
