Rosettenville Library in the City’s southern suburbs (Region F) has established an entrepreneurship awareness programme targeted at providing emerging businesses with essential knowledge and resources to promote their growth and success. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, Community Development’s Library and Information Services (LIS) has been working hard to create a robust start-up environment for aspiring entrepreneurs.

“We continue to visit small businesses such as internet cafes, spaza shops, and salons as part of our business awareness programme.

This is an initiative that we started last year when we couldn’t have contact programmes due to Covid-19, we took it upon ourselves to visit businesses in and around Rosettenville,” said Radinku Lekoloane, a librarian at the Rosettenville Library.

Without a doubt, unemployment is an economic hindrance, hampering societal growth.

Creating opportunities and spreading entrepreneurship knowledge are two of the most effective ways of tackling this issue.

That’s why the City strives to give young people with business potential a platform to transform not only their lives but those of their communities.

“During our visits, we share information with business owners about how to register their businesses with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and the importance of having their businesses registered, as well as how to use social media for marketing,” Lekoloane added.

Entrepreneurship is a solution to the growing problem of unemployment since it creates the opportunity for innovative ideas, businesses, partnerships, and so on.

In today’s economy, entrepreneurship is more crucial than ever for driving the country’s economic growth.

“Being a small business owner, or even starting one right now may be difficult,” said one of the entrepreneurs.

Starting a business is only one aspect of entrepreneurship, another is revitalising a community.

“Entrepreneurship will never be easy, but those who love it and believe in it will always do well, and with the help of Rosettenville Library, I now have more business knowledge and can play a role in strengthening our economy, creating a vibrant neighbourhood, and keeping our community connected through my business, for which I am immensely thankful,” she added.

When business owners invest in their community, they help grow the local economy and create jobs.

This sense of pride may contribute to the revitalization of the community by attracting new businesses and residents.

A new business can also help revitalise a community and stimulate the local economy.

“One of the most important things we’re doing is helping these businesses add their locations to Google Maps using only a smartphone and an internet connection, which business owners can also access at Rosettenville Library.

Because people rely on the internet for almost everything, it’s also important for businesses to work on their digital footprint and be Googleable.”

Lekoloane said entrepreneurs the local library had reached so far have been overjoyed with the service offering.

“They’re ecstatic that we’re providing these services for free and that they’ll be able to save money to reinvest in their businesses.

We believe that every business, no matter how small, has the potential to become great if exposed to the right resources,” Lekoloane said.

Written by Ntombifuthi Junerose Nkosi

24/11/2022