The Young African Entrepreneurs Institute (YAEI) and Absa, in partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand are proud to announce the YAEIxAbsa Youth Entrepreneurship Week (YEW) which is set to take place from the 28th to the 30th of November 2024 at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The Youth Entrepreneurship Week is a culmination of a year-long YAEI x Absa Youth Entrepreneurship Programme aimed at developing, supporting, and celebrating young entrepreneurs across South Africa. This annual event, in line with Global Entrepreneurship Week, brings together about 1500 young entrepreneurs for a series of impactful activities and key learnings designed to promote collaboration, growth, and success of entrepreneurs and enterprises.
Risuna Maluleke, the Chief Executive Officer of the Young African Entrepreneurs Institute asserts the commitment of YAEI on developing entrepreneurial programmes:
“The YAEIxAbsa Youth Entrepreneurship Week is more than just an annual event; it is a platform for young entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and showcase their ventures in line with the objectives of the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme. It is a moment for the YAEI community to pause, celebrate and reflect on the efforts jointly put towards developing young entrepreneurs. YAEI remains committed to providing this opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate in building a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Dr Steven Zwane, Absa Group Managing Executive for Corporate Citizenship echoes the sentiments on the initiative, stating the Absa bank’s position:
“Our Corporate Citizenship strategy places Financial Inclusion through Entrepreneurship at the front and centre of our efforts. Our aim is to pathway youth into entrepreneurial action and to transition youth led informal enterprises to formalised businesses. We are particularly focused on creating opportunities for youth to move from an entrepreneurial mindset to intent and, ultimately, to action.”
This commitment aligns with Absa’s broader mission to empower young Africans, providing them with the tools, training, and support needed to thrive in today’s dynamic economy. By cultivating an environment that nurtures entrepreneurial spirit, Absa seeks to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s economic resilience.
The YAEIxAbsa Youth Entrepreneurship Programme recently concluded a successful Youth Entrepreneurship Tour (YET), a nationwide initiative aimed at financial inclusion and harnessing innovation. YET reached more than 1200 young entrepreneurs across all nine provinces.
Currently, 300 entrepreneurs have been selected from the Youth Entrepreneurship Tour to participate in the Youth Entrepreneurship Skills Programme (YESP), which offers eight weeks of masterclasses, mentorship, and business development support. This programme is designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in South Africa’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape.
Youth Entrepreneurship Week: Celebrating Innovation and Growth
The Youth Entrepreneurship Week will feature an array of exciting events and activities designed to inspire and empower young entrepreneurs, including:
Youth Innovation Challenge Finals: 50 innovators from across South Africa will present their ventures to form part of the 2025 Emerging30 Innovators Programme. The Emerging30 Innovators will receive a combination of financial and non-financial support for 12 months.
Youth Enterprise Development Symposium: A space for panel discussions and networking opportunities with representatives from government, corporate, and non-profit organizations who support youth entrepreneurship.
Proudly African Youth Market Festival: A vibrant exhibition of youth-owned businesses, featuring performances by emerging artists. This festival provides an excellent platform for young entrepreneurs to showcase their products to individuals, government, and corporate buyers.
Proudly African Youth Podcast Station Is set to give participants throughout the day to share their YAEIxAbsa YEP journey with interviews with key participants and stakeholders.
Join us in celebrating youth entrepreneurship and paving the way for a prosperous South Africa!
For more information on the YAEIxAbsa Youth Entrepreneurship Week 2024 and how to participate,
please contact:
Name and surname: Zenaye Skosana
Email: zenaye@entrepreneursinstitute.org.za
Phone: 071 338 1399
Website: www.yaeinpc.com
Instagram: @yaeinpc
Twitter: @yaeinpc
Facebook: Young African Entrepreneurs Institute
LinkedIn: Young African Entrepreneurs Institute – YAEI
About YAEI
The Young African Entrepreneurs Institute (YAEI) is a youth lead non-profit company with a mission is to identify and develop high impact entrepreneurial youth and innovative leaders by offering practical skills, organised knowledge and entrepreneurial support which will enable them to add value in the economy.
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