Empowering Youth: Help Us Build the Work&Shop!
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Dear Family, Friends, Supporters, and Africa-lovers,
I am writing to share news about a plan that my team and I have been wholeheartedly dedicated to for the past several months;
To build a - 295 square meter - Work&Shop Creative Center for young entrepreneurs in Mwanza (Tanzania)!
After almost 10 years of my life living and working with the African community it feels right to take our knowledge and experience to a next level and further empower the lives of dedicated young people in Mwanza city. It has become my home and my future is here.
The full proposal can be found in the latest blog post on my personal website: www.beentjesintanzania.com
IN SUMMARY:
Our mission
The Work&Shop Creative Center (here after called Work&Shop) will be an innovative, community-driven workspace to empower young and skilled craftsmen and women in Mwanza to create a sustainable source of income for themselves.
We target young adults between the age of 18 and 26 years old whom are traditionally expected to become financially independent.
Why?
There are so many training centers in Mwanza, but after they finish their course many do not have a place to work nor the financial means to start a personal business. With the realization of the Work&Shop we aim to bridge this gap!
What the center will offer:
This Work&Shop aims to create a supportive space where they can:
1. Rent tools and machinery: Access to a range of tools and machines suitable for carpentry and sewing, ensuring the youth have the resources they need to bring their creative ideas to life. At a later stage, we have plans to include other work as well (welding, shoemaking, depending on the market!). Most of it we already have as it is donated to us by a Dutch foundation called Gered Gereedschap.
2. Sell their product through a shop space: Gain access to a shop space where they can showcase and sell their crafted products, enabling them to become young entrepreneurs.
3. Receive life skills training: Learn comprehensive life skills, covering topics such as health, relationships, and entrepreneurship, equipping them with essential knowledge for personal and professional growth.
On a daily basis we aim to provide a workplace to 20 up to 40 entrepreneurs - monthly 480 to 960 people!
The social enterprise approach:
The Work&Shop will be a Social Enterprise initiative with the core principle of sustainability:
Income will be generated from 1) renting machines and tools 2) commission based sales through the shop and online 3) sell of working materials (for example wood, fabrics, glue, etc.) to entrepreneurs and external customers 4) contract work for schools (e.g. uniforms), offices (furniture ), and other clients.
Expenditures are on 1) salaries of 4 staff members (workshop manager, sales&finance officer, a mechanic, and security personal) 2) maintenance of tools and machinery 3) government taxes and licenses and 4) water and electricity expenditures.
Any profits generated will be reinvested into
1) purchasing new tools and machinery and 2) financially supporting the entrepreneurs for (extended) practical training courses or pursue personal goals.
If we are very successful - we will open a new branch in another district (never stop dreaming!)
The implementation team
The realization of the Work&Shop will be a huge team effort of five people, each with their personal attributes; Susanne, Laurent, Elizabeth, Ester, and Gilbert.
Check out my website to know their personal motivations!
The floor plan:
The Work&Shop will be a 14 x 22 meter workspace consisting of:
- a workplace with at least 10 sewing machines; this place will function too as a classroom for the Life Skill trainings.
- a workplace for carpentry suitable for at least 10 workers;
- a large shop space with a cash point / office;
- a shop from where workers and external customers can buy their materials;
- two store-rooms;
- a separate entrance for workers versus customers;
- a gate to enter large furniture / products;
- a shared toilet;
- a separate bathroom for the carpentry workers;
- private lockers to store materials and belongings.
How it will look like:
For more pictures check out the full proposal document on my website:
Requested funds:
To reach our goal, we have set a fundraising amount of:
Euro 95,912.- (Tanzanian shilling 260,385,000/= )
Breakdown:
Building and finishing 61,315.- Euro
Land (Ilemela district) 29,500.- Euro
Registration costs 1,472.- Euro
Transport of materials 1,105.- Euro
Staff training 2,520.- Euro
Planning:
Fundraising: from Dec 2023 onwards
Buy land & registration: as soon as we reach 50%
Start building: as soon as we reach 80%
Grand opening: year 2025 !
Join us!
We would like to express our heartfelt expression to you for taking the time to learn about our plan. Your interest and support means the world to us.
Let’s make this happen together!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DONATION!
[All donations will be send to the account of the Bresillac Foundation who has an ANBI status]
Other ways you can help:
- share this call with your network on social media;
- become an 'ambassador' and help promote our plan (e.g. a 'Do Good Campaign') among groups that have an affinity with our mission, for example: vocational training centers, technical schools, hardware stores, furniture stores and hobby/sewing shops and clubs;
- involve your company/school/church and start a (Christmas/New Year) sponsorship campaign;
- invite us for an (online) Meet&Greet to promote our plan to you and your team;
- help us find potential donors to whom we can send our proposal.
Organizer
Susanne Beentjes
Organizer
Purmerend
