Transforming to a social enterprise

Vanavevhu's transformation from an NGO to a social enterprise.

For the last 7 years I have been an avid supporter of Vanavevhu. Five of those years I have proudly served as a board member of this incredible initiative. After 7 years of teaching and empowering youth in entrepreneurship skills and providing training in vocational candlemaking, market gardening, and beekeeping, Vanavevhu Trust has officially registered our business V2 Enterprises. V2 Enterprises encompass a multi-dimensional youth-led social enterprise that offers youth on-the-job work experience as well as offers access to various business sectors countrywide. Income-generating and investment projects foster participants’ sense of ownership in the community and promote a spirit of entrepreneurship and this is the direction which we want to transform into.  

2017 has provided new and exciting opportunities for our fledgling business:
·      we signed a contract with the Rainbow Tourism Group to plant rooftop organic gardens for their hotels in Victoria Falls and Bulawayo.
·      we became a supplier of kale and cherry tomatoes for Paddy’s Fruit and Veg in Bulawayo with weekly deliveries.
·      we developed a natural organic soap that has been approved by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe for commercial sales and have begun marketing the soap within the hotel industry.
·      we partnered with a local artisan to make a candle in recycled glass to create an eco-friendly product for the tourism sector.
·      we received our company registration and V.A.T certificate enabling us to trade.

We are already starting to see numerous opportunities within the Tourism sector for our products and services. As the industry continues to grow and thrive many operators within are placing greater value in working with social enterprises as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

 We are asking you to help us raise GB£10 000 to help keep the momentum going and to see us close the year on a positive note. This money will be used as capital to fund sourcing of materials for the enterprise and supporting the youth in the programme to participate in this pivotal phase of Vanavevhu's transition. As such securing this amount of investment will support our 4th Quarter efforts for 2017 and give us a solid foundation for 2018.

Zimbabwe is in a economic rut and a liquidity crisis has also worsened the situation as we are now dependent on foreign currency. Many of our inputs are imported from South Africa which increases the need for a cushion in our operating costs. A capital injection would definitely see the business enterprise grow to its full potential, and catalyse the process and bring into fruition the aspirations of the youth at V2 Enterprises.

The Youth of Vanavevhu have worked hard and would appreciate your help. Statistics show that youth unemployment in Africa is on the rise, with a total of 11 million youth entering the workforce every year.

Your help will ensure that these brilliant young minds will continue to grow their business and secure their livelihoods. Every single penny you share will be withdrawn and sent directly to Vanavevhu in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Feel free to checkout our website to learn more about the work we have been supporting.

www.vanavevhu.org