“What do you want to be one day?” This question can be extremely overwhelming for many Matric students who haven’t quite figured out what they want to do when they leave high school. How many students are able to confidently answer that question with their 5-year plan? “Do you want to run your own business one day?” Some students are exceptionally excited about the prospect of running their own business and being their own boss, however, others are very hesitant and would rather not take on that daunting task.
South Africa has a record-high unemployment rate of 36.7% of the labour force (Statistics South Africa, Quarterly Labour Force Survey 2013) and 6 million unemployed graduates. These graduates have completed their degrees and can’t find employment. The reality nowadays is that no one is guaranteed a job.
Raizcorp, a business built solely on entrepreneurship principles, wants to change this problem into a solution. They want to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice and get the youth excited about being entrepreneurs, opening their own businesses, creating more jobs, and building South Africa’s economy. Raizcorp developed the BizCamp Programme to help equip the youth with the knowledge and skills they need to become entrepreneurs and solve South Africa’s problems. The programme aims to acquaint high school students with the realities and opportunities of starting their own business, while also building an understanding of how entrepreneurial thinking can be applied to everyday life.
The Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg was the first school to take part in Raizcorp’s BizCamp Programme. A school motivated by the success of their students, the Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg jumped at the opportunity to provide their students with a real-world experience that would be the stepping stone they need to excel in life after high school. Eighteen Grade 12 Business Studies students from the school were selected to join the programme. On 5 May, they attended the first BizCamp Workshop where they spent the day at Raizcorp learning about the importance and relevance of entrepreneurship, as well how to act entrepreneurially in everything they do. The workshop taught them the fundamentals of business thinking, how to pitch ideas to potential investors, and what the critical success factors of a successful entrepreneur are.
BizCamp left the students buzzing with enthusiasm and excitement at the thought of becoming entrepreneurs one day. On 30 May, they gave 4 presentations to the rest of the school about what they had learnt at BizCamp. They promoted entrepreneurship as a career choice by encouraging the other students to become doers and open their own businesses. They encouraged the students to change an “I wish” to an “I will” and showed them that becoming successful entrepreneurs at a young age is possible. They emphasised that entrepreneurs are resilient, driven and motivated. They pick themselves up after failing and they solve the world’s problems.
The last group ended off the presentations by telling the students that with drive, bravery and courage, they too can become South Africa’s, and the world’s, future entrepreneurs. Raizcorp awarded each student with a certificate of completion and thanked them for their dedication to want to learn more.
These 18 students have learnt valuable lessons about entrepreneurial thinking and taking advantage of opportunities. They have the potential to one day become the next Patrice Motsepe or Mark Shuttleworth.
Raizcorp – BizCamp – DSJ – 30 May 2014
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