Tiny is a 30-year-old entrepreneur from South Africa who joined the Futuremakers project, supported by the Standard Chartered Foundation, in 2023.
Tiny first learned about the Futuremakers project through the SOS Children’s Villages Family Strengthening Programme. At that time, she had little knowledge of running a business but had a keen interest in hairdressing and a desire to open her own salon.
Through the project, Tiny was trained in entrepreneurship and digital literacy, as well as joining mental health awareness sessions. The entrepreneurship training equipped her with essential skills in business and financial management, customer care, marketing, and problem-solving. She learned how to keep financial records, track income and expenditure, and make informed financial decisions. Tiny also learned how to provide excellent customer service and develop an effective marketing strategy for her business.
With a seed grant provided by Futuremakers, Tiny was able to put her business skills to the test and achieve her dream of opening her own salon. Tiny is known for her ability to work under intense pressure, a quality that has been instrumental in her business’s sustainability and growth.
Thanks to the profits from her business, she can now support her siblings, creating a better future for the whole family. and her financial management skills, honed through the project’s training, have allowed her to save and invest in a piece of land. On this land, she is building a house for herself and her siblings so they can enjoy a stable and permanent family home together.
Tiny is committed to improving her services, expanding her customer base, and supporting her local community. She now hires local young people to work with her, creating the opportunities for others that she didn’t have growing up.,
Despite the challenges of running a business, Tiny’s training in digital literacy and participation in mental health awareness sessions have provided her with crucial support. These programmes have helped her to manage the emotional demands of her responsibilities and stay updated with technological advancements, which are vital in today’s digital world.
Tiny’s journey is a testament to the power of dedicated youth empowerment programmes like Futuremakers. Her story demonstrates that when someone with a dream is provided with the opportunity, education, and skills to realise it, the resulting impact extends far beyond themselves. Tiny’s story continues to inspire and shape the futures of many around her.
