Newly established digital youth broadcaster, Gugs FM #YeyakhoNawe hosted its inaugural Youth Entrepreneurs Network event at the Ikhwezi Community Hall in Gugulethu on Saturday.
More than 80 business owners from Gugulethu and surrounding areas attended the networking event to showcase their businesses.
Among the keynote speakers were Gugulethu Chess College founder Babalwa Rubusana; Gulwa Arts CEO Lindisipho Gulwa; Successful Journals CEO and Vukani sports reporter Lonwabo Marele; Tau Wines CEO Gail Williams; Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) provincial manager Alex T Qunta; Vodacom business development manager: lending Lesego Mpakanyane and Gugs FM CEO Mandy Ngavu.
The team from the Seda organised a fully-paid trip for local fashion designer, Zomzi Sikwekwe, who will showcase her clothing brand at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda later this month.
The team at Emabothozweni bakeries showed their gratitude for the networking event, saying: “It was our first time embracing such an event and we really felt at home. More work has to be done, all in favour of growing and developing our businesses.”
Meanwhile, Usiba Loluntu got a round of applause for the gap they are bridging in teaching youngsters about computer coding and technology, bringing closer the fourth industrial revolution to townships.
With over eight years of experience working in corporate and marketing, Ms Ngavu founded Gugs FM in October last year.
The digital station is now a high performing, financially sustainable youth broadcaster that provides informative, educational and entertaining content via their mobile app and website. A majority of their employees are previously unemployed youth from Gugulethu.
An emotional Ms Ngavu thanked the community, her team and family for the support shown, but in particular her mentor, Wiseman Nako.
“The Youth Entrepreneurs Network event tackled a number of challenges and related issues for Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) from Gugulethu and surrounding areas,” said Ms Ngavu.
“SMMEs that attended will all get free advertising from Gugs FM. Seda and Vodacom will help the SMMEs with marketing material and funding,” she added.
“The business owners left the event empowered. They have requested we do the event every three months, to network and share information to see where we can grow our businesses,” she said.