Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP)
The Student Women Economic Empowerment Project (SWEEP) is a project, which serves a special purpose aimed at equipping student women for entrepreneurial activity in the context of gender-based violence and the under-representation of student women in entrepreneurship.
The Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP) is a network that empowers and educates young women in South Africa on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career development. Their mission is to promote economic empowerment for young women and create opportunities for them to achieve their full potential.
The SWEEP Constitution outlines the network’s structure, objectives, and guidelines for operation. NMU (Nelson Mandela University) has taken steps to establish the first Student Chapter and is working towards implementing SWEEP’s initiatives on their campus.
SWEEP has developed a care package and playbook to guide students on how to become financially literate, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, and succeed in their careers. The materials are currently being finalised and will be ready for circulation soon.
To protect the brand and ensure consistency, SWEEP has established rules and guidelines for the use of their logos, in collaboration with EDHE (Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education). Additionally, they have outlined the steps and process for establishing a chapter at other universities through the SWEEP Franchise.
Currently, there are existing SWEEP Student Chapters, and joining the network offers several benefits, including access to resources and training, networking opportunities, and the chance to enhance financial literacy and career development. Members are expected to commit to promoting economic empowerment for young women and actively participate in SWEEP’s initiatives.
SWEEP is looking to partner with various organisations and coordinators to promote their mission and expand their network. The information session includes a Q&A segment for participants to ask questions and learn more about SWEEP and its initiatives.
The session concludes with the announcement of the SWEEP Calendar for 2023 and an overview of the EDHE’s student-focused initiatives.
- To develop an awareness of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activity as a means of economic participation amongst university student women and women in business and the workplace;
- To equip student women with transferable and practical skills and opportunities; and
- To provide opportunities for the development of expertise and thought leadership in terms of women in entrepreneurship.
Voices Unite compiled a brief research report from an entrepreneurship survey carried out to assist with a starting point for the SWEEP Programme. The full report includes 300 pages of research findings on the views of the youth in South Africa, covering topics such as education, employment, entrepreneurship, and the future world of work.
IOA’s research publication – “ChatGPT in South Africa – Is the AI chatbot changing how we work and play?”
Events
SWEEP Student Chapter Executives Workshop: A vehicle for Social Justice.
We are excited to present a 3 day workshop designed to empower young women in higher education, and to get them to be able to participate in the economy while being part of a #sisterhood.
Taking place from 19 – 21 July 2023 at a venue to be disclosed to those who have registered their student chapters, this workshop will offer a unique opportunity for some of the national SWEEP university chapter executives to be well equipped to effectively establish and run their chapters in alignment with the SWEEP programme goals of economic activation and participation, addressing barriers to entrepreneurship and combating gender based violence.
By imparting essential skills, resources and knowledge, the workshop will empower the chapter leaders to implement SWEEP initiative at their respective universities.
Format of the workshop
As an organisation, we understand that in-person events provide valuable opportunities for networking, learning, and engagement, moreover as this is a training workshop, we have decided to make this workshop an in-person participation.
Project Lead
Ms. Frances Zowa
Queries and bookings
- Ms Florence Mohale
26 April 2023
13:00 pm – 15:00pm
Virtually on Zoom
The SWEEP Constitution
To the SWEEP Community,
We are pleased to introduce the SWEEP Constitution Draft, a foundational document designed to guide each SWEEP Chapter in creating a constitution tailored to your specific university’s society processes and procedures.
The SWEEP Constitution Draft serves as a flexible framework, offering guidelines and principles that chapters can adapt to their unique needs. It is not a one-size-fits-all document; rather, it is a resource intended to assist you in crafting a constitution that aligns with your university’s culture, regulations, and the specific goals of your SWEEP Chapter.
This draft document outlines the essential elements to consider when creating your chapter’s constitution. It covers areas such as the chapter’s mission, objectives, leadership structure, membership requirements, and decision-making processes. It is our hope that by providing this framework, we can streamline the process of constitution drafting and help you focus on the core mission of empowering female students within your university.
Remember that the SWEEP Constitution Draft is a starting point and a source of inspiration. Feel free to adapt, modify, and expand upon the content to ensure that it best suits your chapter’s unique needs and aspirations. We encourage you to engage with your chapter members, incorporate their ideas, and create a constitution that empowers you to realize your shared vision of promoting women’s economic empowerment.
Thank you for your commitment to the SWEEP program, and we look forward to seeing the incredible impact your unique SWEEP Chapter will make on your campus and in the lives of female students.
Friends of SWEEP
MEET OUR MENTORS
Dr Christa Bonnet
Founder and Senior Managing Partner
The Difference Makers
Dr Christa Bonnet
Designation: Founder and Senior Managing Partner
Organization: The Difference Makers
Dr. Christa M. Bonnet is the founder and Senior Managing Partner of The Difference Makers. Christa’s career boasts business experience that spans more than 20 years across various industries. Christa’s time at the South African Diversity Council (SASDC) as acting CEO in 2011 and consulting work with other corporates gave her a deep understanding of Enterprise and Supplier Development, Targeted Procurement, Skills Development and Social Economic Development. Christa is a Facilitator on Best Practice Solutions for Enterprise and Supplier
Development (ESD) at the annual Conferences held by Smart Procurement. She has been the preferred service provider on Enterprise and Supplier Development and Preferential Procurement for Commerce Edge for the past four years. She is also the first to offer a Workshop in 2021 to Western Cape Government on Ethical Intelligence: Anti-Corruption Measures against Procurement.
Christa has extensive knowledge on the measurement of social impact, social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship, leadership development, curriculum design, and group dynamics. Christa trained in Australia as a
Social-Return-on-Investment Practitioner (SROI), with SAICA as a G.R.I. Certified Practitioner in Integrated Reporting and Sustainability, at All-About Learning as a Certified 4MAT Methodology Practitioner (U.S.A) and
is an S.Q. (Spiritual Intelligence) and Quantum Leadership Master Trainer (UK). Christa is also a certified Level Enneagram Practitioner, Team Facilitator and Skills Professional. She is a registered H.R. Professional in two categories with the SABPP (Mentoring and Coaching and Learning and Development) and is the national Chair of the SABPP Citizens Committee. Christa a part-time faculty and moderator for the I.M.M. (Institute of Marketing Management) for Applied Marketing. She holds other qualifications such as a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of
Commerce (Honours) in Accounting, a Master of Commerce in Financial Management (MCom); a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.); and is a Master N.L.P. (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Practitioner and Coach. Christa graduated in 2020 with her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at Regent University in Virginia Beach (U.S.A). She has been a full-time consultant on 21st Century Program Design and Development for Leaders (on various programs) for Wits Business School (Executive Education) in 2015 and S.A. Business School in 2016 as a consultant for a 5-month leadership development project for Total S.A. She was instrumental in the design and delivery of the Women Leadership Academy for the GIZ in 2018/9 held in Dakar (Senegal), Bonn (Germany) and South Africa. Christa has completed her a MDP for B-BBEE at Unisa in September 2021. Christa is currently enrolled or her Doctorate in Ministry at North-eastern Seminary (Rochester, New York) and for her final
two modules towards her ICF ACC accreditation.
Elona Hlatshwayo
Legacy Strategist
Bizpreneur
Elona Hlatshwayo
Designation: Legacy Strategist
Organisation: Bizpreneur
PhD Candidate(Wits), MSc International Business Management (University of Liverpool),AdvDip in Life, Business & Executive
Coaching – LECI (Ireland)
Elona Hlatshwayo is an expert at identifying and developing potential in individuals. As an Executive coach, Elona equips and empowers her clients to develop personalised strategies to drive their career and business growth. She believes in purpose, planning and legacy building and she actively supports business leaders, executives, and professionals to achieve their goals and grow their legacy. She is a lead lecturer Wits Business School in the master’s in management (Business and Executive Coaching Program) She is a Master Coach (ABCCCP) and Registered Coach (COMENSA) where she sits on the board of directors as the chairperson for the Research Portfolio Committee. She is also a member of the board of directors for Dinaledi Educational Coaching.
Elona is currently a PhD Candidate at Wits Business School (WBS), with a focus on Business Coaching and Entrepreneurship. She holds a Master’s degree in International Business Management from Liverpool University (UK), and she has an Advanced Diploma in Life, Executive and Business coaching. Elona’s qualifications are paired with over 15 years of developing and supporting business executives, senior managers and entrepreneurs across all business sectors in Africa, the UK, Ireland, Canada & the USA. In South Africa, she has coached leaders from various organisations including ABSA, FNB, Engen, AGSA, Prodigy Finance, Dept of Health, GEMS, PWC, Western Cape Government, The Foschini Group, Get Smarter and Wits Business School, UNISA, University of Johannesburg and TUT.
Company website: BizPreneur | Home
Kgaladi Thema Sethoga
Founder
Indiza Foods
Kgaladi Thema Sethoga
Designation: Founder
Organization: Indiza Foods
Founder of House of Indiza. A brand rooted in indigenous knowledge of South Africa. Kgaladi Thema is a philanthropist, author, social entrepreneur, and classifies herself as a woke African who’s conscious about Africa, her indigenous knowledge and her people.
Kgaladi registered her first business at the age of 23 and never looked back since then. She draws most of her inspiration from her creative childhood, where her abilities to create and innovate were first spotted by her peers, and later on nourished by her education. She holds several degrees, including both science and business. She worked at the CSIR for many years in the science field. She is passionate about community engagement, and entrepreneurship particularly with rural women. Identifying herself as a rural entrepreneur, Kgaladi took more than just the occupancy of a continent as her identity, she borrows most of her ideologies of normal day to day life, business and wellness from Africa and its indigenous ways of healing. She travels extensively across Southern Africa and relishes the country’s rich and diverse heritage. Some bespoke highlights include:
Awards:
Currently, Brand Ambassador for the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA)
Kgaladi has received three awards:
• Brand Champion for SEDA
• SEDA Brand Star: Brand Ambassador
• CSIR Strategic Initiatives Implementation Group: Excellency Award
Events
Every year Kgaladi is the convenor of the Indigenous Foods of Africa Festival in partnership with the and the Department of Arts and Culture.
Books – She is an author of three books
• Namely “A Culinary Journey of South African Indigenous Foods”, “Indigenous Foods od SA” and Epicurean Archive of South African foods” The books are a collection of recipes of Indigenous Foods, prepared by generations of women and South African Indigenous Foods: A Collection of Recipes of Indigenous Foods, Prepared by Generations of Women of the Region. These books are her contribution to the preserving and sharing this heritage, and a platform to showcase the skills of rural women.
Kgaladi wears many hats as well, outside of being an entrepreneur, and SEDA Ambassador, she is a mother, wife and a proud villager from Limpopo – Uitkyk No 3.
Company Website: House of Indiza – Indigenous Herbal Teas from South Africa (indizatea.com)
Lize Moldenhauer
Managing Director
Omni HR Consulting
Lize Moldenhauer
Designation: Managing Director
Organization: Omni HR Consulting
Lize is at the helm of Omni, having formed the company with founding members in 2009; the organisation continues to grow under her entrepreneurial leadership
With more than two decades working in the Learning and Development landscape with a specific focus on occupational and workplace learning, Lize heads up a both Omni HR Consulting and Omni Academy for ETD in her capacity as Managing Director and fulfills the role of trustee in The Women and Youth Empowerment Trust, which she joined in 2018.
Part of many industry bodies, Lize plays an active role in contributing to forums and is an advocate for public-private partnerships which she believes are the conduit to grow and improve education in the broader context of South Africa and particularly unemployed youth.
A passionate leader, Lize lives by the motto: Learn from the past, Live in the present and Pay attention to the future.
Website: www.omnihrc.com
Marieke Hinrichs
Entrepreneurial Mind, Design Thinking
Expert and Impact Investor
Kamvalethu Consulting
Marieke Hinrichs
Designation: Entrepreneurial Mind, Design Thinking Expert and Impact Investor
Organization: Kamvalethu Consulting
I have a passion for people, storytelling, and multicultural exchange. Known for my enthusiasm to empower others to reach their full professional and personal potential with confidence and dignity, I enjoy utilising digital tools, creating learning journeys, and developing start-up ecosystems.
One of my career highlights is when I worked for the Lesotho National Commission for UNESCO in Maseru alongside the Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). During this time, I held several pitching workshops and organised an Entrepreneurship Summer School called InterACTION with five universities in four countries that created mentorship and networking opportunities for more than 400 young entrepreneurs.
My academic background in International Management, Social Science, and Economic Education has given me the confidence to speak in front of large audiences, share insightful knowledge, and conduct qualitative and quantitative research studies. Thanks to my positive philanthropic nature, drive, and commitment; my clients and co-workers receive high-quality services from my extensive experience in the areas of business development, financial empowerment, and digital education.
My specialisation in Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management and having worked in this field for more than five years intrigued me to start my own business Kamvalethu Consulting in 2017 so as to share my entrepreneurial energy with others.
Company website: Kamvalethu Consulting – Design Thinking in South Africa (kamvalethu-consulting.com)
Ms Mbali Bhengu
Chief Executive Officer
Mind Switch
Ms Mbali Bhengu
Designation: Chief Executive Officer
Organization: Mind Switch
Mbali Bhengu is an esteemed serial entrepreneur, Marketer and Author. She has a business called Mind Switch – A creative design thinking and people development agency specialising in coachings, brand conceptualisation and corporate and SME development.
She began her early career steps at prominent retail banks in South Africa in numerous roles and she was introduced to marketing during this time. In 2016, she leaped into her entrepreneurial career and opened her marketing consultancy called MindSwitch where she went to serve well recognised clients such as Durban Tourism, Ethekwini Municipality, Regent School of Business and government stakeholders for marketing consultations, below the line promotional campaigns and training and development initiatives.
During this time, she graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the Graduate School of Business and Leadership at the University of Kwazulu – Natal. In 2017, She was nominated as a SAB kickstart Top 9 National Finalist in Business where she received top mentorship from industry experts and in 2018 she was awarded the KwaZulu Natal Young Achiever Award in Business. Recently, she was shortlisted as a Top 26 Standard Bank Business Award Finalist 2021.
Mbali has trained more than 400 entrepreneurs during her consultancy career in rural, township and urban settings and has been a key note speaker for numerous business and thought leadership seminars in the country. She has appeared on numerous publications as well as spoken on radio platforms on entrepreneurship and personal branding insights for entrepreneurs. She has also trained corporate departments on leadership and inter departmental collaboration. Mbali is also an author having written her first book for entrepreneurs called, SELF – ISH: Mastering self in a selfish business world – a book that details the hidden truths and controversies surrounding business for start ups.
Ms Chimene Chetty
Consultant
Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education
Ms Chimene Chetty
Designation: Consultant
Organization: Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education
Chimene Chetty has been an independent consultant for the last three years during which time she has worked on, among other projects, with the African Union to advise member states on youth entrepreneurship development policy and with their Algerian Pan African University designing entrepreneurship curriculum and supporting the development of their entrepreneurial hub. More recently she was the researcher who led the South African portion on EDHE’s project with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on Advancing Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa. In addition to entrepreneurship, she also recently led the immersion phase of the pilot of a diversity management framework to build social cohesion in 12 schools in Gauteng.
Her last full-time job was the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship at the Wits Business School (WBS). She joined the WBS after 20 years in the NGO and socio-economic development sector where she specialized in the design, development and implementation of programmes in various fields. Her experience in entrepreneurship started through social entrepreneurship, since 2004, during her time as Regional Director of Ashoka Southern Africa, a global NGO.
Chimene’s work is informed by the belief that entrepreneurship is a method and mindset which is a critical skill for a 21st century global economy. Her work focuses on the development of entrepreneurial skills which contribute to the innovative business, solutions generation, and competitive and agile organizational cultures which are able to thrive in a VUCA context.
Chimene is an entrepreneur in her own right and an entrepreneurial practitioner who has worked extensively with other entrepreneurs which offer her a 360-degree understanding of the sector. Added to this are her personal insights and experience of being a female African entrepreneur. She is committed to developing strong, successful, sustainable and responsible entrepreneurs and businesses based on African inclusive growth and a shared value approach. She is actively involved in supporting the personal development of others as she believes that having the tools and understanding for optimal self-actualization is critical to personal growth, success and successful entrepreneurship.
Chimene has founded various small businesses, social initiatives and is on several committees, boards and working groups. She views entrepreneurship as a critical lever in delivering on the socio-economic rights and economic freedom of citizens.
The spiritual tenant that informs her life is that she is a soul having a human experience. She has two young adult children and identifies herself as an African womanist, mother, and change maker dedicated to the development of community, country and continent.
Zazi Makapela
Founder
RareRabbit Consulting
Zazi Makapela
Designation: Founder
Organization: RareRabbit Consulting
Entrepreneurs need guidance at some point in their business to become successful. We provide the entrepreneurship roadmap through various tailored solutions to help you grow your business and be profitable.
As a business owner, growing your business can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences. Feeling extreme pressure to deliver results is taxing on any person. That’s not why you started this journey, and you shouldn’t have to suffer alone.
Our passion for growing your business stems from having a growth mindset,just like you. We’ve seen the many hurdles business owners have had to overcome when aiming to grow their businesses. Over the years, we’ve learned a thing or two about how to overcome those obstacles and move back into a positive growth space.
The Solution
We offer focused business growth solutions that model your business to the next thriving level.
Effective Advice : Learn techniques to run your businesses better
Lasting Growth: Optimise your operations to increase efficiency and growth
More ‘You’ Time: Implement management systems that free up your time
Contact us
Tel: +27 10 492 6565
Email: info@rarerabbitconsulting.co.za
Website: www.rarerabbitconsulting.co.za
Physical address: Unit 1.03A, Regus Centre, First Floor, Dainfern Square
Instagram: RareRabbitConsulting
Twitter: RareRabbitC
LinkedIn: RareRabbit Consulting
Speaker Presentations
Click on the title of the presentation to view it in pdf
SWEEP – Profit and Impact
Ms. Ntsiki Mkhize
SWEEP – Positioning Yourself as a Professional in the Workplace
Dr. Norah Clarke
Unconscious Bias – SWEEP
Mr. Lance Moodley
Effective Communication Strategies for Leaders
Ms. Buhle Mundell
SWEEP – a Vehicle for Social Change and Impact
Dr. Norah Clarke
How to Start your SWEEP Student Chapter
Ms. Karen Snyman
SWEEP Leadership
Prof. Anne Mc Lennan
SWEEP Leadership Session
Ms. Ellen Fischat
SWEEP 2023 Gallery
SWEEP Chapter Executives Workshop
SWEEP 2022 Gallery Highlights
