| business & FINANCE
A mentorship programme to capacitate KwaZulu-Natal rural and to wnship women with business skills to realise their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs and enjoying a better quality of life has been made possible. Spearheaded by Ithala Development Finance Corporation, the mentorship programme is designed to help micro-level SMMEs grow and sustain their businesses. The initiative forms part of phase three of Ithala's Imbokodo Iyazenzela programme which is a pillar of support to women entrepreneurs in KZN who require access to finance and the resources to grow. Imbokodo Iyazenzela was launched in 2015 and has reached over 3000 women in 16 towns across KZN to date.
MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME Gears Rural Women For Business Success
56 | Aug-Sept ‘17 | www.beadsmag.co.za
The top 20 finalists from the 2017 programme are undergoing mentorship and coaching with Cutting Edge Business Solutions on a formal and regular basis to help them improve their businesses and make them sustainable. The mentors' role is to help maximise the business revenues of mentees by providing them with effective marketing ideas and fi n a n c i a l l i t e r a cy l e s s o n s , improving their administrative skills and helping them to be compliant with the legal requirements for running a business. During a two-day business skills development workshop hosted by Ithala earlier this year, mentors
