In 2025, Lusa Community Chest presented the “Give Yourself a Job” entrepreneurship programme to 36 students at the Topsy Foundation in Grootvlei. The initiative aimed to equip young people with practical entrepreneurial skills while encouraging them to think creatively about building their own opportunities for the future.
As part of the programme, students were challenged to develop and submit their own business plans. This exercise required them to think through real-world aspects of starting a business, including identifying a need, creating a product or service, planning finances, and outlining how their business would operate and grow.
After the business plans were submitted, an evaluation process reviewed each idea based on innovation, feasibility, planning and potential impact. From the 36 submissions, two outstanding business plans were selected as the top entries.
To help these young entrepreneurs take their first steps toward turning their ideas into reality, the two winning students received financial support. The first-place student received R20 000, while the second-place student received R10 000.
These prize funds were generously sponsored by Tolcon Group and Lusa Community Chest, demonstrating their shared commitment to youth development and entrepreneurship.
Programmes such as “Give Yourself a Job” play an important role in empowering young people. Instead of waiting for employment opportunities, students are encouraged to create opportunities for themselves, develop confidence in their abilities, and learn the discipline required to build something of their own.
Through initiatives like this, Lusa and its partners continue investing in skills, innovation and the future of South Africa’s youth, helping young minds move from ideas to action and from dreams to real possibilities.
