Avo Vision Partnership Helps Launch Two Thriving Businesses

After being unemployed for almost 9 years, Monica Makonxa’s hope of ever being employed again was starting to fade until she received an opportunity to be a Field Coordinator in Gauteng under Avo Vision in partnership with the Social Employment Fund (SEF). Through this partnership and Avo Vision financial literacy and money management training, Monica launched two businesses.

Monica Uses Beauty and Education to Uplift Her Community

Monica launched Zapha, a beauty and wellness brand where she specializes in makeup artistry and massage therapy, helping people feel confident and rejuvenated, and WonderVenture Kids, a business focused on creating enriching experiences for children, through WonderVenture Kids, she organizes exciting trips and educational adventures that allow children to explore, learn, and grow outside of the traditional school classrooms environment.

Turning Passion Into Purpose

Monica says when she joined SEF phase two in August 2023, she also discovered her passion for working with children within the Early Childhood Development sector, something that inspired her to start WonderVenture Kids. “Being part of this programme not only allowed me to earn an income but also taught me valuable skills that I had never explored before. My role as a Field Coordinator helped me realise my strengths in public speaking, leadership, and engaging with people and children - talents I never knew I possessed,” she explains.

Avo Vision Empowers Thousands Under SEF Programme

As part of the SEF programme, one of the Presidential Employment Stimulus programmes that seek to reduce unemployment while addressing key social, environmental and economic challenges in the country, Avo Vision has trained over 2000 participants in phase two and phase three.

Financial Literacy as a Game Changer

Monica says financial training enabled her to find other ways to supplement her income. “Boost Your Income training provided by Avo Vision played a crucial role in reshaping my financial decision-making. I learned how to manage my income wisely, budget effectively, and reinvest in my growth. More importantly, I discovered that success is not always about how much you earn but how you use your opportunities to build something meaningful,” Monica adds. ‘Boost Your Income’ is one of the training modules offered by Avo Vision in person and through online platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom and Microsoft Teams to reach individuals from every corner of the country. The participants are equipped with in-depth financial skills, offering them the opportunity to explore new business prospects and secure their financial future.

Empowering the Next Generation

Avo Vision project assistant, Vuyiseka Zwelibanzi, credits Monica’s success to the successful partnership between Avo Vision and SEF.

“Avo Vision is all about changing people’s lives by making them realise their full potential and tap into entrepreneurship and Monica is a prime example of what the right partnerships can achieve if we come together and give young people opportunities and skills,” she says.

Monica holds a certificate in somatology and previously worked in business marketing, medicine administration and a bank as a teller. As SEF phase three comes to an end in April 2025, Monica says she intends to invest more time in growing her businesses with the intension of hiring unemployed youth people in her community to share with them her newly acquired skills and reduce unemployment.

“I am deeply grateful to Avo Vision and SEF for giving me the opportunity to rediscover my potential, develop new skills, and step into entrepreneurship with confidence. This journey has not only changed my career path but has also strengthened my resilience and set a clear vision for my future,” she concludes.