Avo Solutions
In 2024, South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis reached a staggering 45.5% among individuals aged 15-34. For many young South Africans, finding stable employment seemed like an unattainable dream. One such individual was Kopano Mpya, a 29-year-old graduate from Ga-Kibi in Bochum, Limpopo. Despite his qualifications in Public Management, Finance, and Public Finance Management, Kopano struggled to secure stable employment, often relying on temporary jobs to make ends meet.
Kopano’s entrepreneurial journey began with a small egg-selling business. However, due to a shortage of layer chickens, his venture faced significant challenges, forcing him to search for alternative sources of income. This was the harsh reality of South Africa’s unemployment crisis.
Everything changed when Kopano discovered a Facebook advertisement for the Green Business Value Chain (GBVC) programme. This initiative, offered by Avo Vision and funded by De Beers, aimed to empower young entrepreneurs by addressing the critical issue of bush encroachment. Bush encroachment disrupts ecosystems, reduces land productivity, and depletes water resources—serious challenges for the environment and the economy.
With support and training from the GBVC programme, Kopano launched Bakgethwa Business Enterprise, a green business focused on combating bush encroachment. His business has already thinned 18.46 hectares of bush, restoring grasslands, improving livestock grazing, and reducing the risk of wildfires.
Despite early success, Kopano faced financial challenges, particularly in paying his employees. However, the introduction of the Social Employment Fund (SEF) in August 2023 provided wages for 17 employees, allowing Kopano to scale his business. His increased capacity led to greater production of charcoal and firewood.
“I cannot explain how this programme has been a game changer for me. It has given us more capacity to thin more bushes and produce more charcoal and firewood. The community benefits as well, as now our people are able to put food on their tables and look forward to waking up and going to work,” said Kopano.
Additional Support: Department of Public Works and NYDA Funding
Further support came from the Department of Public Works, which provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Kopano’s employees. Additionally, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) awarded Kopano R50,000 in funding, enabling him to purchase kilns, chainsaws, and other essential tools. This significantly boosted his business operations.
