EDC completes first project for the benefit of Small Businesses
An visibly excited and emotional Ms Notukile Nonkonyeni at the award ceremony.
EDC completes first project for the benefit of Small Businesses
SHE was third in line, clad in traditional Xhosa regalia and wearing a shy child-like smile that had anticipation written all over it. As her turn approached, her excitement grew as if she wanted to jump out of her skin. They called her name and she sprang forward and burst into song and tears simultaneously, “Lizalisi idinga lakho, Thixo Nkosi yeNyaniso (Fullfil your promise God of Truth),” she chanted.
Her heart-wrenching rendition intensified as she took her Certificate and threw her hands in the air with tears streaming down her face uncontrollably, igniting more tears from the academics and corporates that had gathered at the event in East London.
Ms Notukile Songstress Nonkonyeni (47) a small business owner, Ndlazi Red & Blue Brickyard from eMndeni in the Mthatha area had just received her certificate for Financial Information Dissemination, a course she did in Mthatha.
Ms Nonkonyeni was one of the 88 small business owners who were part of the Walter Sisulu University’s Enterprise Development Centre (EDC)’s Certificate ceremony. The 88 delegates were trained as part of the Financial Information Dissemination Centre Project.
The project started in May 2010 and is a 20 month initiative coming to an end in December 2011. The overall objective of the Financial Information Centre project is to improve the sustainability and reach of financial services through the provision of financial product information and financial skills to consumers and SMME’s.
The EDC earlier this year attained accreditation from the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) for the National Certificate: Small Business Financial Management. ICB is the quality assurance body for the Financial and Accounting Services Sector Education Training Authority (FASSET).
The project which is co-funded equally by Thina Sinako and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) was approved in April 2010. The EDC was awarded grant funding of just under R5,5 million for the project. The contracting authority for the initiative is Provincial Treasury.
The training, funded by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the provincial local economic development support programme ThinaSinako, aimed to build the financial management skills of small business owners in the province.
The training was implemented during August and September 2011 in East London, Mthatha and Queenstown. Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and low and middle income earners in the Eastern Cape were targeted. Highly qualified trainers were recruited, selected and appointed from within Walter Sisulu University.
The EDC has been highly successful in the implementation of the project under the guidance of its dynamic Executive Management and trusts that this will steer the centre towards many more successful projects in the future.
