SMME’S REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY

A local co-operative is reaching out to the community by giving skills to young fledgling businesses.

The Free State Co-operative Academy (FSCA) is a product of the amalgamation of diverse black women, men and youth driven businesses.

It was pioneered by several well-established business people within the Free State province with the principal vision of developing and advancing a successful co-operative movement in the province. Speaking to The Weekly, the chief executive, Mantshebo Theko, said the academy’s objective was to make cooperatives and small businesses sustainable.

“We established the company in order to develop and advance the corporative movement in the Free State; we assist cooperatives to be sustainable and run on their own affairs. The amalgamation use their skills in different sectors to help co-operatives primarily SMME’s.

“The essence comes from having identified that communities were given financial support but are unable to sustain these businesses to success. We train and leave them to be independent in their businesses in order to grow.

The Academy focuses on many of the intangibles that make the difference in achieving tangible results; a cognitive approach, knowledge sharing,” said Theko.

She said the FSCA targets youth and newly established businesses.

“We do not do business but we teach the young up-and-coming businesspeople how to run their business and let them run with it on their own.”

The academy partners with a wide range of stakeholders and avoids duplication of similar undertakings that hamper progress of the co-operative movement.

“Our stakeholders range from government departments, municipalities, state owned enterprises, NPO’s, NGO’s and the private sector,” she added.

Through expert knowledge, experience and commitment, the academy provides real value to businesses across many industries. The academy brings unique levels of expertise to their clients.