Name: Nhlanhla Ndlovu

Province: Gauteng

Nhlanhla Ndlovu from Soweto in Gauteng is an energetic, critical thinker who loves reading, business and socialising. He is currently working on establishing a business programme called Shupa Tsela Enterprise Development Programme (SED Programme).

What are you championing in your community?

An enterprise development project that I am currently working on through a business owned by a business lady in Soweto. I am simultaneously building a programme that speaks to businesses in my township and others. I hope the programme will act as a business accelerator and incubator, only without the fees and financial requisites that similar organisations enforce.

I currently foster relationships with strategic companies and individuals who can provide financial support as per the King Report on Responsible Corporate Citizenship. This will involve training entrepreneurs with potential, providing mentorship and coaching required to start and keep a business sustainable.

The goal is to address poverty through small businesses in the context of townships across South Africa.

How are you driving change in your community?

I am driving change through mentoring young business individuals. While my experience and knowledge is not yet at the level of being an expert, I am giving what I have. I also help people build business plans in my community and last week I started offering workshops on building of business plans.

How has ACTIVATE! and the network supported you in driving change?

As a new entrant of 2016, Activate! has helped me widen my horizon by alerting me and making me more aware of the socio-economic issues faced by not just my community but also the country at large. That is why I am creating a programme together with Activate! Men.

The Bus Journey

Why have you decided to be part of the Bus Journey?

The Bus Journey is an opportunity to network, to learn, to grow and to expose myself to other activators who are driving change in their own ways. One can never claim to see the whole elephant, as a result, when I meet other like minded individuals, I am able to grow my own plans and goals that speak to the strategies I have learned.

What are you hoping to take out of the Bus Journey?

I hope to establish networks, and lessons on how best I can approach the programme I am building. The second important thing I hope to do is meet other activators and influential people who may assist me in my endeavour.

What are you most looking forward to on the Bus Journey?

I am most looking forward to meeting new people and hearing people’s stories for the purpose of learning and personal growth.

In an ideal world, who would you like to engage in conversation with on The Bus Journey and why?

In an ideal world, and in this world I hope to engage with influential people in business and government. The reason is simply because my programme requires the private-public partnership to soar.

What are your plans for next year?

Next year I hope to launch the programme I am creating, having secured support in the remainder of this year.

How will you be involving the network in your plans?

There are Activators who have brilliant ideas to enhance my programme. More importantly, there are individuals in the network who know the right people, and Activators whose strength is in executing plans. I will be developing a team from the network who can assist.