Rosette Trading: An Entrepreneur’s Journey

Every year on 01 May, South Africa celebrates Workers’ Day. ACTIVATE! shines the spotlight on young people who are creating job opportunities in South Africa: their challenges and as well as their successes during this month. 

According to the 2016 Labour Force Survey, the rate of unemployment is sitting at 26.7 % in the April-June quarter, 2.2% higher than last quarter’s 24.5%. This year, ACTIVATE! Change Drivers theme is to “Connect, Provoke, Inspire and Influence” – a call for young people to collaborate and explore innovative and sustainable ways to drive positive change for themselves and their communities, a celebration of their achievements. In that spirit, we recognise Activator Boitumelo Seema, a young woman has conquered difficulties and also created opportunities for others.

Boitumelo Seema (25) was born in Mafikeng, grew up in Klerksdorp and groomed in Pretoria. She has always lived with her mother and is an ambition-driven philanthropist at heart. She is the founder of Rosette Trading, a company whose primary intention is the optimisation of people’s efficiency through the provision of customised training interventions, to assure the attainment of organisational goals. The entity was established in 2009 and it is a 100% black women-owned company, with 11 employees currently.

“I was first introduced to entrepreneurship at the age of 8. I’d bake frosted cupcakes with my mother, or make lunch packs, have a presentable layout and distribute to my schoolmates. I remember always going home with empty baskets and a fulfilled heart”, says Seema.  

With the North West, ranked 4th nationally with 28.1% in unemployment ratings, following after Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, Activator Seema runs a company that focuses on skills development. “We offer SAQA accredited courses in and around the North West Province. So often we find qualified graduates with no jobs solely because their required levels of education are not a substitute for the skills required for the position they seek. There is a shortage of skills in our country and we seek to assist in any way possible”, says Seema.

Her company is currently looking to contribute towards the development of the community where its operations are located. “We are mainly looking within the youth development and women empowerment areas. There seems to be a trend in small towns, Klerksdorp in particular, where the youth abuse drugs and alcohol due to lack of recreational activities, lack of exposure and a sense of hopelessness”. Rosette Trading aims to restore faith in youth by means of encouraging a conducive environment for young people to engage with successful people from similar backgrounds who are more than willing to offer mentorship.” She adds.

With 29.3% being unemployed females and speaking of women in entrepreneurship, Seema equally feels that women are not properly represented within this field, “Women constitute 52% of our country and yet find it difficult to fully participate in the economy. Prejudice still remains a key issue in our respective communities”, she add.  She continued to say that there’s nothing she believes in more than the coming together of like-minded phenomenal women. “If we as women, all hold hands and strive to create the perfect balance for improved change, no obstacle would be too big. We all have a fierce power within us”.

Although Seema continues to create these spaces as an emerging entrepreneur, Rosette Trading treats job creation as a matter of importance and one of its top priorities .“We aspire to create a ground that motivates entrepreneurship in order to promote job creation. Increased entrepreneurial activity ultimately leads to increased job creation which will in end uplift social and economic development. A positive wave of change.” This is how she’s inculcating her ripples of change. 

And her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is that “Entrepreneurship is all about risk. Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams, your passion, and that which sets your soul on fire”. Like many others, Boitumelo comes from humble beginnings and has ventured into a space that still needs to be explored innovatively by young people in order to create more jobs and help to boost the South African economy.

With the Black Ownership target set at 45% (30% reserved for black women ownership) and should be achieved as of 31 March 2018 by the Department of Trade and Industry, Black-owned companies like Rosette Trading should to influence local spaces, while driving positive change in South Africa. 

Every year on 01 May, South Africa celebrates Workers’ Day. ACTIVATE! shines the spotlight on youngpeople who are creating job opportunities in South Africa: their challenges and as well as their successes during this month.  According to the 2016 Labour Force Survey, the rate of unemployment is sitting at 26.7 % in the April-June quarter, 2.2% higher than last quarter’s 24.5%. This year, ACTIVATE! Change Drivers theme is to “Connect, Provoke, Inspire and Influence” – a call for young people to collaborate and explore innovative and sustainable ways to drive positive change for themselves and their communities, a celebration of their achievements. In that spirit, we recognise Activator Boitumelo Seema, a young woman has conquered difficulties and also created opportunities for others. Boitumelo Seema (25) was born in Mafikeng, grew up in Klerksdorp and groomed in Pretoria. She has always lived with her mother and is an ambition-driven philanthropist at heart. She is the founder of Rosette Trading, a company whose primary intention is the optimisation of people’s efficiency through the provision of customised training interventions, to assure the attainment of organisational goals. The entity was established in 2009 and it is a 100% black women-owned company, with 11 employees currently.“I was first introduced to entrepreneurship at the age of 8. I’d bake frosted cupcakes with my mother, or make lunch packs, have a presentable layout and distribute to my fellow school mates. I remember always going home with empty baskets and a fulfilled heart”, says Seema.  With the North West, ranked 4th nationally with 28.1% in unemployment ratings, following after Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, Activator Seema runs a company that focuses on skills development. “We offer SAQA accredited courses in and around the North West Province. So often we find qualified graduates with no jobs solely because their required levels of education are not a substitute for the skills required for the position they seek. There is a shortage of skills in our country and we seek to assist in any way possible”, says Seema.Her company is currently looking to contribute towards the development of the community where its operations are located. “We are mainly looking within the youth development and women empowerment areas. There seems to be a trend in small towns, Klerksdorp in particular, where the youth abuse drugs and  alcohol due to lack of recreational activities, lack of exposure and a sense of hopelessness”. Rosette  Trading aims to restore faith in youth by means of encouraging a conducive environment for young people  to engage with successful people from similar backgrounds who are more than willing to offer mentorship.”  She adds. With 29.3% being unemployed females and speaking of women in entrepreneurship, Seema equally feels  that women are not properly represented within this field, “Women constitute 52% of our country and yet  find it difficult to fully participate in the economy. Prejudice still remains a key issue in our respective  communities”, she add.  She continued to say that there’s nothing she believes in more than the coming  together of like-minded phenomenal women. “If we as women, all hold hands and strive to create the  perfect balance for improved change, no obstacle would be too big. We all have a fierce power within us”. Although Seema continues to create these spaces as an emerging entrepreneur, Rosette Trading treats job  creation as a matter of importance and one of its top priorities .“We aspire to create a ground that motivates  entrepreneurship in order to promote job creation. Increased entrepreneurial activity ultimately leads to  increased job creation which will in end uplift social and economic development. A positive wave of  change.” This is how she’s inculcating her ripples of change.   And her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is that “Entrepreneurship is all about risk. Don’t be afraid to follow  your dreams, your passion, and that which sets your soul on fire”. Like many others, Boitumelo comes from  humble beginnings and has ventured into a space that still needs to be explored innovatively by young  people in order to create more jobs and help to boost the South African economy.  With the Black Ownership target set at 45% (30% reserved for black women ownership) and should be  achieved as of 31 March 2018 by the Department of Trade and Industry, Black-owned companies like  Rosette Trading should to influence local spaces, while driving positive change in South Africa.

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