Help 1000 young entrepreneurs in Eswatini

After successfully hosting five cohorts, All Out Africa Foundation marks the graduation of a total of 114 youths (39 females and 75 males aged 18–35) from the Youth Enterprise Program. To assess the impact of this initiative, a survey was conducted among graduates and community leaders. Targeting 30% of the graduates for feedback, the majority (23 out of 35 respondents) were female. The primary data collection method was face-to-face interviews conducted over a five-day period.

Survey Findings

Survey findings indicate that 97.1% of respondents found the program beneficial due to the crucial entrepreneurial skills it imparted, such as setting up a business, creating a website, marketing strategies, preparing a business plan, improving business, preparing bookkeeping, and acquiring computer skills. However, 2.8% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction, centered mainly on the limited time for computer skills training.

Interviews with community leaders from the Lobamba constituency were held on July 29, 2023. The leaders appreciated the program's contribution toward cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets, teaching business start-up strategies, managing business finances, and preparing business plans.

Conclusion

Moving ahead, a random survey of program graduates will be conducted to better understand their ventures and experiences. Further, focus group discussions will be organized, aimed at improving our capacity-building program and establishing continuous support mechanisms for graduates, like a potential mentoring program to ensure their businesses' success.