SA Teen Entrepreneur Foundation is the brainchild of Lydia Zingoni. An Academic Librarian and Economic Historian by training, Lydia was touched by a number of requests for information from young students who wanted to form their own businesses after graduating from university

This gave her insight into the predicament that many young South Africans face – they are finding it increasingly difficult to find employment after spending a fortune on their education. Lydia’s thoughts were not only with these close students, but also on what was happening to students and young people in general across the country.

In 2009, Lydia left her university Library Director post to set-up the SA Teen Entrepreneur Foundation. The main aim of the Foundation is to instil a culture of entrepreneurship in young people. The focus is on the teen years as these represent the most important period in the development of young people. Initially the Foundation was solely funded by her savings, but the need for this awakening of young people’s entrepreneurial passion is so huge that most of Lydia’s time is now spend fundraising for her cause and in parallel running workshops.

With over 18 million teenagers in South Africa and most of these spending most of their time in the over 27,000 high schools in the country, Lydia thinks that society  should encourage young people embrace a culture of entrepreneurship. A culture is best taught when people are young and we have seen results from young people coming into South Africa from up-country, who come into South Africa and create opportunities for themselves while our own kids just look on.

The biggest challenge for the foundation remains funding. Resources are needed urgently to reach as many kids as is possible while they are still young. Unfortunately timing in these issues is important as they are dealing with such a dynamic resource. Today, they are young, and tomorrow they are grown up!

This is Lydia’s story of help. If you would like to help Lydia:

Source: FNB, youcanhelp.co.za