2nd Quarter 2014

2nd Quarter, 2014 Newsletter

Hi!

Thanks for your time, and your support of the Phakamani Foundation. We are excited to launch our updated newsletter format and hope it makes it easier for you to stay in touch with what Phakamani is doing in South Africa.

In this edition we are happy to feature some exciting news, a great story from Gladys about becoming an entrepreneur, and some statistics to show you how things are coming along.

Happy reading!

Exciting Updates From The Field

Phakamani welcomes Carol Matsheka to the team. Carol has been appointed as a Provincial Operations Manager. We are excited to see what she will bring to the organization. Welcome Carol!
Phakamani’s 13th branch, Lebowakgamo, was established in May. All the staff are trained and currently at work in the field.
The British High Commissioners Charity Ball has once again appointed Phakamani Foundation as one of two designated charities.

Finding a Market Niche

Gladys Gladys Ngutshane serves up fashion and health worker uniforms.

Gladys Ngutshane has been a member of the Phakamani community for nearly two years. When she joined four other women to form a group to build their businesses they chose the group name Siyancoba, which means “we conquer every situation.” Each woman had a plan and they agreed to guarantee each other’s loans.

“We are like sisters,” says Gladys, who trades in second-hand clothes. “I like being in my Phakamani group because we motivate and support one another.”

Gladys is on her 5th loan cycle. Access to loans means she can travel to Johannesburg to buy her stock – a four-hour trip. This allows her to procure a wide variety of fashionable items from the city, as well as white clothing that is sought by health clinic workers in her community. Everyone likes nice clothes – so business has been steady. Gladys has gained a good reputation.

At home, the new income has made a big difference.

“I have been able to get electricity,” Gladys reports, while showing us other improvements around her house. She also purchased her first refrigerator and a jojo (water tank!) For her family, life has become easier. They have light in the evenings. The refrigerator helps them keep food fresher and longer. The water tank means fewer trips to the shared water station down the road. This is the sort of impact Phakamani makes in the lives of motivated women in South Africa.

Phakamani Foundation empowers poor women to succeed at micro-enterprise. Our training, group loans, and on-going support lead to income, savings, and hope for the next generation.

phakamani voices

“My only problem has been bad payers,” Gladys remarks with a happy wringing of her hands. “But they pay eventually!”

Help empower impoverished women to improve their own lives through micro-enterprise.

Phakamani’s micro-loans get paid back and re-cycled many times—increasing the impact of every donation.

R500 ($50) covers recruitment and training for one new entrepreneur
R2 500 ($250) covers recruitment, training, micro-loans and on-going support for one entrepreneur in her first year
R12 500 ($1 250) covers training, micro-loans and on-going support of one group of five entrepreneurs in the first year.
R100 000 ($10 000) covers training and micro-loans for one new Phakamani Centre of up to 40 entrepreneurs in the first year.