Just 30 minutes from Cape Town City Centre is the township of Vrygrond. Known as one of the poorest townships in the Western Cape, it is home to over 40 000 inhabitants. Despite being a place plagued by gangsterism, drug and alcohol abuse and (according to the 2011 Census) over 40% unemployment, Janine decided to set up Ukama Holdings in a business park bordering Vrygrond, in 2014.
With her 12 years in the packaging industry and 6 years dabbling in entrepreneurship she decided to set up a unique social business model. Her belief is that the generational poverty in townships across South Africa can be overcome only by education and empowerment of previously marginalised people.
‘Ukama’ is a Shona word meaning ‘we are related’ or ‘we are family’.
What do you do at Ukama?
At Ukama, we identify, train and mentor previously unemployed people to run their own micro enterprise.
Ukama acts as an umbrella company supplying food safety certification, premises and a training and coaching hub, and most importantly the clients. We service the local and international food markets, supplying food contract packing services.
What is your business model?
The Ukama business model is aimed at supporting emerging black businesses through the incubation program so that they are able to emerge as independent, viable businesses. We do this by offering ongoing support of the micro-enterprise owner.
Each micro enterprise employs around 5 people from their local community. In the 16 months since its inception Ukama has helped over 60 people escape unemployment and poverty.
Our company is a registered (Pty)Ltd company and we have a Foundation registered as an NPO which feeds over 100 children per day in Vrygrond, tying into our community upliftment ethos.
Awards
Read more abut Ukama here and enjoy the stories of other amazing women social entrepreneurs here.