This year twenty students are graduating from the MTN SA Foundation sponsored Accelerated Development Programme (ABDP). After an intense year of a curriculum packed with both theory and practical business knowledge at the Dream Development Centre the graduates.
This year’s ABDP initiative attracted SMMEs who focused on developing Mobile Apps that focus on community building and film production.
DDC has a two pronged approach that delivers a series of lectures dedicated to enabling the development of SMMEs through educating them on the processes and governance needed to run a business, such as learning how to compile compliance documents, develop business and marketing plans as well as funding proposals. The programme also facilitates the enhancement of the chosen skills and services of the selected SMMEs.
Additionally, quarterly workshops were organised to assist entrepreneurs improve their skills and understanding in finance and accounting, compliance, funding and marketing.
The rigorous selection process kicked-off in January this year in Gauteng, and after two weeks of intense interviews, the selection panel selected the candidates who were going to be to be part of this programme.
“Programmes such ABDP support our strategic intent of creating sustainable value for our stakeholders as well as developing a force of entrepreneurs who have the right skill-set to grow their business, contribute to the growth of the economy and create much-needed jobs,” said Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi, General Manager of the MTN SA Foundation.
“It has always been MTN SA Foundation’s dream to establish enabling environments that allow entrepreneurs as well as SMMEs to thrive in communities they operate in. MTN SA Foundation will register the graduate SMMEs as preferred suppliers on their database. This is part of MTN SA’s efforts at promoting enterprise development. Partnering with the DDC was a perfect opportunity for the Foundation to realise that dream,” she said.
The MTN SA Foundation’s integrated approach to social investment places a strong emphasis on community development and on-going measurement to ensure the delivery of meaningful, relevant and sustainable impact.
Staff Writer