The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Enterprising Women Programme (EWP) is going from strength to strength and has directly benefitted more than 50 female entrepreneurs - which in turn have gone on to impact the lives of countless others.

This year marks the fifth rendition of this entrepreneurship focused short learning programme which represents a dynamic collaboration between the bhive Enterprise Development Centre (bhive EDC) on the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the NWU and Aequis Consulting South Africa.

For the duration of the next eight months a group of 16 women – from all walks of life, will set out on a journey of entrepreneurial exploration and business success. The group of women includes young first-time entrepreneurs, women who quit their jobs to realise their dream of being a business owner, to women who were made redundant and so started a business to support their respective families. Despite all of their differences, these women do have a few things in common: they are passionate, determined and dedicated to turning their ideas into a reality, building fruitful businesses and living the life they dream of.

More about EWP

The aim of this short learning programme is to assist start-up female entrepreneurs to achieve their goals and realise their business dreams. In short: to empower female entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and to develop their business ideas into relevant, sustainable and income generating enterprises.

The eight month programme is geared to provide business support services to women who wish to establish their own businesses. During the course of the programme, participants will be taken through a programme to explore ideas, develop business models and subsequently initiative their businesses with confidence and entrepreneurial know-how.

Since its inception in 2013 the programme has grown with leaps and bounds and has in recent months also been extended to Sasolburg and Pretoria. The programme represents an NQF Level 5 certification and interested women only need grade 12 and basic computer skills to apply.

The programme coordinator is Leonie Greyling, an entrepreneurship development professional, and together with a team of experienced presenters – representing both academia and the business sector, the programme offers women the opportunity to give flight to their dreams.

The women taking part in the 2017 programme are:

Anele Maziko	Elaine van Eden	Lerato Phele	Puseletso Tebakang
Annah Ramphene	Jane Muller	Magdeline Masisi	Sasha-Lee Basson
Chanel van Niekerk	Lebohang Mashishi	Matlala Msimanga	Semakaleng Moeketsi
Dorcas Maleka	Lerato Mokubung	Mayuri Surujlal	Thakane Seiphetlho