It’s definitely no secret that ONE stands #WithStrongGirls. So when we heard about the SHE by Spark* Changemakers program, we couldn’t wait to hear all about the female entrepreneurs that Spark* would find and support this year!
These ten amazing women are striving to improve the lives of women and girls in South Africa! Check it out:
Judith Meyer. Photo credit: Spark*
Judith Meyer—Who wants to spend time waiting in line at the grocery store?! Judith definitely felt that way, so she started StoreDash. This online grocery delivery service saves valuable time for shoppers, while also providing unemployed women with a job delivering groceries.
Ramona Kasavan. Photo credit: Spark*
Ramona Kasavan—Knowing there are South African girls who miss school due to lack of sanitary pads, Ramona Kasavan started Happy Days to provide quality, cost-effective sanitary pads to meet their needs. The company also has a direct selling model in order to create jobs for unemployed girls!
Anthea Petersen. Photo credit: Spark*
Anthea Petersen—To promote recycling and help women find employment, Anthea started Community Philanthropy Recycling. This organization allows women to establish women-owned recycling centers in their own communities. How great is that?!
Yolanda Mpilo. Photo credit: Spark*
Yolanda Mpilo—A professional nurse, Yolanda was unsatisfied with the health care received by low-income women. She started Mother & Child Clinic, a private facility that offers more affordable care to women and children in Limpopo.
Chi Achebe. Photo credit: Spark*
Chi Achebe—After observing that domestic workers often had to travel long distances from their townships to their suburban clients, Chi created ResSpot. Among other things, this online communication portal helps connect domestic workers with clients right in their own areas!
Thokoza Mjo. Photo credit: Spark*
Thokoza Mjo—Eager to inspire young people to tell their own stories, Thokoza left her job as an investment analyst to start Beyond the Lemonade Stand. This program uses school newspapers—love it!—to aid in literacy, develop digital skills, and even promote entrepreneurial mindsets in young people.
Maria Uys. Photo credit: Spark*
Maria Uys—A surface designer from Cape Town, Maria started AfriGarde, a jewelry line meant to empower domestic workers and unemployed women. AfriGarde enables women to gain and use technical skills to earn a living—and provides a platform for these women to connect to industry professionals!
Mogau Seshoene. Photo credit: Spark*
Mogau Seshoene—A big fan of South African cuisine—yum!—Mogau founded The Lazy Makoti. The company empowers women in South African townships with cooking skills (which they can then use to host classes of their own), as well as the ability to sell kitchen accessories also made by local female entrepreneurs.
Mpho MacChambers. Photo credit: Spark*
Mpho MacChambers—Inspired by her time spent volunteering at a school for deaf and blind children, Mpho established VIRYA and SheCan! to educate women and girls living with disabilities and help them find employment. Her outreach to local companies is driving incredible change for both businesses and disabled South Africans!
Mulalo Ramathavha. Photo credit: Spark*
Mulalo Ramathavha—Move over, Cake Boss: Mulalo started a training academy at her bakery, Glenz Cakes, in order to help young women in her community find a calling. In the classes, women from rural areas can learn baking skills so they can start their own sweet baking businesses!
Spark* defines a changemaker as a “local entrepreneur that has launched a venture that is changing lives.” These incredible women definitely fit the bill!
