The world is going through a tough time economically, but South Africa has a fighting spirit. Taking Care of Business is a South African NPO that checks all the boxes; supporting small businesses, protecting the environment, slashing unemployment rates, and helping people out of poverty.
TCB empowers unemployed South Africans through educational programmes that help them develop practical skills and build successful small businesses from the ground up. So far, TCB has helped over 5,000 South Africans escape the cycle of poverty, provide for their families, and become community role models.
TCB’s “Repair” Programme Empowers People With Electrical Skills
TCB runs various enterprise development programmes across the country. Its “Repair” programme, previously known as The Appliance Bank, teaches unemployed South Africans how to repair and resell broken electronics and appliances.
Its mission is twofold; to help people develop marketable skills under the guidance of qualified tradespeople and to provide resources, training, and support for people to start their own businesses.
Participants start their businesses within the first two weeks of the two-year programme. TCB supplies faulty appliances to the budding entrepreneurs at a discounted rate and even offers small loans for their first few purchases. Once they’ve bought the broken goods, the students refurbish and resell them in their communities to make a profit.
There are three pillars to TCB’s Repair programme:
- Skills development
Repair includes hands-on training from experienced electricians. It’s ideal for candidates who already have electrical skills or aptitudes, but anyone with a Grade 10 or higher can apply. The programme includes practical workshops and theory lessons to give students well-rounded knowledge and over 1000 hours of experience.
Participants also get business coaching, money management lessons, and computer classes throughout the course. They can use the skills they learn at TCB to start their own businesses and empower others in their communities.
- Entrepreneurship
Various studies show that countries with a higher share of self-employed workers typically have more economic resilience.[1],[2] TCB’s Repair programme is geared towards teaching people how to be their own boss so their livelihoods are not threatened by retrenchment.
The programme gives people a financial hand-up, not a handout. By making participants buy faulty appliances instead of getting them for free, it creates a real-life business scenario. Each student is assigned an experienced business owner as a coach who helps them with budgeting, financial reporting, and future-proofing their business for the real world.
- Personal development
Running a business can be scary at times, and every entrepreneur must learn how to handle stress, take risks, and believe in their abilities. TCB takes a holistic approach to professional development by providing counselling, mentorship, and life skills classes to everyone who participates in its programmes.
The Repair programme helps people develop a growth mindset. Many of its previous participants say it taught them to chase opportunities, believe in themselves, and set goals for the future.
Tackling e-Waste One Appliance at a Time
TCB’s Repair is more than an enterprise development programme. It also addresses environmental issues by tackling e-waste. All the appliances involved in the Repair programme were once returned to the shop because they did not work. This programme gives retailers a more sustainable disposal option for damaged and faulty products and keeps thousands of broken electronics out of landfills.
Taking Care of Business has saved over 18 million items from landfills through its various programmes. That’s a massive win for the planet.
How To Get Involved
Taking Care of Business partners with retailers to collect appliances for its Repair programme. Every time you return a broken or faulty toaster, hairdryer, iron, or any other appliance to Clicks, they replace it and send the broken one to TCB. Once it arrives at the TCB workshop, participants from the Repair programme carefully debrand it – removing the manufacturer’s name and logo so all the appliances look generic.
You can also send unwanted appliances to TCB or donate money online to support the cause. The Repair programme costs TCB about R40 000 per participant per year, so any financial contribution is more than welcome! Lastly, add TCB as a beneficiary to your My School card to support them when you swipe at Woolworths.
Other Inspiring TCB Programmes
Taking Care of Business offers two other enterprise development programmes: Resell and Remake. Resell helps unemployed mothers with young children earn an income by selling second-hand clothes in their communities. Remake is for people with basic sewing knowledge – it develops their skills and helps them start their own tailoring businesses.
The NPO also offers skills training workshops for computer literacy, money management, life skills, and business growth. Lastly, it supports preschool owners, teachers, and staff with teaching packs and mentoring through its GROW Educare programmes.
Collaborate With TCB To Meet Your EPR Targets
Do you manufacture, import, or distribute electrical or electronic equipment? You may be subject to extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws. Partnering with TCB gives you a free and environmentally-sound way to deal with deadstock and faulty products – contact us for more information.
[1] https://theconversation.com/what-makes-one-economy-more-resilient-than-another-54374
[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregoryferenstein/2019/10/30/why-self-employment-is-good-for-workers-and-the-economy/?sh=55a602a826dd
