Giving Compass' Take:

• Tsogo Sun is a South African hotel that boasts entrepreneurship as its ethos and aims to bring sustainability and economic independence through its programming to communities in need. 

• How is entrepreneurship helping South Africa (and other countries) grow toward economic independence? What are the challenges that young entrepreneurs face? 

• Read about these six African youth activists you need to know. 

Entrepreneurship is a big deal in South Africa and, in 2017, the country was named in a global report as one of sub-Saharan Africa’s entrepreneurial frontrunners. Encouraging individuals to set up their own businesses when they identify an opportunity can be a vital tool in addressing poverty and boosting employment and social empowerment.

That’s why supporting entrepreneurship and skills development — particularly in young people — is a key aim of South African hotel and entertainment group, Tsogo Sun. The group’s whole ethos is founded on the aim to bring meaningful and measurable change into people’s lives, and to create sustainable economic independence and growth.

Its initiative, Tsogo Sun Citizenship, gives the group and its individual staff members the opportunity to contribute to their communities across the country — particularly where real need has been identified.

This can be done by leveraging skills, experience, and its geographic presence to improve social, economic, and environmental conditions — and by developing, implementing, and supporting relevant initiatives.

There are three divisions of Tsogo Sun Citizenship: one focusing on community development, one on entrepreneur development, and one on environmental education.

To make sure that its programmes achieve a significant depth of impact, Tsogo Sun partners with and supports organisations, charities NGOs, and community projects across South Africa that have a proven track record.

Among its partner organisations are SOS Children’s Villages, which supports vulnerable children and fragmented families; Reach for a Dream, which makes dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses; Mellon Educate, which upgrades and improves education facilities; and the Cancer Association of South Africa, which provides care and support to people affected by cancer.

Absolutely central to achieving this work is the staff volunteer programme — which focuses on sustainably alleviating development challenges faced by the communities within which the group works.

Read the full article about South African entrepreneurship by Imogen Calderwood at Global Citizen