Ten small businesses are set for growth following a one-year long partnership between a local wind energy project, and the Assumption Development Centre (ADC) in Joza Location. The collaboration has delivered funding support, equipment and services aimed at tackling youth unemployment and strengthening sustainable enterprise development.
Central to this programme’s success thus far has been ADC’s deep understanding of the socio-economic realities within Joza, enabling support that is both relevant and responsive to the needs of local entrepreneurs.
“Partnering with a locally based organisation like ADC has been invaluable and has allowed for more responsive and meaningful support. Their strong relationships and credibility within the community ensures that our assistance reaches businesses in a way that is both impactful and sustainable,” said Angela Harrison, Socio Economic Development Manager at NOA Group, the owners of Wind Garden Energy Facility, the funding partner.
Through this collaboration, businesses have strengthened their capacity and have started accessing larger markets. According to Masonwabe Nduna, Centre Manager at ADC, the impact has been significant. “The capital investment provided to businesses has enabled them to scale their operations and reach new markets. Most importantly, three of the supported enterprises are now registered suppliers at Rhodes University, opening doors to more stable and larger-scale opportunities.”
The programme’s success is also reflected in the stories of its beneficiaries. Sis ‘D Laundry, founded by a local entrepreneur who started with hand-washing clothes, has grown into a same-day laundry service that now employs three people in Makhanda.
“With the support of my family and organisations like the Assumption Development Centre, I was able to grow my business from hand-washing clothes to running a same-day laundry service. Today, I’m proud to employ three young people and support my family. This journey has shown me the value of perseverance and community support,” said Dambisa Zenani, Founder of Sis ‘D Laundry.
Another beneficiary, Sinethemba Leve, started a small water distribution business after being retrenched during the COVID-19 pandemic, using his savings to respond to the scarcity of clean drinking water in Joza. The ADC assisted Sinethemba with the provision of an industrial scale printer, funded directly by the wind farm, which rapidly propelled his business growth.
“We can now print labels for the water bottles, with our clients’ branding. This has resulted in more revenue for the business, and I have been able to increase my employees from three to five. We have even been able to register as a business supplier for Rhodes University and will be supplying water for some of its events soon,” added Leve.
Looking ahead, Wind Garden intends to build on this momentum by leveraging the clear value of ADC’s local expertise and network. “Following a successful one-year partnership, we are excited to explore further enterprise development opportunities with the ADC in 2026 onwards,” concluded Harrison.
Note:
Established in 2014, the Assumption Development Centre is a registered Non-Profit and Public Benefit Organisation focused on addressing youth unemployment and advancing socio-economic development.
The community enterprises that received enterprise development support from the Wind Garden energy facility includes Sis ‘D Laundry, Bob’s Upholstery, Linear Detergents Multipurpose Primary Co-Operative, the Bill Kali Collective in partnership with StichLab, Jusaqua, Enhanced Aloe, Zeamo, Mamase Divine Holdings, TT Industries and Lu M Photography.
