TCB has created three two-year programmes that train more than 1 000 participants every year to establish their own informal businesses in the circular economy. These programmes use donations (clothes, appliances and fabric) from large retailers that would have been sent to landfill, to train people how to start, build, persevere and ultimately be successful small informal business owners, says TCB.

This Mandela Day, on Friday, 18 July, individuals can assist TCB in its mission to help unemployed people on their journey to self-employment and independence. Tracy Gilmore, Co-Founder and COO of TCB says, "We hope people will take action and inspire change this Mandela Day. This day is an opportunity for individuals and organisations to take collective action in a meaningful way and leave a legacy in honour of Nelson Mandela. Together, we can build a safe, prosperous future for everyone by giving our time, energy and resources," she says.

TCB's Repair programme trains mostly fathers to repair small and medium sized appliances and then resell them in the informal sector, building their own businesses. Gilmore says, "Each participant in this programme needs their own Repair starter kit. These kits have all the essential equipment one needs to get started repairing appliances and setting up a repair business. Each kit costs R600 thanks to our bulk-buying negotiated rates. We also always need small and medium appliances for our participants to work on," she says.

"In Remake, we train seamstresses to take their sewing abilities to new heights and build small businesses creating new designs and mending clothing. For this programme, we need sewing machines, sewing equipment and sewing kits. Every self-employed sewer in the programme needs their own sewing kit, which contains everything they need to get started and set up their business from home. We have sourced and negotiated the best possible bulk price to make this kit as affordable as possible, at R600 per kit," adds Gilmore. "Remake is TCB's newest and smallest programme, and one of our goals is to roll this out too many more participants and ensure the programme's success."

According to TCB, it needs the following this Mandela Day:

  • repair kits, at R600 per kit
  • small and large appliances, even if not in working condition
  • sewing machines
  • sewing kits at R600 per kit
  • sewing equipment, and
  • donations.

Gilmore concludes, "I think one of the ways to make the most of Mandela Day's 67 minutes of working for good is to work together. Challenge your friends, family or colleagues to raise money or collect items that charities, like TCB, need and make a real difference to another South African's life this year."

For more information, visit www.tcb.org.za. You can also follow Taking Care of Business on Facebook or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor