Turning a stipend into seasonal sales
In September 2024, during the third cycle of the Avo Vision and Industrial Development Corporation's (IDC) Social Employment Fund (SEF) partnership, 22-year-old assistant teacher Lebogang Mametsa from Zandspruit, Gauteng, found herself facing a difficult reality. Her monthly stipend simply could not stretch far enough to support her family’s needs. Empowered by the financial and business management skills she gained through Avo Vision’s Boost Your Income training, she decided to take control of her situation. What began as a challenge soon became an opportunity, Lebogang started a small business selling umbrellas and raincoats, a product that would prove in demand, especially during unpredictable rainy seasons.
Turning Lessons into Livelihood: Building a Business from Practical Training
The Boost Your Income training provided Lebogang with tools she could immediately put into action. She learned how to identify viable products, manage money carefully, and engage customers effectively. Using these skills, she began sourcing affordable yet good-quality umbrellas and raincoats, products people needed, especially in areas where sudden downpours were common.
Lebogang said, “boost Your Income training from Avo Vision taught me how to manage money and run a business. Without it, I wouldn’t have had the confidence or knowledge to start selling umbrellas and raincoats.”
Her attention to quality and consistency helped her build a loyal customer base. Each sale, no matter how small, contributed to easing her household’s financial pressure and improving her family’s quality of life. Avo Vision’s support played a central role in giving her the confidence and knowledge to take these steps.
Community Needs, Steady Growth: Momentum Through Local Demand
As demand for her products grew, Lebogang’s confidence grew with it. The extra income made a noticeable difference at home, allowing her to cover essential expenses and plan beyond month-to-month survival. Her success demonstrated how the right support, combined with determination, can open doors for young people facing financial hardship. By understanding her community’s needs and timing her sales with seasonal demand, she was able to turn a stipend into a sustainable income stream.
Expanding Into Limpopo
By March 2025, Lebogang identified an even bigger gap in the market, this time outside Gauteng. In rural Limpopo, access to umbrellas and raincoats was limited and often far more expensive. Seeing an opportunity to meet this unmet need, she expanded her business into the province. This move not only allowed her to increase her income but also positioned her as a young entrepreneur who understood how to bring affordable products to areas that needed them most.
From One Opportunity to Many: Creating Employment for Others
One of the most significant milestones in Lebogang’s journey came with the ability to employ someone else. Her expansion into Limpopo allowed her to create a job for another person, a step that symbolises growth, empowerment, and community upliftment.
“Access to affordable umbrellas and raincoats in Limpopo is limited and costly. I saw this as an opportunity to expand my business and give someone an opportunity to find a job because I have now employed one person, with possibilities to employ more as the business grows,” she said. Her vision extends beyond her own income, she hopes her business will continue growing and creating more employment opportunities.
From a Small Start to a Meaningful Shift
Lebogang’s story shows how the right training, determination, and awareness of community needs can transform a stipend into seasonal sales, and turn a personal challenge into a growing business that uplifts others. Her journey is a clear example of how Avo Vision’s support equips young people to create opportunities not only for themselves but for their communities.
