For years, the end of the month brought more stress than relief for Bongiwe Meslane. It was not just about money running out. It was about uncertainty, about not fully understanding where it had gone or how to make it stretch further next time. The pressure followed her into grocery stores and into quiet moments at night when she thought about her children’s future.
In 2024, she attended the Boosting Your Income training delivered by Avo Vision in partnership with Hyprop Foundation. As the social impact arm of Hyprop Investments. Hyprop Foundation supports skills development initiatives in communities surrounding its malls. Through this collaboration, financial literacy is delivered in a practical, behaviour-focused way that encourages lasting change.
Before the training, Bongiwe felt trapped in a cycle she could not quite break. She recalls:
“I used to dread the end of the month. No matter how hard I tried, money slipped through my fingers before I could make sense of where it went. A quick purchase here, an unplanned expense there. Small decisions that added up to one big problem. I could never get ahead. As a mother, this weighed on me constantly. I wanted to provide stability for my children, but I felt like I was always one emergency away from falling apart. I knew I needed to change. What I did not know was how.”
The session offered more than tips. It offered a shift in mindset.
“When I attended the Boosting Your Income training, I was not expecting transformation. I was simply hoping for a few practical tips. What I gained was far more powerful: a complete shift in how I think about money and my ability to create income.”
The training emphasised personal accountability, teaching her that financial control begins with awareness and intentional decision-making.
“The training went beyond budgeting, saving, and investing. It helped me understand that I could actively create personal wealth by using what I already have: my skills, time, and community.”
Today, Bongiwe tracks every rand intentionally, manages her credit responsibly, and applies her learning beyond her household.
“Today, I track every rand that enters and leaves my account, not out of obligation, but because I now understand that awareness is the foundation of financial control and wealth creation. I no longer rely on credit when money is tight. Instead, I plan, make informed decisions, and manage my repayments consistently. For the first time, I am proud of my credit profile.”
She even extends the lessons to her community.
“Using what I learned, I independently started a ‘R5 Every Friday’ savings club, which I run in my community. Through this initiative, I teach local children the importance of saving while earning a small income from coordinating and managing the programme. By contributing R5 each week, these children are building positive financial habits, and I am strengthening my own financial stability at the same time.”
Bongiwe’s journey continues, but now it is intentional and guided.
“I am not where I want to be yet. But for the first time, I know exactly where I am going, and I am walking there one intentional decision at a time.”
Over the past three years, Hyprop Foundation and Avo Vision have stood with communities to cultivate dignity, resilience, and behaviour change, contributing to economic empowerment around their retail centres, not simply ticking Corporate Social Investment (CSI) boxes.
Impact We’ve Seen
- 1493 learners reached → Consistent community presence over 3 years
- 72% women → Gender equity in access to tools and decision-making
- 65% youth participation → Investment in future earners and planners
- High credit and savings uptake → Behavioural shift, not just information
- At least 19 new jobs created by programme alumni → Tangible economic ripple effects
Reflections Moving Forward
This partnership has built a strong foundation for long-term financial resilience in communities near Hyprop malls. As the next chapter is considered, there’s now a strong case to:
- Reach deeper into the tenant and retail staff ecosystems
- Reinforce learning through digital tools and repeat contact
- Continue building momentum where traction is already visible
