An organisation committed to change the plight of the unemployed through entrepreneurial training, invites the public to come out and support their upcoming fund-raisers.
Events, which will help them to raise much-needed funds for the work they do.
The Cynergy Foundation was started in 2007 and is based in Gordon’s Bay.
The foundation was birthed when couple and co-founders, Reagan, and Nikki Klaasen, from a small community near Boksburg, Gauteng, wanted to change the impoverished conditions in their own, and neighbouring communities.
This after witnessing first-hand the devastation and social ills brought on by impoverished conditions, mainly due to unemployment. Being entrepreneurs themselves, they knew that equipping people with entrepreneurial and business skills, would empower them and give them the tools to break free from an indigent life.
Today, the Klaasen couple’s vision has expanded and includes financial literacy training for schoolchildren.
At Cynergy different programmes are offered, but all programmes, they say, are developed to educate, equip and empower people in literacy, leadership, life skills, all packaged in entrepreneurial training.
Although the foundation is local, its work is far-reaching and they’ve been changing lives across different Cape communities.
André Kershaw, a spokesperson for the foundation, says: “Our objective is to overcome unemployment in the communities where we are active by empowering our beneficiaries to start their own micro-businesses. Our beneficiaries are currently located in areas like the Cape Flats, Atlantis, and the Theewaterskloof Municipality area.
“However, this year we are increasingly concentrating our efforts on the Helderberg, an area in which alone we aim to reach 3 000 school pupils in the first half of 2023. Within a year, we aim to reach 10 000 beneficiaries across the various communities we are impacting.”
“The largest demographic component of our beneficiaries so far has been youth in developing communities. However, we actively engage people of every age, gender, race, and socio-economic background,” he says.
One of the beneficiaries, whose life has been changed through the foundation, is Jolandi Pieterse from Villiersdorp. She says by participating in the programmes she gained new skills, abilities and learnt a lot of new information, which made her see new opportunities to make money.
“The moment I sat in the first class, my entire mindset changed. The classes I feel unlocked my potential. It uncovered something in me, which I never thought I had.”
She recommends the classes to especially the local youth. “Classes were phenomenal with wonderful facilitators; there is great interaction, with interesting and insightful content. The facilitators break the content down in such a simple, understandable way that anyone can benefit from it.”
She is actively using her newly-acquired business skills in her small start-up. She started selling baked goods at market days and has now added pre-owned clothing to her stall. Next, she says her focus will be on advertising her business more and even venturing into a new line of business.
The long-term objective within the next 10 years, Mr Kershaw reveals is to with their, 1 Activate programme, offered at no cost to participants, equip 100 000 people with entrepreneurial skills.
The public can support the foundation’s work by attending their week-long exhibition at the Somerset Mall from Sunday April 23 to Sunday April 30. Products developed by beneficiaries will be showcased and sold in support of their businesses.
A portion of proceeds will be ploughed back into the foundation in sponsorship of the free 1 Activate programme. Live music by brand ambassador, Kian Klaasic and his band will form part of the week’s programme.
A live music fund-raiser event is also planned for later this year, with the date to be confirmed. For more information on the events visit Cynergy Foundation’s social media pages and to donate to the foundation, visit, www.cynergy.org.za/#donate
