Call for Applications: Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth (WCW) Entrepreneurship Program 2024 for African women entrepreneurs

Applications are now open for the 2024 Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth (WCW) Entrepreneurship Program. The program is dedicated to African women entrepreneurs to enable them to thrive by providing essential skills, tools, mindset, business development support services and access to a vibrant, business community and network.

Women Creating Wealth (WCW) is the Trust’s flagship entrepreneurship programme designed to build women entrepreneurs’ confidence, skills and networks to scale their businesses and transition from income generation to wealth creation. The programme has already impacted 1,000 women entrepreneurs in Eastern and Southern Africa.

The Graça Machel Trust is calling on women South African entrepreneurs with a vision and ambition to grow their business 10X (times) in the next 5 years and create job opportunities to join our Pan-African Businesswomen Movement!

Eligibility Requirements

• Women entrepreneurs in South Africa
• Age: 18 and above.
• Must be a registered business owner, with a minimum qualification of a matric certificate and be able to study online.
• Must have operated the business for 2 years or more.
• Have an operational business or a product/service that can be tested in the market with the potential for growth and impact.
• Businesses can be sole proprietorships, partnerships, companies, cooperatives, or groups.
• Have an annual business turnover between R120,000 – R10 million.
• Business must fall within any of the financial services sectors including:
  • Accounting and Auditing Services
  • Financial Consulting
  • Payment Processing
  • Insurance
  • Investment Services
  • Regulatory and Compliance Services
  • Securities and Brokerage
  • Financial Technology (FinTech)
  • Real Estate and Mortgage Services
  • Credit and Lending
  • Other services (Agricultural, Manufacturing, Retail, Education and Training)

Program Delivery

The Ignite course will be offered on an online platform (Learner Management System)– therefore, you need to have access to the internet.

• Self-learning sessions, coaching sessions and peer-to-peer learning opportunities;
• Virtual networking sessions/roundtables/workshops;
• Face-to-face workshops and networking sessions.

Program Duration

The program duration is 10 months:

• 4 months of blended learning: recommended time commitment is 4-6 hours per week
• 6 months aftercare: recommended time commitment is 2-3 hours per week
• Upon completion of all required assignments and tasks you will receive:
  • A WCW certificate of completion
  • An invitation to be part of a vibrant WCW business community to stay inspired and have support on your journey of wealth creation.

Program

• This program is free of charge to you!
• Your contribution:
  • Get access to enough data/WIFI to study online and engage in the support facilities and business community;
  • Keep and respect time for peer-to-peer, master coaching sessions, and other events of the program;
  • Respond to surveys and questionnaires for program adaptation and improvement;
  • Interact and engage with fellow program participants to make use of all the opportunities offered to help you succeed.

Benefits

• To have structured training on the WCW Online Ignite course with customized coaching, mentoring, advice, and technical assistance;
• To equip yourself with the mindset, tools, skills, resources, and networks you need to accelerate the growth of your business to unleash your potential as a woman entrepreneur and a wealth creator;
• To set audacious goals, find accountability partners, and strengthen personal mastery, confidence, and resilience to overcome obstacles;
• To receive invitations to regular entrepreneurship networking events and round tables to build social and business capital;
• To access a pool of rated service providers to support growth, access to markets and finance;
• After completion of the program, you will become part of a 3-year dynamic movement led by women entrepreneurs with the ambition, vision, and commitment to create wealth for their families and employment opportunities for young people in their communities.

Required Documents

• Certified Identity Document (ID), not older than 3 months
• Proof of business registration certificate
• BEE certificate OR an affidavit, not older than 12 months

Important dates