Build Your Social Enterprise

Background

I am Theresa Muller, CEO and founder of South African Conversations, a majority black-owned social entrepreneurial company. Our mission is to make a significant impact in our community through three key initiatives: community conversations, a monthly magazine, and a resource directory. Each of these initiatives provides financial opportunities and valuable resources to the people we serve.

Our community conversations facilitate discussions that address local issues, while our monthly magazine is distributed through NPOs, providing income to unemployed sellers. For instance, each seller earns 50% of the magazine's cover price, potentially making R3750 per month. The NPOs supporting these sellers also benefit financially. Our resource directory offers solutions to community problems, making it an invaluable tool for social workers and government employees, especially in areas with limited internet access.

The Build Your Social Enterprise Programme

I stumbled upon the Build Your Social Enterprise Programme by accident. Someone suggested I attend an event in November last year, and I ended up signing up for a five-month training program. Initially, I thought I knew enough about business, but I was in for a surprise. The programme offered me a wealth of knowledge and connections in my new community.

Learning and Growth 

Throughout the programme, we had homework assignments that progressively built our skills and knowledge. I had to create a video, develop a pitch, and refine our financial projections—tasks I had little experience with. This structured learning process helped me understand my organization’s strengths and weaknesses and how to present them effectively. I learned so much, and it was clear why I had struggled to gain traction before.

Pitch Development and Success

Developing my pitch was a significant part of the programme. My initial attempts were not great, but with continuous learning and feedback, I improved significantly. The hard work paid off when I became one of the top five finalists in the Western Cape Pitch Competition and eventually won first prize. 

Impact of Winning

Winning the R10,000 prize was incredible. I plan to use the money to enhance our website, making it search engine optimized and improving its functionality for better interaction with community participants and NPOs. This investment is crucial for expanding our reach and efficiency in serving the community.

Conclusion

My journey through the Build Your Social Enterprise Programme is a testament to the power of education and support in driving social change. The structured training provided me with the tools and confidence to make a lasting impact. South African Conversations continues to thrive, thanks to the dedication and support from the programme and its partners. 

I want to express my deepest gratitude to the people and organizations that made this opportunity possible, including the SAB Foundation, Industrial Development Corporation, and Social Enterprise Academy. Thank you for helping me and my team make a difference.