Article by: Unspecified
Publication: Northglen News
DOMINO Business Development’s Mickey Wilkins describes an inspiring success story that occurred through a partnership between his company and The Domino Foundation.
The story involves two young men, Ashley Mabasa and Mdu Zulu, who are now able to run their own businesses.
“The 2022 floods damaged many ECD centres that the foundation works with. Funding from ABSA was secured for the rebuilding of several centres. At the same time, chemical manufacturer, SIKA, donated a significant amount of water-proofing product to the foundation as an ‘SED grant’ which Domino Business Development stored until the rebuilding project began,” said Wilkins.
Mabasa had been on the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme, facilitated by Domino Business and People-Wise, for unemployed youth and was placed at a waterproofing company.
He was offered and became the sole shareholder in the company and then hosted two more YES candidates, giving him a sound financial start.
Zulu, the second man, was running a car renovation and sales and car-lifting business and had registered a construction company.
He volunteered as a driver with the foundation’s Disaster Relief Unit and was taken on in a ‘casual-paid’ position because of his excellent work ethic.
“The foundation, recognising Zulu’s entrepreneurial potential, negotiated a six-month Enterprise Development contract with his construction company. People-Wise approached Ashley about mentoring Zulu as a YES candidate to release leadership and technical skills,” said Wilkins.
When Zulu completes the YES programme in 2024, Mabasa plans to sub-contract work to his construction company.
The project manager contracted on the ABSA rebuild project sub-contracted the waterproofing to Zulu’s company. Mabasa assisted with the quotations and invoicing. As the work was in the Amaoti area, Zulu employed local labour on the project.
The SIKA product donated to The Domino Foundation was used together with other materials bought from Mabasa’s company.
“Skills transfer was made to a promising entrepreneur; a new business emerged and expertise in the use of the product range was gained; a quality YES candidate was a significant benefit to a developing black-owned business; the ECD centre repairs were achieved using quality products and techniques, and waterproofing solutions were demonstrated in the townships; the project manager can now use the new business as a service provider on other jobs,” he said.
“This amazing co-operation is an inspiration for other success stories.”
Wilkins is keen to help facilitate other partnerships in communities and can be contacted on Mickey@dominobusiness.co.za.