One of the most frequent questions asked of Paradigm Shift is, “What types of businesses do your entrepreneurs run?”

Elizabeth Bennett, Paradigm Shift’s Johannesburg Training Manager, recently compiled a fairly comprehensive list of the types of businesses Paradigm Shift has worked with over the past year. There is certainly no shortage of creativity amongst our entrepreneurs…!

Selling/renting out children’s costumes

Selling custom promotional clothing

Exporting clothes to Zimbabwe

Running an internet café

Sewing handbags and tablecloths

Tailoring clothes

Designing clothes

Making curtains

Selling handbags/knick-knacks on the side of the road

Designing and creating greeting cards (and other products) from recycled paper

Selling perfume and make-up

Selling airtime for a public phone

Baking scones

Catering

Making jewelry

Selling second-hand clothes

Selling pap (traditional African food)

Selling chickens

Exporting clothes to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Designing computer graphics

Crafting bead-work souvenirs

Styling hair

Doing construction projects

Owning a tuck shop/spaza shop*

Owning a crèche (providing childcare services)

Providing administrative services (typing, printing etc.)

Providing skills training services

Exporting batteries to Zimbabwe

Welding metal services

Landscaping

*A tuck shop or spaza shop is somewhat similar to a community convenience store.

This week Assist News Service published an article about Paradigm Shift entitled, “Paradigm Shift Extends God’s Family by Empowering Entrepreneurs.”

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the four key components (business training, microcredit, discipleship and mentoring) the Paradigm Shift program uses to connect business-minded members of local churches with microentrepreneurs in their communities.

Please forward the article to anyone you think might be interested in learning more about Paradigm Shift!

25 entrepreneurs finished strong by completing Paradigm Shift’s two-day intensive Business Experience Course at one of our partner churches in Johannesburg last weekend.

Many of these entrepreneurs will be paired with a mentor and also have committed to come back through for the 18-week training where they will participate in three things each week:

1. The Paradigm Shift’s Business Growth Course – 16 core business topics that they can immediately apply to their business. With the increase in knowledge, an increase in profits usually results. Last year we found an 82% average increase in business income by the end of the 18 weeks!
2. The Paradigm Shift’s Emmaus Road Course - 17 core topics that encourage an entrepreneur in growing in their relationship with Christ. Each week we look at a topic that is basic to following Jesus and understand how it applies to entrepreneurs lives. Last year, we found 26% of entrepreneurs started a relationship with Christ and many of the rest stated that they were able to deepen their understanding of God’s plan for their lives!
3. Repaying their microloan – For those entrepreneurs who receive a loan, the weekly meeting is a place where they bring a weekly repayment for their loan. It is also a time where they form and fortify community among the others whom they social guarantee.