0 Comments    Entrepreneurs Stories, South Africa       Trackback

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.

0 Comments    Entrepreneurs Stories, Field Team, Mentoring, Microfinance, Ministry, New Creation Family Church, South Africa       Trackback

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!

1 Comment    Entrepreneurs Stories, Field Team, Mentoring, Microfinance, Ministry, New Creation Family Church, South Africa       Trackback

0 Comments    Entrepreneurs Stories, Microfinance, South Africa       Trackback

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.
0 Comments    Entrepreneurs Stories, Mentoring, Microfinance, Ministry, New Creation Family Church, South Africa       Trackback