The Young Hustlers Entrepreneur Programme gives learners ‘hope’ while at school for life after school.
The Problem
The lack of entrepreneurship training in schools is a serious problem
Most of our schools do not have sufficient entrepreneurship education or nothing at all.
This is setting up our youngsters for a tough ride as they’re not fully prepared for the future challenges they will face.
We’re talking about the extremely high youth unemployment rate, economic instability, job losses due to artificial intelligence, financial uncertainty and more.
But there’s hope. ‘matumaini’
The Young Hustlers Entrepreneur Programme is here to fill this educational void, transforming South Africa’s youth by expanding their outlook, opportunities and their potential in ways you can’t imagine.
This isn’t an opportunity, it is a necessity. Make the move that’ll equip your kids for a successful future. Get them enrolled now.
The challenges facing the youth of South Africa
StatsSA reported that 3,6 million youth aged 15-24 were not in employment, education, or training (NEET) during the first quarter of 2024. This means they could fill up more than…
38 FNB Stadiums
34%
of children drop out of school before matriculating
90%
of first-year applications are rejected by universities
33%
of university students go on to finish their degree and graduate
55%
of youth who have a matric certificate are unemployed
19%
of matriculants qualify to study at university
52%
of students drop out of higher education before finishing their course
70%
of youth are unemployed (expanded definition)
31%
of youth who have a degree are unemployed
Introducing the
Young Hustlers Entrepreneur Programme
Introducing the future of entrepreneurial education with our groundbreaking Young Hustlers Entrepreneur Programme, uniquely poised to transform 200,000 Grade 8 to 12 students from 2000 schools into business innovators over the next 5 years.
Brace yourselves for our thrill-packed adventure, the Young Hustlers Entrepreneur Programme. It’s more than just a programme, it’s a launchpad for your child to rule the ever-evolving world of tomorrow!
Our mission is to nurture your child’s entrepreneurial spirit and gift them with a treasure trove of essential business skills. But hey, we’re not just about business. The Young Hustlers Entrepreneur Programme is like a Swiss army knife, armed with tools to help your child navigate their life with self-assurance, teaching them invaluable life skills along the way.
With us, your child will be ready to explore new opportunities and tackle real-life challenges head-on when they say goodbye to school. Let’s get started on this exciting journey and watch your child transform from a school leaver to a life winner.
The programme starts on a date and time set by the learner's school
Classes are 30 minutes long and streamed online once per week
Students can attend at home or in a classroom at participating schools
All classes are recorded and available to watch anytime on our website
How to get involved
I want to enrol my child
If you are a parent who wants to enrol their child.
Leon Lategan
Meet the founder
Leon Lategan is the Founder and Head Coach of the School of Entrepreneurship and Young Hustlers Entrepreneur Programme.
With a dynamic track record, Leon has empowered over +50,000 entrepreneurs and business owners in the last 3 years at the Global Real Success Summit alongside Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield, Les Brown, Eric Thomas, Daymond John, Dr DeMartini, Brian Tracy and others. + He has travelled internationally to coach million-dollar entrepreneurs in 21 cities on Marketing, Sales and Conversion Optimisation in Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Mauritius, Bahrain, Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania and beyond.
Leon has worked with some of South Africa’s biggest brands, including ABSA, Pam Golding, Nedbank, The Foschini Group, Vodacom, Bidvest Bank, Virgin Active, JEEP, and Renault.
In 2022 and 2023, he was a judge on the Africa’s Business Heroes competition, run by Jack Ma’s Foundation (Billionaire Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba).
Success Stories
The following are success stories of students that Leon, and various other coaches, trained on the School of Entrepreneurship 4LIFE Programme.
Kasi 2 Kasi Plumbers Association
Before starting the programme Thabo made on average R 2000 profit per month. Currently his profits are between R 35 000 – R 80 000 per month.
Thabo is 54 years old and started his business in 2017. He joined the programme in 2023 and during the process, changed the whole focus and strategy of his business.
He operates in Diepsloot Soweto and extended his business to a plumbing association with 3 categories:
- Helping aspiring plumbers in townships to get certified
- Assist existing plumbers (3+years) to become certified and register with ARPL
- Assist qualified plumbers with access to the market and expand their profits.
He partnered with SETA Jhb and also works with Harmony Gold Mine.
His goal for 2024 is to upskill 3000 plumbers to get them certified and registered with the relevant
bodies.
With the knowledge he gained from the entrepreneurship programme he:
- Revisited and changed his strategies
- Changed his business management and focussed on what he does best
- Upskilled his marketing – especially improving his social media marketing
Chillas Zone
Jack is 32 years old and based in Nkambako Village, Tzaneen, Limpopo.
His business was running for 18 months when he joined the programme in March 2023.
Valuable knowledge he gained from the programme:
- how to handle his finances better,
- improved his marketing strategy,
- the importance of time management (which he was lacking)
- understanding goal setting and the importance of it better
- problem analysis
He sees this programme as a “power tool” of knowledge and
guidance that he will continue to use to grow his business.
Imbokodo Courier Services
- she changed my whole business concept to specialize in a specific area
- she learnt and understand the importance of consistency now
- and to never give up, but rather to find solutions to every challenge she encountered
She also make use of outsourcing services in order to meet her client’s needs.
Maxin Clothing
Preciah is the Principal of Westvalia Day Care Centre. She lives in Khujwana Village and her business is based in Tzaneen, Limpopo.
She started her business as a hobby in October 2022, and was running for 4 months when she joined the programme in March 2023.
She employed a manager when she opened her 1st shop, in December 2023 she employed an assistant for her second shop.
She got a partner in 2023 and opened a second outlet in December 2023. She gained valuable knowledge regarding:
- pricing structures,
- understand the finances better and how to manage it,
- a better understanding of her business concept,
- gained much through proper marketing research as learnt from the programme,
- goal setting,
- corrected many mistakes she made in the beginning because she had little knowledge of how to run a business and
- motivation to never give up at times when she felt she wanted to give up.
Gemini Engineering Solutions
His annual turnover before the programme was +/- R 250 000, his annual turnover after the programme was +/- R1.1 million.
Velaphi is 40 years and started his business in 2015. He is an Engineering Consultant, based in Durban.
He self-funded using his payout after resigning from his job in 2015. Since the programme, he received a R100 000 grant from a Sasol Development Fund and as part of the Sasol Programme can get up to R10 Million interest-free loan for capital expenditure required for any specific customer project.
He has grown from being a subcontractor to being the main contractor on projects.
He sustains himself and 5 employees, with about a dozen contract workers.
Skills learnt particularly from the programme:
- Marketing strategies and following up with prospects
- Accountability (focus, motivation, goal setting)
- Branding (clarity and tools to use to save costs)
Ultra Intellects Gardening and Cleaning
Valentine Lunga
★★★★★
“Coach Leon, you are the best!! thank you for a platform that educates and equips me to start and scale my business. The school of entrepreneurship has become part of my life. I have mixed emotions as i finish with my course, I am happy that i have learnt so much, have built amazing friendships with the other students and have been taught by the best but i will miss you and all the other coaches. Thank you so much !! I will go out there and implement all that i have been taught, cant’t wait.”
Valentine Lunga
★★★★★
Sue Lorraine
★★★★★
Nobuhle Zondi
★★★★★
Thomas Antoine-Williams
★★★★★
Caroline Karanja
★★★★★
Puleng Matatiele
★★★★★
Sbusisiwe Chili
★★★★★
FAQs
No, there are none. All learners of school-going age can enrol in the Young Hustlers Entrepreneur Programme, whether they are attending school or not. Marks don’t matter either.
The Young Hustlers Entrepreneur Programme is designed for learners in high school, between the ages of 12 and 18, but if your child is a few years younger, they are still welcome to join the Programme.
It costs R200 for the year and you can carry on with the programme even after they’ve left school.
Payments are processed securely by PayFast who offers the following options:
– Credit or cheque card (Visa or MasterCard)
– Debit card (Visa Electron or Maestro)
– Instant EFT via FNB, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Capitec, Thyme, African Bank, Bidvest, or Investec
– QR Code Apps provided by SnapScan, Zapper, and Scan to Pay by Ukheshe, as well as FNB, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Capitec, Vodapay, RMB, and Pay Spot
– MoreThyme by Thyme Bank
– Mobicred
– SCode via retailers such as Shoprite, Checkers, Checkers Hyper, OK Furniture, House & Home, and Usave
– RCS Store Cards
Please visit PayFast to learn more about these payment options, or contact us if you have questions.
Yes, if a learner successfully completes the Young Hustlers Entrepreneur Programme’s curriculum by attending all the coaching sessions, either live or by watching the recordings, and completing all the assignments.
How to get involved
I want to enrol my child
If you are a parent who wants to enrol their child.
Contact Us
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