JENELLE FRASER

Dear AFETT,

I am a female business owner interested in giving back to my community.

I had help coming up and growing my business, but even then, it has not been easy. I believe in entrepreneurship as a way up and want to show others that if I can, they can.

However, I want to do this in a way that is safe, structured and sustainable. I don’t want to be approached looking for handouts.

How can small to medium business owners like myself best contribute and invest in initiatives that promote the advancement of women in business?

Dear Rhea,

It is remarkable to be able to thrive as a business owner and it is commendable that you are willing to donate a portion of the proceeds from your enterprise by giving back to your community.

The most far-reaching and impactful philanthropic ventures are the ones geared towards developing initiatives that are safe, structured and sustainable.

In fact, at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted. This agenda includes 17 transformative, global and inclusive sustainable development goals focused on:

People – seeking to ensure healthy lives, knowledge and the inclusion of women and children, and

Prosperity – geared towards the growth of a strong, inclusive and transformative economy.

In light of this, here are three ways you can give back to your community.

Share your ingredient

One of the most effective contributions you can make at the community level is to share your ingredients for success by guiding existing and/or aspiring business owners.

This initiative can be executed on a small scale through different social media platforms, or on a larger scale through interactive in-person seminars.

This approach is safe as it targets a very specific audience, the structure is determined by you and it can be tailored to your preference. Undoubtedly, the knowledge imparted will be beneficial.

[caption id="attachment_1068435" align="alignnone" width="640"] Jenelle Fraser, AFETT member -[/caption]

There is a myriad of small business owners desperate for guidance on how to effectively manage and sustain their business to ensure it is lucrative.

This approach can be mutually beneficial, whereby you can give yourself while simultaneously contributing positively towards the advancement of women in business.

This initiative can be strategised to specifically target female business owners within a particular industry, age or interest – and it can foster inclusivity of women in business.

Partner with NGOs

You can give back to your community by reaching out to registered non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and proposing partnership arrangements.

There are numerous active and legally registered NGOs with existing programmes geared towards shaping conversations, launching initiatives and offering recommendations in alignment with your desire to give back.

This approach is effective, as the framework is already established by the organisation and you will have the liberty to si