Over 100 Young Women Entrepreneurs Empowered at Youth Day Economic Wellness Bootcamp

More than 100 aspiring young women entrepreneurs gathered on Youth Day at the Rylands Civic Centre in Athlone for the Umanyano SA Economic Wellness Bootcamp, an inspiring initiative focused on building financial confidence, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.

Casidra was honoured to participate in the event, which brought together young women from across the City of Cape Town to engage in meaningful discussions, gain practical insights, and connect with organisations committed to youth and enterprise development. Participants had the opportunity to interact with representatives from Casidra and the Western Cape Government’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT).

Opening the programme, Umanyano SA Founder and Chairperson, Justin Petersen, underscored the importance of economic empowerment for women and the need to create opportunities that foster growth, independence, and long-term financial wellbeing.

Casidra was represented by its Public Relations, Marketing and Communications team, including Experience Matshediso and PR/Comms Administrator Atembele Zembe, who served as a panellist during the discussions.

Addressing attendees, Zembe encouraged the young women to overcome fear and pursue their ambitions with confidence and determination.

“Many people do not pursue their dreams because they are afraid to take the first step. Success lies on the other side of fear,” said Zembe. “Entrepreneurship is a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. My advice is simple: start. Confidence often comes after taking action.”

The panel also featured keynote speakers Dr Marietta Hopley, an independent consultant, and Namhla Malgas from DEDAT. Together, the speakers delivered powerful messages on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, resilience, and personal development.

Throughout the engagement, participants were encouraged to actively seek opportunities, build meaningful professional networks, develop sound financial habits, and take advantage of the various development programmes and support mechanisms available to emerging entrepreneurs.

The event concluded with a wellness and fitness bootcamp session aimed at promoting confidence, resilience, mental wellbeing, and self-care. The activity provided a fitting and impactful conclusion to the Youth Day commemoration, reinforcing the importance of holistic development in empowering the next generation of women leaders and entrepreneurs.

By supporting initiatives such as the Economic Wellness Bootcamp, Casidra continues to contribute to the empowerment of young people and the creation of sustainable opportunities that enable them to realise their full potential.