Introduction
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Background
• UCT Short Course in entrepreneurial Development
• Initiative between UCT and the Ackerman Family
Foundation
• Started in 2005
• Objective: entrepreneurial skills development amongst
young people who would normally “slip through the cracks”
• Soweto Campus opened 2009
Raymond Ackerman Academy
City of Cape Town
• Sponsor of the Academy since 2006
• Grant funding allocated to teaching and student transport
• City relationship integral to Academy success because it
assists with:
Recruitment, access to entrepreneurial opportunities
and initiatives e.g. Cape Town Activa, programme
development and relationship building with
stakeholders.
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Student Profile
• 18 – 30
• Academic, financial, social challenges
• Cape Town (Cape Flats, Khayelitsha, Paarl)
• Matric (case by case basis)
• Interest in developing entrepreneurial and personal skills
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Recruitment
• Selection Workshops – December and June
• Community Newspapers
• City of Cape Town – Smart Cape Libraries
• Alumni - Word of Mouth
• CT Activa Networks
• Various NGO’s and organisations
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Business Curriculum
• UCT Short Course
• Business Fundamentals
• Innovation workshops and business idea generation
• Business Planning and idea testing
• Work Experience
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Student Business Ideas
• Examples include:
– Shower kettle
– Medical delivery service for public hospitals
– Mix peanut butter/ condiment product
– Graffiti boards
– Affordable fire extinguisher from bicarb and vinegar
– Internet funerals and weddings – view on skype so you
don’t have to travel to go
– Shin guards from recycled material
– Skype counseling
– Car helmet for children taking public transport
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Personal Development
• Personal Development / Soft Skills
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Time management
Goal setting
Leading and developing yourself
Vision and mission
Presentation skills
• Individual ‘check-ins’
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Post Course Stats
• 315 Graduates
• 260 Contactable – 80% working, studying or own business
• Of those contactable:
– Own Business:
– Working:
– Studying:
– Studying/working/own business:
– Not working:
32* (+ jobs created)
179
30
10
9
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Successes
• RAA graduate businesses include:
Township tours, panel beaters, computer sanitizing services,
soft furnishings, bin cleaning, driving school,
water sanitation, software development, marketing and
promotions, music and entertainment and
biltong & chocolate-makers.
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Successes
* SEDA Stars Competition 2012 – Provincial Winner 7
National Runner Up
* 2012 Young Entrepreneurs Programme:
Abigail Florence + Vincent Manzini + Daniel Thebe (2010)
Includes a 6 week internship in the USA
(3 of the 14 people chosen for the national YEP from the CT RAA)
* SAB Kickstart 2011 – regional and national winner
(including the winner of the people’s choice award)
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Successes
* City of Cape Town’s Entrepreneurship competition:
3rd place winners in the idea phase, 4th in the 2010 competition
• Shanduka Black Umbrellas – 3 students accepted into
programme
• Abigail Florence (July 2010) – Top 10 finalist in brand strategy
competition with Shanduka Black Umbrellas and Media 24 – she
won R 1 million worth of media space.
* Innovation workshops
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Successes
Dean Stuurman (Jan 2010) was recently appointed as a Capitec Sales
Consultant – he has this to say about the Academy: “Thank you each
and everyone one for the support and preparation for the job, you
will never understand what it means and meant to me and my
family”
Jan Lewin (July 2009) is in her 2nd year of studies at UCT and made it
onto the Dean’s merit list last year – she also won two class medals
Raymond Ackerman Academy
RAA in the Media
•
RAA recently interviewed on SAFM, VOICE OF THE CAPE & CTV
•
Darren Barnes (January 2008), Jan Lewin (July 2009) and Vincent Manzini
(Jan 2010) featured in the Foschini Club X magazine in 2011/2012.
•
Abigail Florence (July 2010) was featured in the Live SA magazine as well
as the Entrepreneurship Africa website.
•
Palesa Moeketsi (Jan 2011) has been on several radio stations after her win
in the SEDA competition, she is also in the current issue of Drum
magazine.
•
Nomfusi Maliti (July 2010) featured in GSB Breakwater Business and
Skills Portal website
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Alumni
RAA Alumni
Facebook Fridays
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Course Evaluations
“ It is the best course ever; it opened my mind to see the
broader picture of life”.
“ Well rounded, touches on everything essential in
business; develops individuals and provides a good
support base”.
“ When I came to the RAA everything I knew about
business was self taught. Now I can confidently say that I
have been taught to do business properly”.
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Course Evaluations
“All I can say for now is just WOW WOW what an
awesome experience it was indeed.. .go into this with
an open mind and don’t be afraid to do your best.”
“The course was insightful, enriching and very
informative. I have grown during the course and I am
proud to say I am a different person now.”
• Thanks for taking the time to invest in my future.”
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Comment from Mr. Ackerman
Because Entrepreneurship is so important to create jobs
in South Africa, I feel that this course is helping in
some small way to train people in this direction.
We are not only training people to become
Entrepreneurs, but also to get experience and training to
get decent jobs in major companies. This really is one of
our broad visions and that is to help people get jobs
in South Africa.
Raymond Ackerman Academy
Raymond Ackerman Academy