This year, we did something extraordinary – we opened our offices eKasi. Our vision extends beyond profits; we aspire to make a positive impact in our community. We rolled up our sleeves and transformed an abandoned container into a charming office space. Initially, it seemed like a delusion. How could we run a fully-fledged agency with just one team member (the founder) from an abandoned container in a bush?
Well, what seemed impossible became a reality. We built a delightful office space for Millennial Mindset in the small township community called Leachville. From there, the founder transformed from one to two, then three, and more. We employed young, unemployed, and inexperienced – yet talented – youth, providing them with a platform to learn the skills necessary to participate in the digital economy.
Security was a major concern, and we realized that serving the youth through digital skills alone wasn’t enough to gain community buy-in. We needed to break bread with them – and so we did. Hosting weekly feeding schemes not only endeared us to the community but also contributed to enhancing security.
Subsequently, we hosted educational workshops, consistently provided food parcels and soup to community members, distributed clothing and toiletries, and launched the first-ever community garden to promote sustainability. Additionally, we offered free digital skills training, providing a space for township youth to nurture and grow their skills.
But that’s not all. We inaugurated the first-ever community library and created an after-school program where high school students and others could come to read, study, do research, and receive support in their educational journey. We partnered with Nedbank to provide Financial Skills training, empowering the township community.
All these accomplishments were achieved from a small container with no electricity, water, or funding. We achieved all this with very limited resources and support – just a vision to make an impact and a hardworking, driven team.
In 2023, we made a significant impact in our community as a Social Enterprise, collaborating with purpose-driven clients such as S.MAB Group, Rinato Clinic, Royal Bopedi TV, and Lumkani. We also collaborated with brands like Mentorly Africa, The South African Social Media Awards, Womx, Vodacom, Nedbank, Young Timbers, Brakpan and Wattville Library, Chefs With Compassion, and BetterBNB on amazing campaigns. Not to forget the collaborations with amazing personal brands such as Hetty The Entrepreneur, Lebo Lion, and Snoekie Mabena Saleh. Our hard work and impact gained recognition from eKasi on the global stage.
In 2023, our founder Marcia Monareng won two awards in Kenya at the Founder of The Year Global Awards for Mediapreneur of the Year and Social Founder of The Year. Millennial Mindset was recognized as one of the Top 64 Youth Owned Brands in South Africa at the Top 16 Youth Owned Brands Awards. Multiple nominations were received at the Vita Basadi Awards organized by the Gauteng Legislature. Our Founder was shortlisted as a SANTAM Rising Star Finalist for 2024 and won the Reader’s Choice Award at this year’s SANTAM Women of The Future Awards. Both Millennial Mindset Media and Marcia Monareng received recognition from the Standard Bank Top Women Awards. Marcia Monareng was recognized as a finalist under the Top Women Entrepreneur of the Year, among 10 other phenomenal women entrepreneurs in South Africa. Millennial Mindset Media was recognized as one of the Top Women-Owned SMMEs in 2023, among 11 other phenomenal women-led organizations.
It’s safe to say that 2023 was a wonderful year for us, marking the beginning of a bigger and brighter future for Millennial Mindset Media – a future characterized by digital transformation and sustainable impact. A future centered on making a change before making a change. Millennial Mindset’s story is a testament to the fact that when you focus on people, the profit will follow.
2023 formed a great foundation for this year. Despite facing many challenges and obstacles, we are certain that we will overcome them. We have achieved incredible things with limited to no resources from an old abandoned container with a team of young, “inexperienced and under-qualified” youth who’ve been sidelined by corporates in our industry. We have proven how powerful South African Township youth can be if given the resources and a chance.
So, if we could achieve all that in 2023, imagine what we can do with support from the government and purpose-driven corporates in 2024! Share this post and help us reach like-minded businesses and organizations who can collaborate with us on our journey to success. Whether it is through working with us as their service provider/partner or donating to our organization, let us make #TwentyTwenty4Growth 🙌🏿