Achievements and Some Success Stories
We have been through the grind of very tough lessons in development, and have achieved successes in spite, or because of (!!) difficult times. A passion for pioneering innovation has driven us to seek solutions for poverty and go where some fear to tred... Most of our success stories are linked to breaking new ground in development practices and ensuring benefits to communities. We treasure our relationships with individual beneficiaries as people matter most in our projects. The stories of their lives, and their successes, we acknowledge and celebrate, as these have inspired us...Thembisa salutes Anita Roddick and The Body Shop...
Meet Thembisa, who started her ceramics business two years ago. As unemployed mother with two small children, she registered for basic skills training in pottery. Two years later she supports four families by providing employment to women from her local community.
An out-sourced export order from a local FET Institution for The Body Shop kick-started a process in which many lives are touched. The 'African Bowl' was developed by The Body Shop for the company for display purposes. An initial order to the College created spin-offs for the ceramics graduates, who were identified as potential entrepreneurs.
Business mentors continuously voiced their confidence in the new entrepreneurs and strongly motivated that return orders be cascaded to Thembisa and other start-up businesses. The strategy of creating market access for local entrepreneurs have paid off and it has affected the growth of Thembisa's business directly.
"The Body Shop has always believed that business is primarily about human relationships. We believe that the more we listen to our stakeholders and involve them in decision making, the better our business will run". Our experience with The Body Shop was very positive, as the company takes development seriously and truly listens to stakeholders at grassroots.
Thank you to The Body Shop for your contribution to fair trade in South Africa. You do not measure profits only in Rands, Pounds or Cents, but also in gains in the society.
An out-sourced export order from a local FET Institution for The Body Shop kick-started a process in which many lives are touched. The 'African Bowl' was developed by The Body Shop for the company for display purposes. An initial order to the College created spin-offs for the ceramics graduates, who were identified as potential entrepreneurs.
Business mentors continuously voiced their confidence in the new entrepreneurs and strongly motivated that return orders be cascaded to Thembisa and other start-up businesses. The strategy of creating market access for local entrepreneurs have paid off and it has affected the growth of Thembisa's business directly.
"The Body Shop has always believed that business is primarily about human relationships. We believe that the more we listen to our stakeholders and involve them in decision making, the better our business will run". Our experience with The Body Shop was very positive, as the company takes development seriously and truly listens to stakeholders at grassroots.
Thank you to The Body Shop for your contribution to fair trade in South Africa. You do not measure profits only in Rands, Pounds or Cents, but also in gains in the society.
Choose another USI success story:
In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in an clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.