Africa-Press – Eswatini. The future of youth-led enterprise in the Shiselweni region received a significant investment last week, as SNG Grant Thornton injected E87 000 into a comprehensive Youth Business Seminar in partnership with local non-profit Begin Your Dreams.
Thirty-one ambitious young entrepreneurs from Nhlangano and surrounding areas successfully completed the intensive three-day programme, the 4th edition of the seminar (previously held in Siteki), which ran from November 26–28 2025, at the ENYC Training Centre.
The seminar was specifically designed to bridge the gap between entrepreneurial ambition and business reality by focusing heavily on key areas essential for scaling a business: Financial Readiness Training, guiding youth on creating Bankable Business Plans, and cultivating Entrepreneurial Soft Skills like leadership, communication, and resilience. To ensure a practical, real-world experience, the programme facilitated high-level engagement with crucial stakeholders including the Central Bank of Eswatini, Eswatini Bank, Old Mutual, the Youth Enterprise Fund, and the SNYC, who provided insights into funding pathways and market access.
Founder of Begin Your Dreams, Bertha Sithole, highlighted the long-term value of SNG Grant Thornton’s partnership:
“SNG Grant Thornton has consistently demonstrated what it means to unlock potential for growth. Each year, this business seminar attracts more determined and focused young entrepreneurs, and we witness their transformation firsthand. The growth we see in the participants, from how they think, plan, and present their businesses, confirms that SNG is addressing a real challenge faced by our youth: access to structured support and pathways for sustainable enterprise. We are proud to partner with an organisation whose investment delivers measurable progress and long-term impact.”
Participants praised the seminar for profoundly altering their approach to business management. Jaha Budzala, a participant from Nhlangano, remarked, “This programme has changed how we think about business. We now understand what financial readiness really means and how to separate business and personal finance. SNG Grant Thornton and Begin Your Dreams didn’t just give us information, they opened doors and showed us how to step through them.”
While the training has concluded, the most exciting phase is just beginning.
Participants now have one month to apply their new knowledge by developing and submitting fundable business plans. In January 2026, the Top 10 entrepreneurs will pitch their proposals in the high-stakes E30 000 Seed Capital Competition, with the prizes structured as follows: 1st Prize: E15 000, 2nd Prize: E10 000, and 3rd Prize: E5 000. The top three winners will also receive six months of structured mentorship from Begin Your Dreams.
This model has a proven track record, with previous winner Nonjabuliso Dlamini now operating a thriving sigayo (maize mill) in Siteki. The initiative stands as a clear reflection of SNG Grant Thornton’s continued contribution to economic participation, SME growth, and youth empowerment across Eswatini.
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