Final-year Sustainable Development student Gafsa Adam has found early success as an entrepreneur after her jewellery business was selected to be featured on American online marketplace ShopConsciously, where it will be exposed to international markets.

Adam was selected after completing a 12-week training programme offered by Women Enabled Enterprises (WEE), an incubator that strives to help low income, high potential women start or grow a small business for self-sufficiency. They do this through virtual, mobile based, foundational business training; industry-specific postgraduate support and micro-funding.

WEE asked the School of Public Leadership, which offers a three-year Diploma in Sustainable Development, to recommend students who would be willing to participate in the programme. The School then encouraged students who operate existing businesses to apply.

Adam, who started her enterprise Little Tiger Jewellers in September 2021 “because it was already a hobby and I love what I do", responded to the challenge.

“I applied but did not think I would get in as the requirements for acceptance seemed too stringent for my business. Being a student, I had all but forgotten about the application when I suddenly received an e-mail that I was accepted into the 2022 WEE training programme."

The training equipped participants with the basic skills to manage their business to profitability, and covered topics such as idea formulation, readiness, market analysis, marketing strategies and financial planning.

Near the end of the training programme participants were asked to draw up a business proposal which they were required to pitch to ShopConsciously.

Adam says the help she received from WEE to refine her business model and to enhance her pitch played a big part in her being shortlisted and eventually chosen by ShopConsciously.

“My business was picked because of my products which are all hand-made and its social impact – I only use local suppliers and sustainable packaging materials."

The 22-year-old's business will start marketing its jewellery products on the ShopConsciously e-commerce site in the US fall (autumn). WEE will also be marketing her business and products in the US at the end of October.

However, she is not only in it for herself and already has big plans to enlarge her social footprint.

“I am hoping to establish Little Tiger Jewellers as a social enterprise with workshops to train youth in jewellery design, financial intelligence, entrepreneurship and marketing. I hope my business will have a consistent and lasting impact on communities and the lives of our youth."

The Pretoria native reserved special praise for everyone who assisted her on her journey, especially “my late Aunty Saajeda Ali for teaching me how to make the jewellery I am selling today and my parents for always being interested in my business and buying supplies for me to start my business. I would also like to thank my partner as he helped me establish my business name and always supported me".

Dr Ruenda Loots, lecturer and head of the Diploma in Sustainable Development programme, said: “We encourage our students from Day 1 to find their 'why' and then to take that passion into the world. Some students, like Gafsa, already have a side hustle or idea when they enrol, while others find it along the way. The Diploma encourages students to experiment, play, take initiative and learn by doing – Gafsa has done just that! It is such a privilege to support students like Gafsa in this journey."

• The Diploma in Sustainable Development grounds students in principles of sustainability and entrepreneurship for future social impact and ecological restoration. It provides theoretical knowledge and practical experience in areas such as sustainable technologies, complexity and ecology, social entrepreneurship, leadership development, social activation, small business management skills, creativity and storytelling.