We’re officially a charity!

Since our first newsletter, we’ve reached an important milestone: FESA is now a registered Canadian charity.

Meeting the Canada Revenue Agency’s requirements is an achievement for us. It adds credibility to our work, provides assurance that we meet the standards expected of Canadian charities, and means that we can now issue official donation receipts.

Just as importantly, the process of becoming a charity helped us sharpen our focus.

A clearer mission for FESA

Our work is now centered on two things:

• Providing financing to high-potential micro-businesses

• Supporting those businesses with practical coaching to help them succeed

We’ll work with our implementation partner, Aspire Youth, to identify promising entrepreneurs and support them as they take the next step towards building sustainable businesses.

You can learn more about our approach and impact on our website.

An update from Aspire Youth

Based in Cape Town, Aspire Youth works with approximately 60 young people at a time through an 18-month program.

Many participants are unemployed and have grown up in very challenging circumstances in South Africa’s townships. The program helps them develop entrepreneurial skills, build a business plan and prepare to start a business of their own.

These are the kinds of young entrepreneurs we hope to support through FESA.

Aspire Youth recently released its 2025 Impact Report, and the results are encouraging:

• 42% of program graduates are running their own micro-businesses.

• 31% have a job with an employer.

• 27% are both employed and operating a business.

• 58% earn more than R7,500 per month (approximately C$650+).

These are particularly meaningful results given that participants generally enter the program without a Grade 12 qualification.

There’s another result that caught our attention. Aspire Youth measures participants’ wellbeing as part of the program. At the beginning, just 8% demonstrated healthy living behaviours and mindsets. By graduation, that figure had risen to 82%.

We see real value in Aspire Youth’s focus on building the personal foundations that support business success. Building a business isn't just about learning how to make money. It also involves developing confidence, resilience, relationships and a belief in what is possible.

A few observations on South Africa

Many of you have a personal connection to South Africa, so from time to time we’ll share a short perspective on what’s happening in the country.

Our latest piece looks at a growing government–business partnership that’s improving power, ports, and growth. Big challenges remain, but the collaboration gives some reason for optimism.

And then there are the Boks…

We’re passionate about helping South Africans build better futures—and, for those of you with connections to rugby, you are aware of the passion that South Africa has for their rugby team, the Springboks!

The mighty All Blacks are currently touring South Africa in a series billed as “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.” The Boks are currently leading 2-1, the quality from both teams has been outstanding, and the final showdown now moves to Baltimore, Maryland, this Saturday.

Thank you for being part of this

Thank you for subscribing to the FESA newsletter.

At this stage, our community is still small, but every subscriber helps. A growing network gives us credibility, introduces more people to our work and, importantly, helps us connect with potential corporate sponsors and other supporters.

We’ll keep our communications low-key—around four newsletters a year—and take a similarly measured approach to fundraising.

We’re grateful you’re here, and we’d love to hear from you anytime at contact@fosterentrepreneurssouthafrica.org

Know someone who might be interested?

If someone in your circle has a connection to South Africa or might enjoy hearing about entrepreneurship, opportunity and positive change in the country, please consider forwarding this newsletter to them.

They can subscribe here.