Zambian Breweries Plc., a subsidiary of SABMiller Plc., has partnered with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in an over K60m-worth project that is meant to develop youth entrepreneurs in the Copperbelt Province. Under this partnership, Zambian Breweries will provide the youth entrepreneurs with Coca-Cola Mobile trolleys and soft drinks as start-up capital for their new enterprises.
Zambian Breweries Plc., which has been involved in enterprise and entrepreneurship development through its well-developed and coordinated value chain, is excited at the prospect of giving back to the communities with a focus on the youth.
Under the collaboration, the ILO is providing technical support to three Youth Organisations in the Copperbelt Province which include Roan Youth in Luanshya, Mackenzie Youth in Ndola and Yew Tree Youth at Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation in Kitwe. The technical support includes training in entrepreneurship using the ILO Gender and Entrepreneurship training manual, while Zambian Breweries will provide the start-up capital in the form of trading facilities and soft drinks.
In line with its “Ten (10) Sustainable Development Priorities”, Zambian Breweries’ involvement with the ILO is guided by the sixth priority which looks into creating partnerships and encouraging enterprise development in the value chain and also in creating shared value.
Zambian Breweries Plc. Managing Director, Anele Malumo, said: “We are definitely creating shared value and, through our value chain, we are providing real and tangible business opportunities for young local entrepreneurs that benefit both the corporation and the
stakeholders involved. This programme will endeavour to discourage long-term dependency, especially in the case of the small entrepreneurs as the “Shared Value” principle aims to create an interdependent relationship with mutual benefits to all.”
In phase one of the project, 30 youths from the three Youth organisations have been identified and trained. The youths will receive Coca-Cola Mobile trolleys and two cases of soft drinks from Zambian Breweries as start-up capital. Zambian Breweries has further trained the beneficiaries in product handling and will provide technical support in trolley maintenance while phase two will extend to other towns in the Copperbelt Province.