BeCoCo’s Cultivation Experience:
Inspiration, Cultivation & Expansion!
By Shone Coutries & New Wave Premium Brands
Last week I had the opportunity to participate in one of BeCoCo Cultivation & Networking Opportunity on 20th April 2023 at the Protea Hotel in Wanderers, Johannesburg.
BeCoCo Co-Founder and Board Director, Rev. Kelvin Sauls invited BeCoCo Partners to experience an exciting opportunity for personal inspiration, organisational cultivation & network expansion. This exciting experience was the launch of the UBUNTU Foundation Business Breakfast in Johannesburg with his friend, partner and author, Kevin Chaplin.
In collaboration with the Ubuntu Foundation, with sponsorship was facilitated by Mr. Chaplin and BeCoCo, we also welcomed matric learners and educators from Ennerdale Technical High School. “This opportunity presented a unique experience for our learners to allow the world to become their classroom and be exposed to business and community leaders,” says Dr. Jakobus Sauls, Principal of Ennerdale Technical High School.
Horizons were broadened at the breakfast as we connected with various business and community leaders. Sponsorship for the Business Breakfast came from Crazy Stores, DHL, Delta Travel, and Sure Travel. In attendance were legendary South African singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, humanitarian and teacher, Yvonne Chaka Chaka. Dubbed the “Princess of Africa, Chaka Chaka is a champion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and malaria, the United Nations MDG Envoy for Africa, and the Goodwill Ambassador for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. She was chosen by Nelson Mandela as the first ambassador for his children’s fund, and has also established her own charity, the Princess of Africa Foundation, using the name first given to her in Uganda. The Princess of Africa Foundation is a partner of the ACTION global health advocacy partnership. In 2012, she was the first African woman to receive the World Economic Forum‘s Crystal Award.
The Theme for the breakfast meeting was: ▪︎ Reflect! ▪︎ Redefine! ▪︎ Realign! As the keynote speaker and author of “Can Do! Making the Impossible Possible.” Kevin’s keynote acknowledged the current challenges while issuing a call to action. Amid paralyzing challenges of gender-based violence and youth unemployment, political stagnation and corruption, and the debilitating impact of the electricity crisis, he encouraged those present to engage in creative and innovate collective acts of hope.
Kevin reminded us that we are overcomers as South Africans. He urged us to leverage the power of hope that must fuel resilience. With faith in the good that reside in each one of us, we need to continue cultivating strategic partnerships between government, private sector, businesses, NGO’S, NPO’S and FBO’S. We must never forget to organize, mobilize and actualize people power to facilitate community upliftment and betterment. He encouraged leaders to make time for mentorship and coaching young people in the development of character and leadership, spirituality and entrepreneurship. Though we are surrounded by hopelessness and brokenness, hope and resilience are commodities we must continue to elevate and celebrate.
CAN’T!’ is not a word in Chaplin’s vocabulary. From humble beginnings he realised that the only way to change his world was to act ̶ a philosophy that has stood him good stead ever since, first with a 26 year-career in banking from which he took the bold step to establish the South African Ubuntu Foundation, and second to rescue the Amy Biehl Foundation (now Amy Foundation www.amyfoundation.co.za) from the brink of bankruptcy. Located in the Western Cape, The Amy Foundation is now providing life-changing afterschool programmes which develop and empower youngsters, aged 5-35 years from challenged and vulnerable communities of Gugulethu and Bonteheuwel. With a Youth Development Skills Programme based at their Head Office in Sybrand Park, the Amy Foundation helps young adults prepare for the world of work, employment and entrepreneurship.
He encouraged the young people to develop appetite for growth and an attitude of gratitude in pursuit of becoming their best selves by applying the following principles:
- Live by words that are positive and transformative.
- Stand for what is good and uplifting.
- Cultivate a heart of generosity towards others.
- Choose your company wisely.
- Run and walk away from negative and destructive people.
- Invest your TIME, TALENT, and TREASURE in uplifting others.
With all the difficulties we are facing as a country, the message from the event was load and clear, we as individuals must step up, step in and step out to save this country! “We are then ones we’ve been waiting for!” As we prepare for the consequential 2024 national elections, we must keep our eyes on strengthening the vitality of our constitutional democracy with a foundation of human dignity, integrity, transparency and accountability. We must lift our voices, visions and votes to enhance the quality of life for all South Africans. Now more than ever, we must capacitate ourselves with respect and tolerance for difference and a deep commitment to restore true UBUNTU.
BeCoCo sponsored every learner and teacher present from Ennerdale High School with an autographed copy of Kevin’s book, “Can Do! Making the Impossible Possible.” This initiative is part of our commitment to invest in cultivating and promoting a “Can Do” attitude within the matric students during this finale year of their secondary school.
Thanks BeCoCo for the opportunity to ▪︎ Reflect! ▪︎ Redefine! ▪︎ Realign! with the launch of the UBUNTU Business Breakfast in Johannesburg. It was an exciting opportunity for personal inspiration, organisational cultivation & network expansion!!
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