Shaping our girl-trepreneurs

When Chantelle Goliath, co-founder and CEO of New Heritage Foundation, was a teenager in the 1990s, she was already an entrepreneur in the making.

Raised in Klipfontein Mission Station, adjacent to Lower Crossroads, Chantelle’s first stint as an entrepreneur was cleaning other people’s homes and babysitting her neighbours’ children after school. The money she earned was used to buy essentials like sanitary towels and deodorants for herself and her siblings.

Today, the entrepreneur and mother to three girls, aged 14 and nine (twins), dedicates her time, energy and talent to empowering poverty-stricken young girls through the New Heritage  Foundation. The organisation focuses on early childhood development (ECD) and education, youth and women in informal settlements. It has been working in underprivileged communities such as Klipfontein Mission Station, Mitchell’s Plain, Heinz Park and Wallacedene and Siqalo informal settlements for the last six years.

In July, New Heritage Foundation is launching three-year Making a Girl-Trepreneur programme for 50 girls between 11 and 17 years old. The programme comprises various age-appropriate elements including boot camps, computer skills, financial and fashion design training, exports and imports, agriculture, film and networking. The participants will also receive bursaries and travel opportunities.