More Than a Business Programme : How EYWA Changed My Entrepreneurial Journey

When I registered my company, SHE FITS, in 2024, I was 20 years old. I was armed with an idea, faith and hope but very little understanding of what the journey into entrepreneurship would actually require.

I did not have years of business experience, nor a mentor to guide me through every decision. I learnt the ropes along the way as I tried to understand not only how to build a business but how to become the kind of person capable of building one.

Everything started to change when I encountered the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and its Employability for Youth and Women in South Africa (EYWA) programme.

I registered for EYWA in February 2025 and received my acceptance towards the end of the month. From March to June, I became part of a programme designed to equip young people and women entrepreneurs with practical skills for building sustainable businesses.

The programme went beyond simply teaching us how to manage a company, because through its training sessions, mentorship and exposure, we were challenged to evaluate ourselves and our resources, set meaningful goals, improve our operations, understand our customers and build businesses capable of growing.

One of the most important lessons for me was that entrepreneurship is not only about having a business. It is also about becoming a businessperson. That distinction changed the way I looked at myself and SHE FITS.

The programme also gave us access to experienced entrepreneurs and mentors, including Mr Elwyn Pitt, an experienced entrepreneur in logistics and supply chain, whose practical business experience offered valuable perspective to young entrepreneurs like me.

Being surrounded by people who had already walked the paths I was only beginning to understand gave me the perspective I had been missing all along.

My participation did not end inside the classroom. I made a deliberate effort to attend sessions, participate actively and engage with the wider JCCI community, and that commitment opened doors I could not have imagined when I first registered SHE FITS.

One of the most significant opportunities that followed was the chance to travel to China for two weeks in July 2025. For a young entrepreneur still finding her feet, that exposure was transformative.

China expanded my understanding of what business could look like. I was exposed to international trade, manufacturing, entrepreneurship and business environments far beyond what I had previously experienced.

I returned from China with a different perspective. My ambitions became bigger, but so did my understanding of what would be required to achieve them.

EYWA itself continued to create opportunities for entrepreneurs beyond the initial training. In 2025 the programme supported its graduates through further development initiatives, including a subgrant phase in partnership with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in South Africa.

Twenty-six approved applicants received funding of R46,680 each for business development needs including branding, compliance, websites, accounting systems, marketing, e-commerce and other support.

The programme also facilitated mentorship around access to finance for micro-SMEs, giving entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn directly from international experts.

By the conclusion of the programme, EYWA entrepreneurs had collectively contributed to 50 jobs being create, thus demonstrating what can happen when entrepreneurs receive not only knowledge, but practical support and access to opportunity.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits I received from the JCCI was that my journey did not end when the programme ended. Because of my involvement and continued engagement, I was introduced to further business events, international delegations and doing business with engagements involving different countries and organisations.

These experiences taught me how to network, how to approach business leaders, how to speak to investors and professionals as well as how to enter a room and recognise that I belong there too.

Now, when I look back, I can see that many of the business events I have attended since then have been connected to the opportunities and relationships I developed through the JCCI.

I am grateful that, at such an early stage of my entrepreneurial journey, I was able to enter rooms I never imagined I would be in and meet people I once thought were far beyond my reach.

The JCCI helped me realise that entrepreneurship is not something you have to figure out alone, since, quite often, it is the right community that can accelerate your growth by introducing you to an entirely different world and by helping you not to overlook opportunities.

To any entrepreneur reading this who has not yet connected with a Chamber of Commerce, I would encourage you to explore it. Do not underestimate the power of community, exposure and relationships.

Your business may begin with an idea, but growing it requires knowledge, people, networks and opportunities. For me, EYWA was more than a programme. It was a turning point.

And the journey that began through the JCCI continues to shape the entrepreneur I am becoming and the opportunities I hope to create for others.

Through my involvement with JCCI’s Employability for Youth and Women in South Africa (EYWA) programme, I have come to realise that sometimes you do not need to know exactly where the journey will take you. You simply need to be willing to enter the room.

EYWA closing ceremony.

https://www.jcci.co.za

About the Author

Isabela Pereira is a South African entrepreneur, speaker and Founder & CEO of SHE FITS, a women’s activewear and wellness business. She was recognised among the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans 2026 in the Entrepreneurship category.

Her work and interests sit at the intersection of entrepreneurship, women’s economic empowerment, youth development, regional trade, international business and community building.

Through her entrepreneurial journey, Isabela is passionate about creating connections that open pathways to opportunity — particularly for young people and women seeking to build sustainable businesses and participate more meaningfully in the economy.

She continues to use her experiences in business, international delegations, investment and entrepreneurship development to explore how collaboration, access and exposure can help turn ideas into sustainable opportunities.