07/09/2026
60 young people with disabilities are gaining the skills and confidence to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses through a four-day entrepreneurship mentorship under the Sports for Education and Sustainable Africa (SEESLA) programme, implemented through the Sports for Livelihood and Development (SLIDE4) project.
The four-day mentorship created a space for young people with disabilities to discover their strengths, explore business opportunities and learn how to transform their ideas into viable enterprises.
It Started With Understanding Self
The mentorship began with self-discovery.
Participants reflected on their fears, talents, strengths and potential, exploring how these can influence their journey as entrepreneurs. The discussions emphasised that entrepreneurship is not always a smooth journey. There will be challenges, setbacks and moments of uncertainty.
Rather than giving up when challenges arise, participants were encouraged to develop resilience, confidence and the courage to take calculated risks.
Understanding oneself, they learned, is an important first step towards building a business and pursuing one's goals.
Great Ideas Need the Right Opportunity
The mentorship then moved from self-discovery to business ideas.
Young people with disabilities demonstrated that they have innovative ideas and the ambition to create businesses. However, the sessions challenged participants to look beyond simply having a good idea.
A successful business must respond to a real need or gap in the market.
Participants explored questions such as: Who are my customers? What problem am I solving? What makes my product or service valuable?
These discussions helped them begin looking at their ideas from a business perspective and understand the importance of knowing their target market.
Turning Ideas Into Business Models
So, with an idea in mind, what comes next?
Participants were introduced to the Business Model Canvas (BMC) a practical tool that helps entrepreneurs understand how their businesses will operate and create value.
Participants with similar business interests were grouped together and guided through key components of the Business Model Canvas, including:
● Product and services
● Value proposition
● Target market
● Operating capital
● Key stakeholders
● Business operations
Working in groups gave the participants an opportunity to share experiences, challenge each other's ideas and develop stronger business models.
From Learning to Pitching
On the fourth day, the groups presented their business ideas and Business Model Canvases.
The presentations provided an opportunity for participants to put their learning into practice, explain their business ideas and receive feedback on areas that needed improvement. The sessions also introduced participants to the importance of business registration and formalising their enterprises.
One of the key highlights from the mentorship was learning that 17 of the 60 participants are already running businesses.
This is a powerful indication that young people with disabilities are not waiting for opportunities they are already creating them.
Building Inclusive Livelihood Opportunities
The four-day mentorship was more than an entrepreneurship training. It was an opportunity for young people with disabilities to recognise their potential, build confidence, learn from one another and strengthen their entrepreneurial skills.
Through initiatives such as SEESLA and SLIDE4, Action Network for the Disabled continues to support young people with disabilities to access opportunities that promote economic empowerment, participation and sustainable livelihoods.
The journey does not end with the training. For these 60 young people, it is a step towards turning ideas into action, challenges into opportunities and potential into sustainable livelihoods.
Laureus International Olympic Committee AFD - Agence Française de Développement 𝘒𝘌𝘕𝘠𝘈 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺
