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South Africa is facing a poverty and waste crisis

Retailers are stuck with millions of tons of waste each year.

This waste is excess merchandise that has been damaged, returned by customers or hasn’t been sold in a season, and retailers don’t have the resources or systems to process this waste efficiently and responsibly.

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Millions of children are being raised in low-income households,

often by single mothers. Unemployment rates in South Africa remain stubbornly high, and levels of entrepreneurship are low. Our education system is in a dire state with only half of the children enrolled in Grade 1 completing their high school education. 

We cannot fail the next generation.

We need to unlock the full economic and social potential of our citizens through an inclusive, regenerative economic model. TCB believes that sustainable poverty eradication happens when people are supported to build viable income-generating businesses within systems that restore dignity, build skills, unlock agency and resilience and remove structural barriers to participation. People living in poverty are often trapped not because they lack motivation or potential, but because they lack access to opportunity, assets, markets, skills, and supportive systems.

Collect

Retail partners and manufacturers donate their unsold products.

Sort

Our entrepreneurs sort and debrand products into categories.

Distribute

Entrepreneurs purchase products at reduced prices to help them start their businesses.

Repair

Where needed, damaged items are repaired

Develop

We train, mentor, coach and develop our entrepreneurs holistically.

Sustain

Entrepreneurs become financially and socially independent.

In the middle of the crisis lies opportunity.

By working with South Africa’s major retailers and manufacturers we divert excess stock (customer returns, end-of-season products, overruns etc.) to our branches nationally where items and sorted and debranded. Unemployed individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit join our holistic enterprise development programmes and learn how to buy and sell these items for profit.

Resell

Equipping unemployed mothers to become successful fashion traders within the circular economy.
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Repair

Equipping unemployed South Africans to run appliance repair and trading businesses, reducing e waste.
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Remake

Equipping seamstresses to run financially viable businesses.
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Redistribute

Donating merchandise and clothing to nonprofits that support the vulnerable.
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Reskill

Equipping other organisations, individuals and our graduates with skills to become financially independent.
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GROW Educare Centres

Equipping preschools to operate as sustainable businesses that deliver quality education in low income communities.
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Our multi dimensional approach to eradicating poverty

We believe that with the right support structure and opportunity, everyone can become self-employed. Entrepreneurship is a pathway out of poverty toward financial and social independence. But income alone is not enough. To create lasting change, people need the capability, confidence, tools, and ongoing support to sustain that income over time. 

We provide a holistic solution that acknowledges what people need on their journey using our Heart-Head-Hands programmatic approach:  

  • Access to the economy through proven, viable and accessible business opportunities (primarily in trading, repairing, making and educating),
  • Access to resources, capital and quality stock at affordable prices
  • The right skills through training, education and development
  • Practical work experience
  • Mentorship, coaching and councelling
  • Deep personal growth to become active, confident, contributing citizens.

Impact Story: Nombulelo Magunya

“When I think back on my life before I join TCB it breaks my heart. In those days I used to share half a brown bread with my 2 kids, and we went to sleep early because I didn't have electricity for light. I didn't know how to budget at all! We had no savings. No planning. Now I'm so proud of myself. Since I start at TCB my life has been changing. Everybody at home now respects me. I make sure each and every week I save R2000 in Everybody at home now respects me. I make sure each and every week I save R2000 in my other bank account, because I now have a budget, and I have goals for myself. I am debt free!”

Impact Story: Nteseleng, Atlehang Pre school, Boksburg

“For me, GROW is the best thing that has happened to my preschool in all the years I've been running it. Before we got the GROW curriculum and classroom kit, learning and teaching were very challenging. We had very few resources to support our day to day activities and learning. Now with the curriculum and learning materials, our teachers are more confident in what they are doing, and our learners are having so much fun discovering and learning.”

Impact story: Siyasanga Zenani

“I didn’t pass my matric in high school. My parent were not working at that time, and I felt pressure to provide for my family, including my younger sisters. With TCB I am learning how to fix microwaves, stoves, fridges and other big appliances. I see myself as a business owner now. I learned how to be stoves, fridges and other big appliances. I see myself as a business owner now. I learned how to be independent. How to be business minded. How to build a proper business. I am still young and I will grow my business and give back to others."

Impact Story: Kanyisa Mtshemla

“Everything has changed in my life since I started here. With coaching and mentoring, I learned so much about myself and how to run a proper business. I want to be my own boss learned so much about myself and how to run a proper business. I want to be my own boss and give back to my community. Soon, I will employ people so they can also care for their families."