100Kids100Smiles: An ode and case for social entrepreneurship in Jan Kempdorp.

“Lore le ojwa lesale metsi”- Seane sa Setswana

The day began in earnest filled with hopes and grand expectations for the activities of the day.  Valspan location and neighbouring towns brought out their truest wealth and future to unwind and reconnect with parents and friends alike, these were children who beamed with joy and happiness.

 It was on the 28th September 2019, a children’s festival called “100Kids100Smiles” was held in Jan kempdorp at a Recreational facility (Masimo), organized by illustrious social entrepreneur Tshepang Madito commonly known as “Fafa”.

 100Kids100Smiles has become a calendar social activity in the community, and had its first instalment in March 2018.

The children’s festival started as an ambitious endeavour that aimed to put a smile to “100kids” in Valspan location because a lack of sufficient children’s activities. After the first annual event the organizer Tshepang Madito together with his team decided to use “100kids100smiles”” because it resonated well with the patrons. He is satisfied when people are “uniting and seeing growth in everyone” with a common purpose of community development.

An event of this magnitude could not be pulled without any form of inspiration or motivation, thus for Tshepang Madito several people come to mind “Cassper Nyovest and Molemi showed that you can be different , take a risk and achieve it” when you put your mind into it.

100Kids100Smiles has become a pioneer in social entrepreneurship in Jan kempdorp and neighbouring communities. Social entrepreneurship in a township it’s a daring endeavour that demands fortitude, patience, commitment and all kinds of super hero qualities; because one is in constant confrontation with lack of space and resources.

Manyaka- Boshielo (2017) is of the view that townships were designed as labour reserves devoid of any outlet for human development or growth. And the absence of recreational facilities for children and youth plays a huge role of socio-cultural deterioration in the township.

 Tshepang Madito and company have vowed to tread on a difficult terrain which is providing an entertainment alternative to children and inevitably families.  They are dipping themselves in a daunting journey of redefining and creating a niche for themselves in social entrepreneurship.

100Kids100Smiles has become more than bringing entertainment to children because proceeds from the event goes straight to procuring school uniform for few children the following year.

Against the challenges of lack of resources and having to disappoint kids at some points 100kids100smiles has grown in leaps and bounds since 2018. It has become part of the yearly entertainment itinerary in Valspan location. The 100kids100smiles team have identified lack of after Early Childhood Development  and school activities or entertainment as major factors that steer children to bad behaviour. Thus they are “currently working on establishing more packages that will make sure that the brand keeps kids out of bad behaviours all year long and wrap the year up with the biggest kids event ever”

Following up on the 100Kids100Smiles event, Fafa and company will be throwing another socially oriented annual event called “Skema Unite” on the 07th December 2019 at Macdonald Pitso Stadium in Valspan Location. He encourage people to “come in numbers to witness the talent we are having in Jan kempdorp” And whole lot of small businesses will be part of the event to sell all kinds of things such as “books, clothing, food, snacks and refreshments” So it’s advisable to “bring enough cash” to Skema Unite.

Townships are open concentration camps that gnaw at dreams and wishes of people by intent or object of apartheid spatial designs.  People like Tshepang Madito and others present great opportunity for social transformation, development and growth. They bring innovation and creativity in dealing with pertinent and inherent socio-economic issues.

It is our duty to celebrate and encourage such initiatives to find lasting solutions to torn apart communities like Jan kempdorp.