Springbok Youth Entrepreneurs Equipped With Digital Skills
Elmarie Booyang (33 yrs) is one of ten young entrepreneurs from the Springbok area who recently completed a digital training workshop as part of Youth Month. The programme has had a meaningful impact on how she approaches and grows her business, equipping her with practical digital tools, and a clearer strategy for reaching and engaging clients in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
"I knew I wanted to be part of this programme because I believe every opportunity to learn is an opportunity to grow, both personally and in business," said Elmarie, who runs a full-service event company in Concordia that specialises in décor, photography, videography, drone services, and content creation.
The digital marketing skills training workshop, which ran over five days, was funded by Kangnas Wind Farm, and offered hands-on training in photography, videography, artificial intelligence tools, and content creation. For someone already working in the creative industry, the programme offered not just new knowledge, but a fresh perspective on skills she had been practising for years.
"Photography was definitely my favourite part of the training because it's something I'm passionate about. Even though I already work in the industry, I learned new techniques that will help me improve the quality of my work," she said.
Before the workshop, Elmarie’s company relied primarily on Facebook, TikTok, and word of mouth to reach new clients. The training gave Elmarie a clearer understanding of how to create strategic, professional content, use AI tools to work more efficiently, and target the right audience more effectively.
"This training has given me even more confidence in what I do. It reminded me that there's always something new to learn, and it gave me practical skills I can apply immediately," she said.
For Elmarie, the impact extends well beyond her business. "This opportunity has inspired me to dream bigger and believe even more in what we're building. It's not only an investment in my business, but in my future, my family, and the community we serve."
Her ambition for the next two years is to grow her business into one of the leading event companies in Namaqualand, expanding its client base, broadening its services, and continuing to deliver high-quality work.
The workshop forms part of Kangnas Wind Farm's broader commitment to youth empowerment, skills development, and local economic development. It was designed specifically to address a gap identified among young entrepreneurs in the area, limited access to practical digital marketing knowledge at a time when an online presence has become essential for business growth and long-term sustainability.
"As the business environment becomes increasingly digital, equipping young entrepreneurs with these skills is a strategic investment in the competitiveness and resilience of youth-owned businesses in our community," said Rouchet Daniels, Economic Development Manager for Kangnas Wind Farm.
