Student's 'Safe Bins' Business to Fund Future Reaches 100 Orders

Photo Credit: Kauthar Paulse

In a tough economy, one Bellville student decided to stop waiting and start creating. Her ‘Safe Bins’ venture grew from a single order to 100 customers through community support, word of mouth, and a good dose of courage!

Bellville, South Africa (14 April 2026) – Being resourceful enough to create financial independence is one of the greatest assets any young person can have, especially in South Africa’s current economy. Many of us have skills that could translate into income; the trick is being brave enough to put yourself out there and try.

Kauthar Paulse, a 22-year-old final-year graphic design student, decided to take her financial future into her own hands by starting a small business, one that directly serves her community by addressing a problem we all know too well…bin swapping and stealing.

Using her Cricut machine, Kauthar creates waterproof, durable vinyl bin numbers and street name labels that help residents keep track of and hold onto their bins. The inspiration came from her mom, who raised two daughters while working full-time and running small businesses of her own. She set a powerful example.

“What inspired me to start was actually my mom. She originally made one for our bin and did a few for people in our area, but got busy with work and stopped. The idea always stuck with me,” shares Kauthar. “Last year, as I was nearing the end of my university years, I started feeling the pressure to save properly — it felt a bit scary. So I decided to give it a try. I started with my boyfriend’s family’s bin, and they loved it. That gave me the confidence to take some photos and put it out there.”

That confidence, rooted in the resourcefulness her mom had always modelled, is what pushed Kauthar to go public with her idea. She posted in community groups on Facebook and, to her surprise, the orders came flooding in.

“The community, especially on Facebook, was amazing. People shared my work and supported me, and I ended up getting so many orders. I’m really grateful for how it all came together.”

Recently, Kauthar hit a big milestone with her 100th order. That’s 100 households who got tired of the bin-swapping drama and found a simple, smart solution in what she had to offer.

“People have trusted me enough to order, and I’ve even had the chance to meet a few of them. They’ve been so kind — sharing my work with friends, family, and on WhatsApp groups. I’m really grateful, because people have genuinely been so supportive.”

For young South Africans with their financial futures still ahead of them, stories like Kauthar’s serve as a real reminder that you really don’t need a grand business plan to start. You need a skill, a need to meet, and the courage to try. Start a side hustle, or several. See what works. Step over the fear of failure and discover just how resourceful you can be.

“My advice to students wanting to become financially independent is honestly: just start. Even with a busy university schedule, it might feel difficult, but it’s so important, especially in today’s economy. If you’re given an opportunity, take it — not everyone has access to the same chances,” says Kauthar. “Start small. If there’s something you’re good at, put it out there. Ask friends and family to support you in the beginning if you need to. That’s how I started.”

Alongside Safe Bins, Kauthar juggles several part-time jobs and is actively searching for internships that align with her future goals of working as a graphic designer in the food industry, owning a bakery, and starting a charity.