This week we look at the next two recipients of R25,000 each, chosen by East Coast Radio and 947 for the #GetBacktoBusiness campaign by Hippo.co.za
South Africa (27 August 2021) – The pandemic took the world by surprise and left many small businesses in a lurch, then South Africa erupted into riots that became the downfall of many of these same businesses that were only just hanging on. Hippo.co.za stepped up to lend a helping hand.
Last week we shared that Hippo would be helping ten small businesses for the #GetBacktoBusiness initiative, launched on 2 August 2021. Five businesses were selected from KwaZulu-Natal and five from Gauteng. Each of these SMEs has been rewarded R20,000 in cash and R5,000 to rebuild their business with the necessary fibre access.
Following the two companies we highlighted the previous week, this week, we get the opportunity to feature the next two businesses—one from Durban and one from Johannesburg.
“At Hippo.co.za, our vision is to help people make better choices. For us to live this vision, we also need to make good choices as a business. One way in which we do this is through community initiatives where there is a need due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances,” says Bradley du Chenne from Hippo.
Hippo.co.za started this campaign to provide people with better choices during unexpected situations such as the pandemic or, more recently, the rioting. Helping them with making the right decisions with regards to their businesses.
True to their word, Hippo has managed to create a positive impact for businesses with their campaign. Helping many ‘get back to business!’
Durban’s Eksai Bioscope, owned by Vicky Denise Chili, is the next lucky SME to receive a helping hand from Hippo. The company is an indoor and outdoor mobile movie service that screens African-Inspired movies in their community.
Covid-19 pushed them to cancel the indoor movie sessions, which drastically affected their business. They were planning to launch a drive-in cinema as a safe way for people to watch movies comfortably with the necessary social distancing.
With the funds provided by Hippo, Vicky will be able to employ more staff and services for the drive-in. Last year, she created 10 jobs with a pop-up, but she can employ even more people by creating a permanent service.
“I am so overjoyed being a winner and I can’t really explain the feeling but most of all I am so grateful for the opportunity.”
Vicky has felt incredible support from her community and now plans to give back. The reward from Hippo will help her do it.
“We promote local movies and embrace filmmaker’s content. Kids watch the movies for free and the community gets a chance to fully come together and enjoy a fun-filled experience. We get a chance to engage after the movie and share our thoughts.
We recently screened a movie for Bambisandla Orphanage Home situated at Umlazi.” – Vicky Denise Chili
947 listeners got to hear about the next winner from Johannesburg, ‘Dice and Christinah’, owned by Siphesihle Penduka. Similar to many of the SMEs in Alexander, the business received a severe blow during the riots.
The company supplies and installs air conditioners. Located in Lombardy East, right where the Alexander Riots took place, the business was damaged by looters. Their vehicle was left damaged, which has had a knock-on effect for all deliveries and jobs on the books.
Siphesihle employs three people, and the funds received from the initiative have helped them immensely. The money had been used to fix up the vehicle, which got damaged. They convey their heartfelt thanks to Hippo.co.za for this helpful campaign.
It will mean that Siphesihle and his team can also get back to helping the greater community. On weekends and at the end of each shift, they lend a helping hand in the best way they know how.
“We offer free refrigerator re-gas to the people who can’t afford to pay for it. We usually do this over the weekend on our way back from collecting some stock from suppliers to save on fuel.”
“I am very happy, excited and relieved that we have been chosen to receive the support from Hippo as the business was at a standstill”
Faithful to the aim of this initiative, a positive impact has been created among the people of SA. Their donation has changed the lives of these businesses and the employees whose livelihood depends on the income they receive from these businesses.
The #GetBacktoBusiness campaign has become a ray of hope for many of the SME’s who were under the pressures caused by the pandemic and the recent riots in South Africa. Hippo hopes that their services will assist those in this campaign and all businesses in South Africa looking for insurance quotes and the right cover. These factors will act as a booster for the SME’s to get back the flow of business they had lost in the pandemic.
Stay tuned as each week we share two new stories about SME’s in South Africa getting ‘back to business’ with Hippo.co.za.