After receiving a weekend away to the beach, Kyrah invited her child-carer to join the family on holiday… but the story quickly evolved to opening a surprise cupcakes business for Zama instead!
South Africa (10 March 2020) – Kyrah and Chad Tyrer were inspired by Zee and Fi after they raised money for their first-ever beach holiday. It all started when the Kyrah and Chad were gifted a beach holiday. They decided right away that they wanted to take Zama, their child-carer along with her three children.
Kyrah called the resort to find out what size their chalet was and learned she wouldn’t be able to add four additional people to their room. She tried to make other arrangements, but the resort stated that the only way Zama and her children could join the Tyrer’s, was if they paid for a whole chalet.
Refusing to give up and inspired by Zama’s entrepreneurial drive, Kyrah overhauled her wardrobe and together with Zama, they sold all her unused clothing. They raised enough to pay for the chalet at the resort. Zama and her children became so excited.
Zama is a resourceful woman. Sadly, her husband passed away a few years ago, and she was left to care for her three children alone. Determined, Zama built their home brick by brick using her bare hands. She saved every penny and made a home for her three children.
To save as much as possible, Zama has taken every opportunity to earn extra funds; she built rooms onto her home that she now rents out, she sells vetkoek and cupcakes in the taxi every morning on her way to work, and she maintains a healthy vegetable garden and sells her surplus to her community.
As an entrepreneur, Zama has become a role model for her children, especially her two girls.
Zee and Fi as they are being called on social media knew that going to the beach would mean ice creams and fun in the sun. To do some of those things, they knew they needed spending money. They hatched a plan inspired by their mother.
The girls woke up bright and early on Saturday and baked a batch of cupcakes. They sold them all. They continued to bake and sell all weekend until they had enough money for their first beach holiday. The girls even used some of the money to buy Kyrah’s son a tractor so that he can play in the sand.
In total they raised R435.00, selling over 400 cupcakes their first weekend. Bitten by the baking and business bug, Zee and Fi are now baking every weekend to save as much as possible for their holiday!
They are able to produce 200 cupcakes with just R50 and sell each one for R1.00. Their business model inspired Kyrah, and now she is raising funds to help them. Kyrah hopes to give back to the business savvy family, changing their lives forever.
“We would LOVE to set up a cupcake shop for Zama and her family at Piggly Wiggly – a popular local shopping village. The owners of the centre have made contact and generously offered to sponsor the rental for a shop for an entire year for Zama. All we have to do is revamp and set up the shop with all the equipment Zama will need to run her cupcake business.
Zama doesn’t know about this at all. Once we have set up the shop, we would like to present the shop to her and her family as a surprise. We will make an event on Facebook and open it up to the public to be present at the opening and handing over of the keys.
This business will be owned by Zama, and we will coach and guide her in this business venture. The profits from the business will afford her the opportunity to send her children to good schools and give them all a BRIGHT future.
We have no doubt that Zama will grow the business, and we cannot wait to see her face when she is presented with her shop.”
Already Kyrah has managed to inspire with Zama’s story. The rent for the shop for one year has been donated by Piggly Wiggly. The signage, as well as a website, have also been donated. If you would like to support Zama, Zee and Fi, you can do so here.
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