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Owning a franchise is what Athenkosi Tobo (25), is always picturing himself securing shortly. The Bizana-born entrepreneur has always been an ambitious person from a very young age and a big dreamer recalls how he always loved cooking and baking which is why he is always eager to venture into Cooking Business.
“I decided to venture into business in 2020 after some time of gathering capital and a couple of materials to get my business off the ground and having the high unemployment rate in our country motivated me even more not to hope for employment but rather just work hard in becoming my own employer,” he explains.
Having worked at an Italian restaurant and seeing Pizza being made in front of him is what pushed him to start his own Pizza business ARTII’s Pizza which mainly focuses on pizzas with a variety of flavors that he makes from scratch and hence is an origin of the brand name. “Wanting to learn more and seeing that this is something I can do and make a living out of it and inspire those who come after me and see that it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can be whatever it is that you want to be no matter how impossible it may look in the eye of others,” he says.
Athenkosi’s initial vision before he embarked upon venturing into his business was having a big and well-established Franchise where people can come and enjoy their Pizzas and some couple of Kasi Hot Food and serve people from these small towns that others look down on the most amazing Pizza taste and flavors that have never tasted before because of its Authenticity.
When starting out there are always challenges, we face but that does not mean one should give up on their dreams if your dreams don’t scare you or they are not big enough just work and strive to make them a reality, as young people we should take up space and cement our selves this is what he believes one should do.
“We live in very difficult times when it comes to matters that concern our country’s economy it’s every man for himself, saying we are a very empowered youth is an understatement. Everyone wants to have something in hand whether it’s a qualification or having their own business and the only barrier for this empowered youth is a lack of resources, lack of opportunities and our government is not doing any justice, but most young people out there are trying to be independent and make a living,” his take on youth empowerment.