Marking the start of a nationwide movement to empower women with practical skills and a direct link to the mainstream economy, the launch event at Woodstock Exchange, Cape Town, on Thursday, 20 November, brought together representatives from Women of Worth, Concentrix, Tourvest, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, business leaders and community organisations, says the company.

Cathy Kalamaras, Growth Enablement Director at Concentrix South Africa, says the initiative aligns strongly with the company's purpose-driven business approach.

"At Concentrix, we believe in creating meaningful, sustainable pathways into employment, especially for those who have historically been excluded from economic participation," adds Kalamaras. "Our support of Women of Worth extends that philosophy, helping women gain not only skills, but dignity, confidence and financial independence. This is about transforming potential into purpose and ensuring women have a voice and a stake in the economy."

Empowering Women, Strengthening Communities

Women of Worth provides training in jewellery-making, clothing production and entrepreneurship. Graduates are then employed by WOW's commercial arm to produce high-quality, handmade products which are sold in major South African retail and tourism outlets, including the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town International Airport, and Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, says the company.

Building on this skills-to-employment approach, WOW operates through a dual-entity model: the WOW Academy NPC and Women of Worth ZA (Pty) Ltd. This structure ensures that women are not only trained but actively supported in transitioning into the workforce or launching their own enterprises. By 2026, WOW aims to train and employ over 100 women, expanding its reach into other provinces and establishing new production hubs that drive both local manufacturing and community upliftment, adds the company.

"This partnership with Concentrix shows what can happen when the private sector gets behind women-led, community-based innovation," says Founder and Main Director of WOW Academy NPC Thurzil Papier "Their belief in empowerment through opportunity reflects our shared vision of seeing women not just survive, but thrive as economic contributors and leaders."

The Launch of the New WOW Production Hub

As part of this expansion, WOW has opened a new production hub at Woodstock Exchange — a central hub, dedicated training centre, and operational base for both the WOW Academy NPC and Women of Worth ZA (Pty) Ltd, says the company.

Funded through Concentrix South Africa's Enterprise Development Programme, the new production hub enabled WOW ZA to employ its first five women artisans immediately. These artisans were part of WOW Academy's inaugural training group, which completed its skills programme in September 2025. All five graduates transitioned into full-time employment on Wednesday, 1 October, reflecting WOW's commitment to ensuring that training leads directly to sustainable, dignified work, adds the company.

With this strong foundation in place, WOW is now expanding its training streams to include business skills, clothing production and additional product and service lines, broadening economic opportunities for women and enabling greater market participation. As the organisation grows, WOW is actively welcoming partnerships with companies that share its commitment to empowering women through skills development, employment creation, and enterprise support, says the company.

Papier emphasises the significance of the new hub, "This new production space shows what becomes possible when the private sector truly invests in women-led, community-based innovation. Concentrix has enabled us to grow into a space that represents dignity, opportunity and real economic transformation. Here, women will train, work, earn and build pathways into the mainstream economy."

Driving Inclusive Economic Participation

WOW's growth is supported by Concentrix's long-standing commitment to inclusive economic development through established social impact initiatives that focus on youth, women and marginalised communities. Through its Skills Accelerator Programme and Leadership Acceleration Programme (LAP), Concentrix has already created hundreds of new career opportunities for young South Africans, while actively promoting diversity, equity and inclusion across its workforce, says the company.

As Concentrix continues to scale its social impact work, Kalamaras concludes, "Supporting Women of Worth is a natural extension of what we do every day. Whether it's through impact hiring, leadership development, or entrepreneurship, our goal is to ensure that opportunity reaches those who need it most. Empowered women build stronger families, stronger businesses and stronger communities, which is the kind of impact we're proud to stand behind."

For more information, visit www.concentrix.com. 

*Image courtesy of contributor