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A year ago a friend of mine started her own business. A snail business 😂 exporting snails to all over the world. For restaurants.
It was hard work getting to where she is now, as it is in any business.
Early mornings, late nights, but she gives it her all.
Last year the government came to have a look at the business, as there are only females working there, my friend included. They said it is very interesting to see women entrepreneurs in this type of business and that they are doing so well.
They asked if they could do research on this, now, the guy from government has a passion for this, you can hear it when he speaks about it.
The other 2 ladies that were there are just in it for who knows what reasons!??!
Research was done and they are starting next week to see if they can’t grow faster etc.
They gave my friend a form to fill in to apply for woman entrepreneur of the year, but they said one of the female workers must also apply.
Having no problem with that, she also applied for one of the workers.
A while later they phoned to say that they don't qualify yet because the business had to be running for at least a year.
Ok - so this year - the business is over 1 year old.
The whole bunch came back last week to give new forms for this competition.
Ok - so as my friend sat with “Peter” ( not the government guys’ real name) filling in the application form, one of the ladies came back and said that she spoke to one of the workers.
She said she thinks it would be better if the owner does not feature in this competition, as she is white and although the competition is for female entrepreneurs they think a black African woman will have a better chance of winning!!??
Now, in our government it is the truth.
BUT NOT FAIR!!!
The worker must say how it was her life long dream to do this when she grows up, how much effort and capital she put into this business and how her dream came true.
“Peter” who is also African, said that he does not agree with this. Seeing that none of what she said is true, this is only someone working there, now all of this must change so that it can go in the right direction for one of the workers.
My friend (the REAL owner) spoke to “Peter” and said that she has 4 other ladies also working for her, which also works their hearts out for this business and does exactly the same as the worker that applied for the competition. She also told him that she is not willing to put her own dream aside for someone else. She also explained to him, that if she (the owner) applies and win, she won’t think twice giving her workers each 10% of the winning capital. She explained to him that they are a team, she likes working with them and they with her, except the one who all of the sudden got an attitude thinking she is better than the rest of the workers.
My friend does not see colour!! She works with everybody in the same manner, whether you are pink, green purple or white. She was not brought up this way to say that someone else is better or not just because of the colour of your skin!
My friend would give anything to make her working environment better, but not in a way like this. Not praising only one worker, when she knows the rest of her team also works hard.
Just had to get this out!!
Will see what happens this week when they come back for the research.
Still don't think that this is fair!
But hey, life goes on!!!