As a successful climate-tech cooperative in the circular economy arena, SOUL is committed to promoting more micro businesses and small enterprises in disadvantaged communities, aimed at empowering indigenous people, youth and women to take an active role in the new green economy.  

Through its Ecopreneurship programme, SOUL facilitates skills development, entrepreneurship, mentorship and support, links to markets and finance, knowledge and technology transfer, in the agriculture, natural health and environmental arena. It encourages job creation and improved livelihoods amongst rural and urban communities, that also has meets broader social objectives (i.e. food security, climate change, poverty alleviation, water and sanitation).

Ecopreneurship is done through capacitation of youth and women entrepreneurs in hands-on technical skills (i.e. regenerative farming, agro-processing, biogas and recycling systems, ecological management) as well as leadership values (i.e. financial literacy, sustainable business management, social mobilization and governance). It is expected that the first cohorts of trainees will educate their families and facilitate long-term socio-economic transformation of their community.

SOUL implements its Ecopreneurship activities in close collaboration with various academic, social, public and private sector partners. The first pilot roll out of the capacity-building programme will occur through the Itsoseng bio-circular economy project.