Paving His Own Way

My name is Elvis Boom, the founder of Fortkopi Print, a branding and printing business born in Danielskuil. Just like me, my business is proof that good things can come to our community with support and dedication.

After finishing school in Kuilsville, I knew that further study wasn’t an option due to my family’s financial situation. In 2012, I took a job as a petrol attendant. It might not have seemed much, but I saw it as a training ground. I worked hard, learned everything I could, and was eventually promoted to manager.

That role taught me leadership, listening, and people management. It gave me confidence and hope. But in 2016, my father passed away under tragic circumstances, and I had to step away from work to care for my mental health.

Eventually, I returned briefly as a trainee manager, but I knew I couldn’t ignore my long-held dream: starting my own business. I decided to pursue it, even without a roadmap, guided only by belief.

I’ve always been drawn to clothing and apparel decorating. I noticed that most printing businesses try to do everything but few specialise. I saw a gap and a way to stand out. Starting wasn’t easy—raising capital for entry-level equipment was a challenge—but I persisted, and opportunities opened up.

Today, Fortkopi Print specialises in apparel decorating—from T-shirt printing to embroidery—as well as clothing retail. It’s more than a business; it’s a message: you can build something from where you are, with what you have.

Fortkopi is supported by SCAT (Social Change Assistance Trust) through their partnership with the Lesedi Solar Park Trust. This support has helped the business grow and integrate into a larger ecosystem of local change.

As part of the Trust’s commitment to empowering the local economy, Fortkopi provides branding services for the Lesedi Solar Park Trust and some of its implementing partners. This partnership supports local enterprise and demonstrates the power of investing in one another.

I believe our communities are filled with hardworking, resilient people—they just need opportunities. Fortkopi aims to provide more than products or services; it offers belief: that creativity and enterprise can start right here in Danielskuil.

My long-term vision includes a 15-year plan for Fortkopi, encompassing community development, youth empowerment, and job creation. I want the business to be a vehicle for growth in the region.

But we can’t build a thriving future while alcohol and drug abuse still affect our communities. I want to be part of changing that narrative.

Outside of Fortkopi, I’m involved with the NPO Pioneers of Change, which works with young people to develop skills and make better choices. Investing in today’s youth is investing in a better future for all of us.