Paving His Own Way

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

After finishing school in Kuilsville, I knew that studying further wasn’t going to be an option due to my family’s financial situation. So, in 2012, I took the first opportunity I could find and started working as a petrol attendant. It might not have looked like much from the outside, but I saw it as a training ground. I worked hard, I worked smart, and I soaked up everything I could. My efforts paid off, and I was promoted several times until I eventually became a manager. 

That role taught me a lot; how to lead, how to listen, and how to manage people. It gave me confidence. It gave me hope. But in 2016, my world was shaken when my father passed away under tragic circumstances. His death deeply affected me, and I had to step away from work to take care of my mental health. 

Eventually, I found my way back, working briefly as a trainee manager. But something in me had changed. I knew I couldn’t keep ignoring the dream that had been calling me for years, the dream of starting my own business. So, I made the decision to go after it, even though I had no roadmap, only belief. 

I’ve always been drawn to clothing and the art of decorating apparel. From early on, I noticed something: most printing businesses try to do everything, but few take the time to specialise. I saw a gap in the market and a way to stand out. 

Starting, however, wasn’t easy. My biggest challenge was getting the capital to purchase entry-level equipment. But I knew that nothing worthwhile comes easy. I also knew that if I could just prove I was serious, doors would open. And they did. 

Today, I run Fortkopi Print, a business that specializes in apparel decorating from T-shirt printing to embroidery as well as clothing retail. Fortkopi is more than just a business; it’s a message. A message that says: it’s possible to build something from where you are, with what you have. 

I’m proud to say that Fortkopi is being supported by SCAT (Social Change Assistance Trust) through their partnership with the Lesedi Solar Park Trust. That support has helped my business grow and become part of a larger local ecosystem of change. 

As part of the Trust’s commitment to empowering the local economy, Fortkopi supplies branding services for the Lesedi Solar Park Trust itself, as well as for some of its implementing partners. It’s a partnership that not only supports local enterprise but shows what’s possible when we invest in one another. 

I believe our communities are filled with hardworking, resilient people. All they need is an opportunity. That’s what I hope Fortkopi can offer, not just services or products, but belief. A belief that creativity can start right here. Those ideas can be born in places like Daniëlskuil. 

My long-term vision is bigger than mine. I have a 15-year plan for Fortkopi, a plan that includes community development, youth empowerment, and job creation. I want this business to be a vehicle for growth in the region we operate in. 

But I also know we can’t build a thriving future if our communities are still battling the grip of alcohol and drug abuse. These are issues that hold us back, and I want to be part of changing that narrative. 

Outside of Fortkopi, I am a part of an NPO called Pioneers of Change. We work with young people, helping them build skills and make better choices. Because the truth is, today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and if we invest in them now, we will invest in a better future for us all.