TWO KwaZulu-Natal Grade 10 pupils, Mohamed Shezi and Mlekeli Dlamini, from Uxolophambili High School in Hammarsdale are heading for Johannesburg, hoping to repeat last year’s KZN victory in the 2013 HIP2B² 3M Innovation Challenge final. The two provincial finalists will participate in a week (Thursday 10 to Thursday 17 October) of inventing, job shadowing and mentoring alongside finalist teams from around the country. If their techie solution to a real problem within their own community is deemed the best, they could return home with the title of South Africa’s Top Young Innovators 2013.
Backed by the Department of Education, the challenge is in its second year, and is the brainchild of HIP2B² and innovative multinational technology company 3M. HIP2B² is the non-profit youth organisation founded in 2002 to promote the study of maths, science and technology-related subjects as a means to develop entrepreneurial skills and analytical thinking, along with valued partners.
HIP2B² managing director, Cathryn Payne said, “This year’s entrants perfectly answered the call to enter, which tasked them with finding a practical solution to a challenge in their local communities. What really inspires us is that despite the significant problems they face in their daily lives, there is no limit to their imagination or ideas. Our main focus is to spark and nurture this creative way of thinking, and to that end, we actively seek partners who can help make their innovative ideas a reality.”
The week will end on 17 October with the Innovation Challenge final, where judges will award one team with the title of SA Young Innovators for 2013.
