The MTN SA Foundation’s Kgwebo Ya Batsha/Young Entrepreneur project, now in its fifth year, recently held its Provincial Market Day where finalists from selected previously disadvantaged schools in rural areas in Mpumalanga, Free State, Limpopo and North West Province, competed for a place in the National Market Day Event.

Ingenuity and flair have been the order of the day, and these rural learners are very adept at creating goods from limited resources. Winners in the Provincial Market Days were as follows:

In Mpumalanga two primary school finalists hail from D&C Comprehensive Primary School – Noxolo Nkosi (grade six, age 13) who creates artwork, and Palesa Thwala (grade seven, age 12) who makes crafts. Persaverance Shongwe (grade seven, age 13) of Diepgezet Primary School makes beadwork.

Secondary school finalists were Sphesihle Shongwe of Highveld School (grade eight, age 13) and Sboniso Mdluli of Sibusiso Secondary School (grade 8, age 15), both with manufacturing businesses, and Thandeka Mkhonza of Masakhane Secondary School (grade eight, age 13), who makes paper maché products.

In North West the finalists in the primary school section were Marema Tshepang (grade five, age 11), of Dipetlewane Primary School, who makes arts and crafts, Mphuloane Ofentse (grade five, age 11), of Relebogile Primary School, who makes vases, and Mokwena Lolita (grade seven, age 13) of Thipe Primary School, who makes beadwork items. Secondary school finalists were Makhafola Ezekiel (grade nine, age 15) of Seboaneng Secondary School, who produces art (including light and natural products), Mabunda Joseph (grade eleven, age 17) of Gaseitsiwe High School, who is a sculptor, and Ditlhoriso Moremi (grade ten, age 16) of Gaseitsiwe High School, who makes wooden items.

In the Free State the primary school finalists were Maboee Dimpho (grade seven, age 13) of Manyatseng Primary School, who makes hats. Mahabane Qethele (grade seven age 17) who makes key rings and Masukela Confidance Mpho (grade five, age 11) who produces bookmarks are both of Mahlatswetsa Primary School. Secondary school finalists were Botsane Tshediso of La Reng Secondary School (grade nine, age 16), who makes branded cardboard bags, Majoro Motlatsi (grade eight) of Qibing Secondary School, who makes trophies, and Lethola Moses (grade 11, age 17) of Itokisetseng Secondary School, who designs model cars.

In Limpopo the winners in the primary school section all hailed from Mokale Primary School: Mahloko Athalia (grade seven, age 13) who makes flower pots, Mamaila Mogau (grade four, age 8; manufacturing), and Tshehla Thabang (grade six, age 11) who makes bowls. Secondary school finalists were Tema Queen (grade eight, age 13) of Legare Secondary School, who makes bowls with flowers (and who was the primary school national winner last year), Precious Choma (grader 11, age 18) of Makatane Secondary School who draws house plans, and Magomarele Manoto (grade nine, age 15) of Phutlotou Secondary School who makes beaded African jewellery.

Each finalist was given the opportunity to apply for R500 to R1 000 seed capital to enable them to run their businesses. The first-place primary school winners and first- and second- place secondary school winners, as well as a teacher from their school and the provincial subject advisors, will attend the National Market Day event in Johannesburg and hosted by MTN SA Foundation from September 23 to 26. The main adjudication event takes place on September 24 at Maponye Mall in Soweto. The national winners will receive prizes from MTN SA Foundation, as well as a prize for their schools.

This entrepreneurship project was designed by Mr Johan Marx of Community Education through National Collaboration and Enablement (Cence). He is a former headmaster and education circuit manager who has been championing entrepreneurship training ever since his own daughter won a market day event in grade seven.

He says, “One of the most important and perhaps surprising lessons learnt over the past few years is that these youngsters can come up with business ideas that few adults have the imagination for. This shows us that they have that brand of creativity and innovation integral to all successful entrepreneurial activity.”

The success of this project is not based on the overall winners, but in increasing the level of awareness of entrepreneurship and enterprise development among the learners, as well as increasing commitment among educators to promote entrepreneurship in their schools.

Says Mr Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi, general manager at MTN SA Foundation, “Since 2009, when we started sponsoring the project, we have seen a huge difference in the lives of students, educators and schools where the MTN Provincial Market Days annual competition has been implemented. We believe that this project has evolved into a catalyst for real entrepreneurship promotion.”