Winners of entrepreneurial competition announced
Harish Singh from St Dominic’s Academy clinched the first place prize of R10 000 with his rain water harvesting plan.
NEWCASTLE – After months of hard work, the winners of the Newcastle Sakekamer Student Entrepreneurial Competition (SEC) were announced at a splendid awards evening at Blackrock Casino on Wednesday, July 27.
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As part of the build-up to the announcement, president of the Sakekamer, Japie Myburgh, opened the proceedings by explaining the purpose of SEC.
“We need business people for the future, but where do you begin thinking like a business person? The idea of SEC was to get school pupils involved in an initiative where they could learn about business, the planning, the management and how to start.”
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Children are the leaders of the future, and it is imperative to afford them opportunities where they can prove themselves.
Referring to the purpose of SEC, Jo-Ann Allkins, SEC project leader asked: “How do we know if we have the next Richard Branson if we don’t give children an opportunity?”
The judges were astounded by the standard of business plans submitted by the contestants.
“Each of the contestants is a winner, as they took the initiative to enter the project and they came up with some great ideas. You have the potential and should run with your plans, as we need entrepreneurs,” she elaborated.
Mlungisi Mkize, a local businessman, imparted some wisdom to competitors on being successful.
“If you look at the unemployment rate, it is not getting better and you can blame the government, the system and everything else, but you must ask yourself what you want to achieve. Why can’t you create a job?”
It was then time the winners were announced.
Harish Singh from St Dominic’s Academy clinched the first place prize of R10 000 with his rain water harvesting plan. Not only did his plan cater for parts, but he would also install the product, ensuring a service alongside equipment to be sold.
Deah Oriee, also from St Dominic’s Academy, took second place with her plan of compacting and reselling disused electrical equipment, thereby contributing to environmental substantibility.
In third joint place were Ayeshin Govender and Sanele Mokoena from Tugela High School, a dynamic partnership focused on making wooden trays.
“I am very excited about it, as I really did not expect to win. The competition was tough and other entrants had awesome ideas.”
Looking to the future, Harish was looking forward to implementing his plans, and thanked the Newcastle Sakekamer for putting the SEC into place for him and other pupils.
A further amount of R10 000 was donated to St Dominic’s Academy, as a reward for Harish’s victory.
