Learner’s promise plan to build a greener future at Nedbank Sandton

As world leaders and environmental experts met at the COP28 Summit, with pledges and commitments amounting to billions, some of South Africa’s brightest young minds laid out their plans to save our planet.

At the Nedbank Auditorium in Sandton on December 12, Primestars proudly announced the winners of the Step Up 2 A Green Start Up National Youth Entrepreneurship Awards.

Primestars, managing director Martin Sweet said, the Top 10 teams, selected from across the country gathered for an intensive business bootcamp.

“These eco-warriors underwent intensive training, workshops, and mentorship sessions to refine their green startup concepts into impactful ventures.”

He added that Step Up 2 A Green Start Up is an empowering initiative aimed at fostering innovation in the realm of sustainability and environmental entrepreneurship.

“It inspires young entrepreneurs to seek out opportunities in the green economy with a fundamental change in mindset from job seeker to job creator, producing solutions for an environmental problem identified in their relevant communities.”

He elaborated that since inception Step Up 2 A Start Up it has impacted over 100 000 high school learners across rural and township areas and the 2023 rollout benefitted over 12 000 learners and yielded a record number of over 750 business entries received in the national entrepreneurship competition.

“As we approach our 10-year milestone of Step Up 2 A Start-Up, we look back and are proud of the impact legacy we have built together. But our job is not yet done, together with our various partners, Primestars will continue to empower Planet Earth’s Support Crew. Let our current and future generations work to put out the flames and chart a greener path.”

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