Siyabuswa learner entrepreneurs celebrated at prize giving ceremony
This, with the intention of encouraging learners to become employers rather than employees
Cash prizes to the value of R60 000 total was given to the winning school and second runners up for their placement in the province Mpumalanga in the 2019 Simama Ranta school entrepreneurship competition, the Eskom Development Foundation announced today.
Winners Ubuhlebethu Secondary School from Siyabuswa and second-runners up Buyani Primary School from Embalenhle were awarded cash prizes for their first-rate participation in the competition.
Simama Ranta, which means “empowering the South African economy”, initiated by the Eskom Development Foundation in collaboration with the Education with Enterprise Trust (EWET), aims to identify and acknowledge South African secondary schools that are leading the way in education initiatives aimed at entrepreneurship.
This, with the intention of encouraging learners to become employers rather than employees.
Ubuhlebethu Secondary School took the top prize of R50 000 as a provincial winners.
“This was the first year we entered and we won. We believed in starting small and dreaming big. Here we are: the best in Mpumalanga. Our participation in the competition was an experience in a lifetime,” said an overjoyed Kgomotso Baloyi, student at Ubuhlebethu Secondary School.
“We are committed to fighting poverty in our community. Participation in the competition one of the steps needed. We must join hands to build an economy that is open to all, not just the few,” said Monama, Ubuhlebethu teacher.
First runners up – Diwiti Secondary School – were given their prize of R25 000,00 at a ceremony on Tuesday, February 11.
Their “Diwiti YES Project” recycled toilet rolls into pencil holders which they sell to surrounding schools.
The team further initiated a market day at the school to encourage a culture of entrepreneurship which included a car wash, as well as selling matric t-shirts they manufactured.
Buyani Primary School, one of only two primary schools to be placed top three provincially from 8 000 national entries, runs a car wash and tuck shop among other things.
This earned them R10 000 in prize money.
Teacher at Buyani Primary School, Dladla said that it is the sacred duties of teachers to educate children to be job creators given the current state of the economy.
He also issued a challenge to his leaners that this year they will be the provincial winners.
Eskom’s Portia Mabanda, extended her congratulations and thanked the schools: “You have not only empowered yourself and your schools, but you are an inspiration to us at Eskom, to your peers and dare I say business owners in the area.”
EWET Trustee Thapedi Thlapane reminded learners that leadership means giving direction in the face of uncertainty.
This has been done by the educators and the learners who have decided to do something about the state of unemployment who accepted the challenge.
The competition is open to South African intermediate and secondary schools that run entrepreneurship clubs that teach learners the basics of starting and running a business while also responding to their community’s social and economic needs.
Eskom’s Mabanda concluded by saying that there can be no doubt that small business growth is the wave of the present and will remain that of the future.
“It is trite to say that the youth are the future. This does not make it less true. The Eskom Development Foundation has a strong vested interest in the establishment and growth of small and emerging enterprises. Our aim is to make a meaningful and sustainable contribution to the social and economic development of our country. We are dedicated to building a healthy, educated and skilled population that is positive about the future of our country and empowered to live a fulfilled life.”
About the Eskom Development Foundation NPC
The Eskom Development Foundation is tasked with implementing Eskom’s CSI strategy and operates as a not-for-profit company in sectors including enterprise development, education, environment, agriculture, healthcare, social and community development.
