SAB Foundation’s Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards Open
Mpho is the founder of low-cost affordable chairs and tray tables which are custom made for children with physical disabilities
R6 million invested in supporting 60 entrepreneurs in Mpumalanga
Applications for the tenth annual SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards and fifth annual Disability Empowerment Awards are now open and local social innovators who are committed to addressing social issues are encouraged to apply.
The winning innovation stands the chance of receiving up to R1.3 million in funding, as well as business development support.
In Mpumalanga the SAB Foundation has provided over R6 million in grant funding and business support to 60 entrepreneurs to date.
This has helped them grow their collective turnover from R9 million to over R38 million, an increase of 324%.
They also employ a total of 286 people of which 121 are new jobs.
Mpumalanga has produced a number of winning social innovators, including last year’s joint first place Disability Empowerment Award winner, Mpho Mohlolo, founder of Specialised Seating for Disabled Children.
Mpho is the founder of low-cost affordable chairs and tray tables which are custom made for children with physical disabilities.
“As a disabled person myself, I struggled to find work because of my disability. By producing these chairs, I am able to create employment opportunities for other disabled individuals, as well as helping young people with disabilities in underprivileged communities”, says Mpho.
Through the awards, the SAB Foundation aims to empower innovative thinkers like Mpho to develop products and services which help the country’s most vulnerable communities, while also empowering them as entrepreneurs.
Prizes awarded range from R200 000 to R1.3 million and are used as an investment in the innovation.
In addition to the prize money, the winners will also receive business development support.
The Social Innovation Awards are aimed at innovators, social entrepreneurs, institutions and social enterprises with prototypes or early-stage businesses that can solve social problems.
These products, services, business models and processes should directly address the challenges faced by low-income women, youth, people living with disabilities, or people living in rural areas.
The Disability Empowerment Awards seek and award social enterprises, which have come up with innovative solutions, which improve access to the economy, and/or solutions for disabled people, while generating enough revenue to become sustainable over time.
People with disabilities are some of the most marginalised members of society with a high unemployment rate.
Online applications are now open and can be completed by visiting www.sabfoundation.co.za, before the closing date of March 23.
