Learners at forefront of mitigating climate change
Primestars MD Martin Sweet warns that the world is burning and governments cannot be left alone to tackle this monster of climate change.
Bokamoso High School learners from neighbouring Thembisa graced the launch of a high school programme of Primestars which seeks to cultivate green entrepreneurial skills in the youth in an effort to curb the damaging effects of climate change.
Addressing the programme’s launch, Primestars managing director Martin Sweet painted a grim picture of a burning planet Earth, particularly the continent of Africa which is burdened by poverty and underdevelopment and tends to bore the brunt of climate change effects.
He cited the unbearable hot summer climates in Africa that acerbates droughts by drying up the rivers and dams, unleashes wild and uncontrollable fires, and displaces millions of people through floods as was the case in KwaZulu-Natal and some parts of the Eastern Cape.
“The world is burning; the hour is late and the moment of consequence so long delayed is now upon us. We have moved from being a part of nature, to being apart from nature. Scientists warn us we have no more than a decade to confront the climate emergency head-on, and we have to act and act very fast,” he told his audience.
“Primestars realises that government cannot be left alone to face this monster of climate change and we all need to play our part in a public-private sector partnership and this initiative of a Step Up to a Green Start Up is one small way that we are trying to contribute and play our part, and I urge other partners to come on board,” he said.
He lamented the days ‘when once upon a time, not so long ago, the advent of summer used to usher in days of warmer but moderate temperatures, new leaves, blossoming flowers, and birds returning from the annual migration to warmer climates. But we cannot say the same today as our summers are no longer the same’.
Established in 2014, the initiative aims to drive the symbiotic fusion of technology and entrepreneurship by equipping young individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the green sector.
On an annual basis, the programme is said to attract an average of 500 business submissions from high school learners. The programme then moves into its competition phase, featuring a national entrepreneurship boot camp and the coveted National Youth Awards ceremony which will be held in December with prizes valued at more than R4 million.
Details: https://www.primestarsdigital.co.za/step-up-2a-start-up/
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