Tikhontele Secondary was named the best dream team for coming up with the best business idea during a Seda programme called Entrepreneurship in schools.
Ten learners from 10 schools had to come up with viable business ideas that would benefit the community.
The purpose of the competition was to assist learners to develop creative thinking skills, equip them with the tools to make informed business choices. Learners were allowed to form business teams of ten learners per team, identify the challenge faced by their community and convert the challenge into business idea. They were allowed to conduct a research on their idea and come up with a report.
Giving the overview,project manager for the South African Institute for Entrepreneurship, Mr Gavin Leverton said that the competition will also allow the learners to develop the skills of turning an idea into a viable business.
“The aim of this program is to ensure that whilst still at school, learners are equipped with entrepreneurial skills needed to start and grow businesses. The program is aligned with the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement and focuses on Grade 12 learners and educators,” he stated.
Tikhontele came up with an idea of designing a sensing stick for the blind, that will assist them by vibrating when sensing danger such as cars, ditches and other dist ructions while walking on the streets.
“We are concerned about blind people who have difficulty running day to day errands due to the fear of being knocked over by cars or falling into ditches hence we came up with this idea,” said Thulisile Mkhombo, a learner from the winning school.
Giving the learners advice, Mr Lehlohonolo Mogane, a young man running Kamatshika Cleaning Services, said that it was high time young people started thinking beyond getting a job but start creating jobs for others.
“Instead of complaining about the lack of jobs,find a gap in the market and start something that will benefit your community in terms of alleviating poverty,” he said.
