Awelani Rasiuba and Fulufhelani Mashapapha of Tshivhase Secondary School in Thohoyandou were awarded the title of South Africa’s Top Young Innovators 2013.
The challenge was to propose a solution to a real problem that affected them, their family or their community.
Their winning innovation was the Pen Fan. By activating the fan, attached to a functional pen, pupils are able to cool themselves down during lessons, which will increase concentration.
“Often out of difficult circumstances come extraordinary ideas, which with encouragement, guidance and a few tools, can be realised to become working solutions,” said HIP2B² managing director Cathryn Payne.
“While the odds these learners are up against every day just to successfully get through high school are staggering, it was inspiring to see how they immediately interpreted the brief, and made it applicable to their own lives.”
Backed by the Department of Education, the challenge is the brainchild of HIP2B², a non-profit youth organisation founded in 2002 to promote the study of maths, science and technology-related subjects as a means to develop entrepreneurial skills and analytical thinking.
The 10 finalists participated in a week of inventing, job shadowing and mentoring and had exposure to science and engineering industries.
The winners received R10 000 from Huge Telecom for science equipment for their school and R3 000 cash prizes each.
