Hundreds of high school learners were treated to the fifth Primestars Step Up 2 A Start Up cinema experience at the Sandton City Ster-Kinekor, to teach young learners entrepreneurship skills.
The Step Up 2 A Start Up programme teaches vital lessons in entrepreneurship to thousands of South African learners through edutainment. Each year the programme focuses on global trends in entrepreneurship, seeking to inspire participants to explore these in the context of their surroundings, looking for business solutions to real problems in their communities.
The programme has reached nearly 65 000 learners nationwide and the theme selected for this year was, ‘Think Tech. Do Business.’ The programme featured a film titled, Ikusasa Lethu (Our Future), a story of a young lady who discovers technology, creates a business, adapts her business as she learns what works and, as an end result, changes her future and the future of her community.
The cast of the film and executives from the sponsoring corporates including Standard Bank, Sasol, MTN and the Small Enterprise Development Agency were present on the day to show their support for the programme.
“Standard Bank is committed to entrepreneurship and we promote it among the youth through exposing them to relevant financial skills that can turn their ‘hustle’ to commercial value,” said Thulani Sibeko, Chief Marketing Officer.
Marcel Mitchelson, the acting vice president for social investment at Sasol added, “Sasol believes that early interventions create a meaningful impact and have the potential to create sustainable solutions. The skills and education which the Step Up 2 A Start Up programme will impart, contributes to enabling the youth to transform their lives.”
Small Enterprise Development Agency echoed this support and CEO Mandisa Tshikwatamba said that while many school learners who start their own business will face challenges, the programme will help create future entrepreneurs.
Grade 9 to 11 learners began their journey into the world of tech entrepreneurship at Ster-Kinekor cinemas nationwide on 18 August. Learners received a toolkit which reinforced the lessons communicated throughout the movie. The aim of the toolkit is to assist learners in implementing the skills learned to develop their own business ideas and model canvasses and enter the Step Up 2 A Start Up Tech Entrepreneurship Competition.
The competition will see 9 finalist teams get placed through an intensive boot camp to streamline their business ideas concluding in a prestigious awards event.
Details: Primestars 010 300 5100.
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