THREE learners from Sibusisiwe Comp-Tech High School in Umbumbulu are set to jet off to the USA after being named overall winners at the Step-Up 2A Green Start-Up National Youth Entrepreneurship Awards, held in Johannesburg on October 7.
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The awards were hosted by Primestars, an agency that specialises in facilitating youth development programmes for high school learners. The competition was open to learners from under-resourced communities across South Africa, and they were required to submit a business concept on how to contribute to job creation in the green economy.
Tiffany Ogbonnaya, Zanele Khwela and Thulile Zikhali, who are all in Grade 11, drew up a business plan on how to create a cheap source of energy using eco-friendly coal, sourced from Marula nuts. The learners said they think their idea won because they did a lot of research, and it is something that the country needs as there is an urgency to create an alternative that is environmentally friendly to combat climate change.
“I think the judges liked our idea because of the potential to disrupt the coal industry, and because it would help the community in many ways,” said Zanele.
On top of winning the educational trip to Silicon Valley in the United States, which is the international hub of technology, other prizes included bursaries, tablets, and R20 000 in seed funding for their business idea.
“I still can’t believe we have won; I need someone to wake me up from this dream. Now we have to be practical and do more research to make this idea a reality,” said Tiffany. They will undertake the trip in August 2023 when they are in Grade 12.
Primestars’ managing director Martin Sweet said it is imperative to equip the youth with skills that will help them and the country as a whole.
“To create entrepreneurs and reduce our high unemployment rate, our youth will need to learn skills and develop competencies that will enable them to create businesses and become gainful employers in a circular, restorative, inclusive and clean economy,” said Sweet.
Sibusisiwe Comp-Tech High School is named after Sibusisiwe Violet Makhanya (1894 – 1971) who used her house to give classes to the children of Umbumbulu. In 1954, it officially became a high school at its present location.
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