A select group of Grade 10 – 12 learners from schools across the country showcased their community-driven business ideas on 26 June 2019 at Junior Achievement South Africa’s (JASA) Company of the Year (COY) competition, sponsored by Citi Foundation.
The COY competition provides young people with the platform and support they need to turn their ambitions into reality. It highlights business ideas conceptualised by learners participating in JASA’s Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Academy Programmes.
The winning team was Young Entrepreneurs from Iketleetso Secondary School in the North West for their multipurpose baskets made from recycled paper. Through their business, the learners want to also educate their peers on keeping the environment clean while making a profit. They were awarded trophies, a R5000 cash equivalent for their school, flights for the team of four and a chaperone to Accra, Ghana to represent South Africa in the JA Africa Regional Company of the Year Competition taking place in December 2019.
Second place was awarded to Binnovation from Northwood High School in Kwa-Zulu Natal for their multipurpose storage bags for home, car and outside use. The waterproof bags come with an adjustable strap making it easy to switch from home to outside use.
Hygiene Buddies from Fundulwazi Secondary School in Sebokeng took third place for its innovative Toilet Bomb hygiene cube. The product is ideal for those who don’t want to do the unpleasant work but still desire a sparkling clean toilet.
“Our programmes attempt to increase meaningful economic participation by introducing and nurturing entrepreneurial thinking early on,” says Nelly Mofokeng, Managing Director of JA South Africa. “Through these programmes, JASA aims to help develop a thriving small business sector in South Africa and help reduce youth unemployment.”
In preparation for the competition, the teams attended two days of mentorship workshops to hone their business ideas and improve their skills in problem solving, leadership and presentation.
Teams representing each of the nine provinces pitched their business plans to a panel of judges made up of business owners and professionals. The judges based their assessment on several criteria, including business idea clarity, ability to think critically, understanding of basic business principles and the sustainability and relevance of the product or service to social responsibility.
“Over the last 23 years through our partnership with Junior Achievement South Africa we have provided young people with the tools to effectively compete in the 21stcentury. “Young people require a mix of education, employability, entrepreneurship and leadership skills. At Citi we understand the importance of helping young entrepreneurs realise their business ideas” said Peter Crawley, Citi Country Officer.
“JA Worldwide’s partnership with the Citi Foundation spans over 30 years and this is the fifth year that the Citi Foundation has sponsored the JA South Africa Company of the Year event,” says Mofokeng. “Citi Foundation’s funding demonstrates the kind of commitment to youth economic empowerment and entrepreneurship education that our country needs.”
The top nine finalist schools who participated in the COY 2019 competition were:
- Western Cape – Spine Road High School
- Kwazulu Natal – Northwood High School
- Free State – Mmathabo Secondary School
- North West – Iketleetso Secondary School
- Gauteng Relebogile Secondary School
- Mpumalanga – Mandlesive Secondary School
- Gauteng – Fundulwazi Secondary School
- Limpopo – Kgakoa Secondary School
- Eastern Cape – Douglas Mbopa Secondary School
