ESKOM CELEBRATES ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SCHOOLS

 Deputy Minsiter of Public enterprise, Ben Martins and Eskom Acting chairman Zethembe Khoza, handing ovr a certificate to Thapedi Tlhapane, of  EWET at an event in Harrissmith. Below Learners from different schools that in the area.

Bheki Nakana

Nie Cele

 

Joy fire passion and ecstasy reigned supreme at a packed to the rafters’ hall at Kgethatsebo-Khethulwazi Secondary school in Harrismith in the Free State.

 

This glee was triggered by The Eskom Development Foundation’s SimamaRanta School Entrepreneurship Education Competition celebration.

 

Organisers say this race is progressing towards building a new generation entrepreneurs in South Africa.

 

Run in partnership with the Education With Enterprise Trust (EWET), SimamaRanta is a successful initiative which gives recognition to South African high schools that are leading the way in entrepreneurship education.

 

The event was graced by the attendance of the Deputy Minister of Public Enterprise,Ben Dikobe Martins who delivered a keynote address.

He told the packed youth that projects of this natureis destined to train them to be employers and not employees.

 

“SimamaRanta proactively addresses the need for us to create a culture of entrepreneurship amongst the youth. Youth unemployment has reached crisis level in South Africa. By equipping the 12 million learners in our schools with entrepreneurial skills and facilitating their access into the economy, we can create true economic growth and a better future for tomorrow’s leaders,” said Martins.

 

The Power Utility’s Acting Chairman, Zethembe Khoza, said his organization has been a keen partner of youth entrepreneurshipprogrammes since 2010 in partnership with EWET.

 

He reminded the youth that they are‘business stars’ of the future and Eskom was proud to partner them in their journey.

 

“You should never take what you are doing lightly. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs have walked in the exactly same path that you are on. When you have an idea, do more than just dream about it-make it happen. This could be your destiny as a successful entrepreneur.

 

Eskom Development Foundation’s Acting CEO, Cecil Ramonotsi, is on record saying entrepreneurship is one of the best catalysts for improving the country’s economy.

 

“The Eskom SimamaRanta Entrepreneurship Education Competition is one of the ways we are contributing to that improvement. The competition is one of our programmes geared at investing in young people, who are the future of our country,” says Ramonotsi.

 

Thapedi Tlhapane, of  EWET, applauded Eskom for giving the youth a platform to shine.

 

ArieBouwer, Acting CEO at EWET said.

“The SimamaRanta programme showcases best practice of in-school entrepreneurship education and celebrates the future of entrepreneurship that is being created in schools across the country.”

Did you know?

 

• The annual Eskom SimamaRanta Entrepreneurship Education competition, initiated in 2010, identifies and celebrates secondary schools successfully implementing entrepreneurship education.

 

• Operating in some 3500 South African intermediate and secondary schools.

 

 

• To qualify, these schools must have enterprise clubs that teach learners the basics of running a business through practical application while responding to their respective communities’ socio-economic needs.

 

• The overall winner in 2016 was Welkom High School from Lejweleputswa District in the Free State. Their club, WHS Youth Enterprise Society (YES) Club, which has been in operation since April 2016, produces various decorating and other useful items such as candle holders. The creative club mainly uses paper machè to make their products. They also produce bags from old t-shirts, phone charger holders from two litre bottles as well as book covers from old worn jeans. To raise funds, this highly motivated group of youngsters host cake sales at their school, where they easily make around R800 a day.

 

• As the winners of last year’s competition, Welkom High School learners received a R100 000 cash prize for their club. They fought off some stiff competition from the other 27 finalists from across South Africa. A winner was named from each province and they each received a prize of R50 000 for their clubs.

 

• EWET’s programme is guided by 11 principles such as consensus on the concept of an entrepreneur; an instruction based approach to education; practical application of theory through extra-mural activities; continuous monitoring and evaluation; affording learners the opportunity to initiate and lead; exposing learners to career options that entrepreneurship presents and the inclusion of those who are less fortunate, amongst other principles.