CUT Enactus young leaders just arrived from the 2016 competitions that were held on 27 and 28 July at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The team’s efforts, hard work and dedication paid off when they brought victory home, bagging four trophies; two of which were for 1st prize, the other for 2nd prize and the last one for a special award beating 27 teams from 26 universities of the country.
Each year, university students participate in the enactus South Africa National competitions to showcase their business innovative community empowerment projects that are not only making a difference in the world today but have the momentum to create new careers, spark business innovation and deliver fresh energy in social responsibility. The competition is aimed at improving and enhancing the quality of life within their communities. Enactus is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to inspiring students to improve the world through entrepreneurial innovations, turning ideas into actions that will ultimately transform the lives of communities and create a better future.
The two projects that saw the team’s victory are: Katlego and Ecoquittes. Katlego project is a partnership with Harmony Gold Mine, Faculty of Management Sciences and Absa Small Business Development and focuses on capacitating Harmony Gold mine suppliers and businesses from local communities surrounding the mine with the knowledge and skills on how to run a successful business.
Ecoquittes is a greening project where recycled paper, sawdust and water is combined and compressed to produce briquettes used for fuel. This project enabled three women from a location called Mothibi, Mangaung to have a registered business of producing briquettes. The community of Motshabi Township have shown support towards the project by assisting in collecting waste paper and boxes thus reducing the carbon footprint in the area. The three ladies are now incubated under SAMTI programme.
Ms Maraka Lefera, Co-Faculty Advisor, Research Assistant and the team Alumnus and Prof. Crispen Chipunza, Associate Professor and Faculty Advisor couldn’t contain their excitement on the victory. “We are very excited about this outcome and we hope to do more for our communities and live by our vision 2020 which states thus CUT shall be an engaged university that focuses on producing quality social and technological innovation for socio-economic development, primarily in the Central Region of South Africa”
Meanwhile, Ms Maraka Lefera, a master’s student, Research Assistant and currently Enactus-CUT Co-Faculty Advisor scooped the Enactus South Africa 2016 Junior Alumnus of the year (under 30) award. To be considered for this special award, one has to be successful in their chosen profession, exemplification of the Enactus values of integrity, passion, innovation, and collaboration in their life and chosen profession and show continued dedication in achieving social impact through entrepreneurial action. Ms Maraka will also be considered for the inaugural 2016 Global Alumni Award.
More details of the victory are as follows:
Element 1: Consider the relevant economic, social and environmental Factors
Triple bottom line: Sustainability: 1st Place
Sponsored by Nedbank
Element 3: Apply business and economic concepts and business solutions for community development
Entrepreneurial Approach 1st Place
Sponsored by Harmony Gold Mining Company limited
Harmony Special Competition Awards
The purpose of 2016 Harmony Local Economic Enactus Competition is to challenge enactus teams to intervene and assist their communities to take advantage of opportunities and to overcome challenges.
2016 Harmony Local Economic Development (LED) Enactus Challenge: 2nd Place
Images
1: Prof. Crispen Chipunza, Associate Professor and Faculty Advisor, Kenneth Mbangula second-year year Marketing, Ms Maraka Lefera, Research Assistant and the team Alumnus, Sonwabiso Naki, second-year marketing, Luvuyo Mandla, third-year Quantity Surveying and Enactus President Joseph Morapedi second-year Marketing, Namhla Nomnganga, first-year BEd Languages and Welile Yalezo IT Web development.
2: Enactus LED Special Competition presenters, Lovuyo Mandla and Namhla Nomgaga, first-year BEd Languages students presenting their accolades.
3: Team congratulatory hugs from Prof. Henk de Jager, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement with Kenneth Mbangula second-year student in Marketing.
Uploaded: 05 August 2016
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