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03 October 2024
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Story Ansie Barnard
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Photo Supplied
From left to right: Londeka Mkhwanazi, Semither Mkhize, Salima van Schalkwyk, Slindokuhle Ndlovu, Asanda Mpinga, Mantombi Molefe, Ntombinkulu Khumalo, Mosebjadi Chauke and Thembinkosi Mkhwanazi.
The Amrut Foundation, in partnership with the University of the Free State (UFS), successfully hosted its Inaugural Innovathon at the UFS Qwaqwa Campus. This competition is designed to identify and support innovative products and services that not only generate profit but also contribute to the public good, with a strong emphasis on ethical business practices. Through this collaboration, students gain national exposure for their businesses and receive support to create sustainable social enterprises.
Five teams of student social entrepreneurs from the Qwaqwa campus were shortlisted to participate in the regional finals. Their selection was based on ventures that adhered to a social entrepreneurship model and demonstrated plans for long-term profitability and sustainability.
During the Innovathon, a panel of judges from the UFS, the Amrut Foundation, and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) selected two outstanding teams to represent the UFS at the national finals, which will take place in October. The winning ventures, Biofly-Pro and Root Rescue were each awarded R20,000 to further develop and expand their initiatives.
Hemang Desai, Executive Director of the Amrut Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm for the event: "Amrut is proud to co-host the Free State leg of the inaugural Innovation Challenge with the UFS. Supporting students with entrepreneurial ambitions that align with societal care is one of our key focus areas."
Dr Grey Magaiza, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director for the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the UFS, highlighted the importance of social entrepreneurship: “Social entrepreneurship is a collaborative effort towards creating sustainable and ethical business processes. The two winning projects embody these principles, and we look forward to their continued growth. In line with our Vision 130, social entrepreneurship can serve as a critical lever for university-community engagement.”
Congratulations to Biofly-Pro and Root Rescue on their well-deserved achievements!
Shimlas start Varsity Cup victoriously!
2014-02-04
Kovsies’ Shimlas gave the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) a fierce welcome in their first Varsity Cup match on Monday night at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein.
Shimlas beat Wits 31–15 in the first round of the 2014 Varsity Cup Rugby tournament. The home side took the lead on the scoreboard early on with two converted tries.
Wits, who still played in the Varsity Shield tournament last year, managed to score a try seven minutes before halftime. However, a penalty kick by Shimlas’ fly-half, Gouws Prinsloo, put the Kovsie team in an 18–5 lead at the end of the first half. The second half saw both sides score two more tries, attaining a four-try bonus point on the log for Shimlas.
Proud Shimla captain, Elandre Huggett, was named the Player that Rocks after the match. Shimlas will face NWU Pukke in this coming Monday’s round two fixtures at the Fanie du Toit Stadium in Potchefstroom on 10 February 2014.
Shimla scorers
Tries: Oupa Mohoje, Divandre Strydom, Fanie van der Walt, Tienie Burger
Conversions: Gouws Prinsloo (3)
Penalties: Prinsloo (1)