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03 October 2024 | Story Ansie Barnard | Photo Supplied
Amrut Foundation 2024
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! 

News Archive

Champion of human rights – Prof Martha Minow – to present the Third Annual Reconciliation Lecture
2014-02-14

 

 

Prof Martha Minow
"Forgiveness, Law and Justice"
Photo: Supplied

Prof Martha Minow, Dean of Harvard University’s Law School, will be delivering the highly-anticipated Third Annual Reconciliation Lecture on Monday 24 February 2014. Her lecture entitled “Forgiveness, Law and Justice” promises to evoke healthy debate and honest introspection.

In an interview, Pres Barack Obama has been quoted to say that, as a teacher at Harvard Law School, Martha Minow changed his life. He cited her as being instrumental in his decision to pursue community service instead of commercial law.

Prof Minow – a sheer force of nature – has established herself globally as an advocate of human rights and protector of minorities. The effects of her work are rippling across continents. Her passion for the law has resulted in legislative initiatives that opened access to curricular materials for individuals with disabilities in the United States. She serves as Vice-Chair for an organisation providing assistance to low-income Americans. In addition, Prof Minow has also helped launch a programme called Imagine Co-existence for the UNHigh Commissioner for Refugees. The aim of the programme is to promote peaceful development in post-conflict societies.

The Annual Reconciliation Lecture is organised from the office of Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela. This yearly event was established by Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS. The main objective is to bring scholars to our university whose leadership and vision for social change and conflict transformation is reflected in their interaction within the academe and their teaching. This initiative supports the university’s drive to achieving excellence not only in the field of academics, but in human reconciliation as well.

The details of the event:
Date: Monday 24 February 2014
Time: 17:30 (please be seated by 17:15)
Venue: Centenary Complex, Reitz Hall, BloemfonteinCampus

The public is welcome to attend.
If you would like to attend the lecture, please confirm with Jo-Anne Naidoo at NaidooJA@ufs.ac.za

The lecture will be streamed live on:http://www.ufs.ac.za/ufslivestreaming/


 

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