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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!
International exhibition, ‘Signs of Solidarity: The Dutch Against Apartheid’ stimulates reflection on SA’s past
2015-08-03
The Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ) has arranged for the popular travelling exhibition, ‘Signs of Solidarity: The Dutch Against Apartheid’, to be shown on the Bloemfontein Campus. In support of the University of the Free State’s Human Project, the IRSJ strives to stimulate reflections into South Africa’s past, and to establish a conversation about the significance of our history by bringing this exhibition to the campus.
Details of the event
Date: 4 August 2015
Time: 14:00 – 15:30
Place: UFS Sasol Library foyer, Bloemfontein Campus
RSVP: Eddie de Wet at DeWetE@ufs.ac.za
The exhibition will be opened by the Vice Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, Professor Jonathan Jansen and the Ambassador to South Africa from the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands, Marisa Gerards.
‘Signs of Solidarity: The Dutch Against Apartheid’ is a moving testimony to the massive scale of civil support the Netherlands has shown to South Africa’s liberation struggle. Their support grew to such an extent that it not only became a national agenda, but also one of the greatest protest movements the Netherlands has ever known.