Since weeks S.A. Teen Entrepreneur was working towards this date on October 28th 2014, and so did parts of the SAP Protea Team. Yesterday’s launch opened another chapter for the NGO, as it was a highly visible event at Bishops High School in Rondebosch, Cape Town. Several Western Cape media representatives such as CTV, UCT Radio, Bush Radio, Die Burger press and others have been present. Amongst the 250 persons attending the launch, we have seen high school headmasters, teachers, enterprise representatives, parents and many teenagers. Lydia Zingoni, the founder of S.A. Teen Entrepreneur opened the agenda and in her keynote she addressed the challenge and the need for entrepreneurship in South Africa. Teenagers have been shocked when learning that 56% of teenagers graduating from high school don’t find a job in South Africa. And it is not much better after graduating from university. However, this reality check put everybody in the room very attentive. All keynote speakers addressed this particular challenge and encouraged teens to realize their ideas into businesses, even though some ideas and innovations might look crazy in the beginning. South Africa has one of the highest education budgets in Africa, but on a worldwide ranking is only #140 (out of 144 countries) when compared on quality. The countries education system currently doesn’t provide a curriculum to form and train entrepreneurs. The keynote speaker and Minister of Education for the Western Cape, Ms Debbie Schaefer outlined the instability of the South African Education system in recent years, and the governments priority to not change it once more. She urged private initiatives, such as S.A. Teen Entrepreneur to influence High Schools to enrich the learners experience outside the standard curriculum. The Entrepreneurial Society is therefore seen as a very important enhancement for teachers to prepare the teenagers and graduates for real life challenges before leaving school. Besides the countries challenges in the education system and job creation programs, the participants heard Mr.Vijay Valla, Director of Youth Enterprises elaborating on the cultural differences when it comes to entrepreneurship. South African’s seem to be careful and often hesitant before taking the risk of founding a business. The clear message that evening to teens was “start early, don’t be afraid of failure, you might fail at first, just try again”.
But even the best idea needs support and so Mr. Jonathan Jacobs from Skylar asked to donate money, skills, experience and mentorship to the young generation. The example of SAP Corporate Social Responsibility Program was used to outline how SAP believes in NGOs and their mission.
Several SAP colleagues of the SAP Protea Team did attend the launch event to represent SAP’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program. Interviews with TV, Radio and Press have been conducted. The media, as well as participants have been very interested in the Social Sabbatical program and wanted to learn why and how SAP donates resources into the NGO community in South Africa and other countries.
Authors: Asha, Claus, Sebastian
But even the best idea needs support and so Mr. Jonathan Jacobs from Skylar asked to donate money, skills, experience and mentorship to the young generation. The example of SAP Corporate Social Responsibility Program was used to outline how SAP believes in NGOs and their mission.
Several SAP colleagues of the SAP Protea Team did attend the launch event to represent SAP’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program. Interviews with TV, Radio and Press have been conducted. The media, as well as participants have been very interested in the Social Sabbatical program and wanted to learn why and how SAP donates resources into the NGO community in South Africa and other countries.
Authors: Asha, Claus, Sebastian
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