Fast Company promotion
and the half-day Web Design Masterclass. Standard Bank thanks its sponsors and partners: Samsung, Telkom, IBM, Mofaya, Geekulcha, KMC and Liberty. Standard Bank will continue em-powering youth entrepreneurs across the continent, because it believes Africa is our home and we drive her growth.
Educational mandate—infusing entrepreneurial spirit at high-school level
Standard Bank, together with its partners, believes that through its Women in Technology Programme, it can encourage women to explore the possibilities offered by technology as a sector for personal and business growth. Standard Bank hosted 32 women and presented them with an opportunity to test their IT skills during a 24-hour Hackathon. The women were encouraged to identify challenges and develop digital solutions that are focused on bringing benefits to townships. The focus was on creating IT applications and websites to promote businesses and broaden township economies. Participants with ideas on revolutionising the financial sector and education were also encouraged to put forward their proposals. On a broader scale, by highlighting IT and computer skills, Standard Bank believes the hackathon will encourage women to look at improving their technical skills so that they can take their business to new levels. The winners were offered free access to many of the business development courses and workshops, including the two-day Digital Boot Camp to validate their ideas; the two-day Agile Training Workshop;
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Clockwise, from top left: The winners of the Giving Wings programme were Harry Makobe, Gr11 at Steve Tshwete Secondary (2nd), Phiwokuhle Basi, Gr10 at Steve Tshwete Secondary (1st) and Esther Maduna, Gr10 at Olievenhoutbosch Secondary (3rd). Faith Tembe and Jayshree Naidoo from Standard Bank Incubator, with the three winners, Kefilwe Morobane and Thato Mboweni from Giving Wings, and Amanda Khoza from Liberty. The Giving Wings programme prepares learners for life after high school.
Giving Wings Youth Development Programme Communication skills training company Giving Wings, in partnership with Standard Bank and Liberty, launched the Giving Wings Youth Development Programme in May at Steve Tshwete Secondary School, located in Centurion’s Olievenhoutbosch Township. The programme provides grade 10 and 11 students with the support necessary to develop their leadership, communication and entrepreneurial skills. Now in its fourth year, Giving Wings targets learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, addressing any insecurities or anxieties they may have as they prepare for life after high school, while also empowering them to break out of the cycle of poverty and confidently take control of their future. In addition to students, the programme has provided an opportunity for unemployed youth in the community to gain valuable work experience as programme volunteers. After five consecutive Saturdays, a celebratory closing event took place on Youth Day to showcase the top 12 students, who pitched their business ideas to the community. The finalist created ideas that looked to impact the community at large—ranging from solving township litter problems through recycling, to businesses catering to the needs of the disabled. Also featured strongly were web and mobile-based interventions designed to assist learners with afterhour studies. The winner, Phiwokuhle Basi from the host school, had an idea to start a recycling business called Station Nation, which would help fight pollution by means of biometrics. “My Giving Wings journey was phenomenal. It taught me a lot and inspired me to make a positive contribution toward my community,” she said. In addition to its focus on youth entrepreneurs, Standard Bank recently launched a crowdfunding platform called Feenix.org, which is designed to help students access fees for their tertiary studies through donations from individuals, businesses and corporates. All donations are tax-deductible, and corporates can benefit from their SED for skills development spend.