18 April 2024, Cape Town – Before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than a fraction of young people in Southern Africa, aged 15 to 24, faced the prospect of unemployment. With this in mind, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, an initiative that focuses on creating young people with an entrepreneurial outlook: once again presented its gamified entrepreneurship challenge for top academics from across Southern Africa and is calling on academics to participate in this year’s challenge.
The festival, now in its eighth year, is open to gameplay and aims to get more than 20,000 high school students from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) to sign up to participate in shark aquarium-style entrepreneurship pitch games and festivals. The festival also includes online webinars and facilitated school visits during the festival, as well as exciting prize packages.
“Through engaging simulations and rich content, participants will be informed how to identify business opportunities and collaborate effectively. This initiative democratizes entrepreneurship education, enabling young people in Southern Africa to unlock their full potential and expand the skills they want to shape a better future. by themselves,” says Marcel Manikum, project manager at the Allan Gray Entrepreneurship Challenge (AGEC).
The Entrepreneurship Challenge is not only designed to be a competition, but also to provide broader access to supportive communities within the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation and a vibrant year-round playground where learning is educational and fun.
“The 2024 festival promises to be more exciting than ever. The biggest update to this year’s contest is the arrival of a new logo game aimed at the school’s top students, known as the Allan Gray High School Game, which requires less than 14MB of knowledge. to enter. Students should access a game center where they can locate games, resources, and data that can help them at the festival.
How the Contest Changes Contestants’ Lives Beyond
One of our participants beyond, Thatego Moloi, who participated in the competition, had this to say about his experience: “AGEC has influenced me because I have been able to acquire, inform and expand a positive and winning mindset. As a young entrepreneur in progress, I was motivated to start my business by promoting the culmination and vegetables grown in my garden. It wasn’t simple, but AGEC came to my rescue and games played a bigger role in my adventure as they informed me of the steps to a successful entrepreneur!»
Through cutting-edge games and interactive learning, Thatego broke free from her self-limiting ideals and societal limitations, which set her on the path to self-efficacy and freedom, Manikum says. “The challenge will offer the potential opportunity to eventually enroll in the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation’s other ongoing business progression systems that offer a wide range in the form of scholarships, mentorship and access to career opportunities.
How to participate in the 2024 Entrepreneurship Challenge
Signing up is undeniable and simple. Those interested in participating in the contest can visit the official online page of the www. theentrepreneurshipchallenge. com challenge or send an email to info@theentrepreneurshipchallenge. com.
“We inspire you to spread the word about the challenge so that more students can sign up with laughter and excitement as well. You can also communicate with your teachers and principals about the game, who may be related to your classroom lessons. Our call to action is transparent and urgent: accept the challenge, your long-term and unleash your entrepreneurial potential,” says Manikum.
In conclusion, he reminds all interested participants: “AGEC is not just about introducing business concepts; It’s helping to tame a mindset of resilience, creativity, and infinite potential. We believe that entrepreneurship is not just about the preference for starting a business; It’s a hobby to drive change, challenge convention, and shape a better future. By embracing entrepreneurship, Americans have the power to write their own narratives, push boundaries, and become the architects of their destiny. This is an incredibly exciting prospect for any young user in South Africa and one they deserve to master with both hands.
Steuart has given some 500 lectures on South Africa’s progress since 1994 and South Africa’s long-term prospects.