Additional sponsors needed for challenge

SMART Young Mindz Challenge nation-building partners Blue IQ, the Gauteng Department of Education and Sowetan are looking for additional partners to add more lustre to the future of the province's youth who are studying mathematics, science and technology.

Also seeking to stimulate the interest, appreciation and careers in entrepreneurship, the challenge invites pupils in grades 8, 9 and 10 to submit viable business ideas. The business plans should investigate their communities' problems, wants and needs, resulting in commercially-viable products or services prototypes.

This year's top winners are Metropolitan Raucall Secondary School, Wordsworth High School and Willowmoore High School. The first school won R45000, the second school won R30 00 and the third school won R15000.

They also join the Smart Young Mindz Alumni Club, which will nurture their talent further.

This year's theme was Sustainable Innovation: Eco-efficient and Automotive Products.

Smart Young Mindz, now in its fourth year, attracted 470 entries this year. Of these, 38 finalists were selected for the finals in Johannesburg in November.

In 2007, Smart Young Mindz targeted 100 schools and reached about 20000 pupils through extensive road shows.

In 2008, 230 schools were targeted, reaching about 50000 pupils. This was a 170percent increase in entries from the first year.

In 2009, 350 schools were targeted and the road shows touched at least 70000 pupils. Entries submitted numbered 268 and 1340 pupils took part in the regional and provincial finals. This was a 65 percent increase in entries from the second year and a 347 percent increase from the first year.

This year, 450 schools were targeted through the Smart Young Mindz outreach programme. About 90000 pupils were reached. In all, 470 entries were received from 2350 pupils for the regional and the provincial finals. This was a 75percent increase in entries from the third year and a whopping 78percent increase from the first year .

"This significant growth highlights the potential of this competition, the positive "buy-in" of our youth and the need to ensure Smart Young Mindz's continues to expand and add greater educational benefits and incentives," the Challenger's project director Mandy Rutgers said.

"The Gauteng government and Blue IQ, together with the project's partners, including Sowetan (for the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation) are inviting the private sector to participate in an expanded corporate social investment (and responsibility) partnership programme," she said.

"The programme is expected to enable the incubation of participating pupils's ideas, the provision of tertiary education bursaries, funding for high school educations, as well as value in kind products and services, work experience and or placement and career development and guidance opportunities for the participants," said Rutgers.

Interested parties seeking a full overview of the competition and a detailed presentation of the 2011 Smart Young Mindz partnership opportunities should e-mail Mandy Rutgers at mandyr@blueiq.co.za or phone her on 011-689-2600.