The bold nation-building initiative between Blue IQ, the Gauteng Education and Economic Development Departments and Sowetan will kick off its 2011 programme with a formal ceremony tomorrow at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria.

The latest inductees to the Smart Young Mindz alumni programme will also be handed their special blazers at the event. The expo, in Robertsham, toasted the sterling leadership and coordination efforts of one of the driving forces behind the success of the challenge education specialist Patrick Ntenjwa.

He collected 1854 entries from pupils in grades 8, 9 and 10 from 50 schools, forming the bulk of the 5780 entries collected so far.

More than 16 other senior GDE officials, who are the project's coordinators, also helped collect entries. This constitutes an increase of almost 800percent from 2010.

Recycling is the 2011 theme. The pupils, assisted by technical subject teachers, are expected to work in five-member teams of boys and girls or mixed groups.

The groups must then produce projects showing their understanding and appreciation of recycling in relation to pollution-reduction, saving natural resources and energy and recycling, in relation to saving space for waste disposal, as well as the economic benefits of recycling.

The contestants also have to present a summary of their research, a design brief showing how they used the recyclable material for their entry, highlight its positive social impact and effect, and draw up a business and, or marketing plan.

• R375,000 in prizes is up for grabs.
• The 2010 champions were Metropolitan Raucall Secondary School, winning R45,000, and their runners-up, the Wordsworth and Willowmoore high schools, won R30,000 and R15,000, respectively.