CREATIVE, innovative thinking was encouraged among the youth of the Dr. Beyers Naude Local Municipality area recently during an open innovation challenge.
The Bright Ideas Innovation Café was hosted in Graaff-Reinet in association with the Embassy of Switzerland, Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS).
The challenge commenced on August 20 and concluded on September 7. Invitations to compete were sent out to 11 schools within the Sarah Baartman District, encouraging students from Grades 10 to 12 to identify the challenges in their community and, through innovation, provide a solution.
The Top 50 winning students were chosen according to the impact of their challenge and the originality of their idea.
A number of interesting projects came from Aberdeen Secondary School, Asherville Secondary School and Nqweba Secondary School where students identified gripping challenges, such as substance abuse, pollution, and the need for a youth centre.
Some of the winners included Marinda Maarman, Meronique Magiellies, Mkululi Botmani, Mason Swarts, Jordan Jacobs, Shaundrick Mabie, Dylin Olifant, Nontle Siboleke Sithebe, Siphosethu Nondlazi, Lelethu Gqoloza, Sam Luthando, Qashani Sibulele and Mihlal Jontjies.
The winners of the Bright Ideas Innovation Café also attended an entrepreneurship workshop, hosted by RIIS at the Panorama Hotel in Graaff-Reinet, on September 25.
It was an entire day of activities, that included meeting the Swiss Solar Car team for the Graaff-Reinet leg of the Sasol Solar Car Challenge 2018.
