Despite facing tough competition from other teams, the student-led entrepreneurship and social innovation organization demonstrated their unwavering spirit and determination. Through their impressive display of ingenuity, creativity, and hard work, they were able to secure the position of first runners-up and advance to the highly anticipated semi-finals, which are scheduled to take place in July 2023.
According to Moses Timana, the President of UMP ENACTUS, the team that competed in the Enactus South Africa regional competition comprised students from diverse faculties, including business, agriculture, and humanities. These students share a common passion for creating positive change in their communities and have harnessed the power of entrepreneurship to address social and environmental challenges while also generating profits.
Timana, a postgraduate student in Agriculture, said: “The team presented their main enterprise, Seller's Chart, as well as three other enterprises that are fully owned by ENACTUS UMP students – all of which are aimed at making a positive difference in communities, while also creating economic opportunities.”
He further explained that they presented their projects to a panel of judges who evaluated their enterprises based on their impact on the community, the sustainability of their business models, and their financial viability.
Continue with winning
Temana says they will continue to practice and work even harder to win. “We are confident that we will continue to make a positive impact and demonstrate the power of entrepreneurship to create sustainable change.
Our success at the regional competition is also a testament to the importance of teamwork and collaboration. We all come from different faculties but we were able to work together towards a common goal.”
Enactus is transitioning from the conventional approach to student entrepreneurship, where students should own enterprises that they are presenting, from this year going forward.
“It was challenging to get the team from a point of seeing entrepreneurship as a way of making money only, to a point of addressing a community's challenges and needs while generating revenue. It was a long and slow transition from this venue for the team,” says Timana, adding that the university is proud of their achievements.
“UMP is committed to supporting us on our journey. The institution has realised the importance of entrepreneurship and social innovation in building a better future for South Africa, and is committed to providing its students with the education, training, and support needed to make a positive impact in our communities.”
As ENACTUS UMP prepares for the semi-finals, they are setting an example for young people across South Africa and beyond, demonstrating that with hard work, dedication, and creativity, anything is possible.
@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures supplied.