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Rhodes University wins third place in national competition

Rhodes University team with trophy at Enactus National Championship
Rhodes University team with trophy at Enactus National Championship

Rhodes University’s Enactus team won third place for the Ideation Challenge at the 2019 Enactus National Championship, held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 8-9 July.

The championship saw a total of 16 Enactus university teams showcase their social entrepreneurship projects that are changing lives and providing innovative solutions for sustainable impact in their communities. It also saw the inaugural Ideation Challenge where 9 teams participated.

“Rhodes University’s Enactus set the bar high with its winning attitude and confidence,” said Faculty Advisor Dr Nosiphiwe Ngqwala. “Being one of the smallest institutions of higher learning in South Africa, we set out to prove the phrase ‘quality over quantity’.”

The journey began with a qualifying round at regional level, where the Rhodes University team qualified into the top 16 teams, out of 26 active teams nationally. The team the qualified for the Ideation Challenge, along with 8 other teams.

Two projects were represented by the team at the national competition. The first project, Liviwe Pop Up Cinema, was founded upon identifying a lack of adequate distribution channels and exhibitions of locally-produced, quality films. Therefore, the social enterprise focuses on exposing disadvantaged residents to a broader consciousness of thought, to help instil and impact positive change. Secondly, the team also launched a sneaker cleaning project, called ShuCliniq. The project aims to raise capital through cleaning sneakers at a pop-up stand that uses a waterless, quick-drying cleaning spray – an initiative encompassing deep relevance in the midst of the water crisis faced by Makhanda residents.

The national recognition of the team’s effort puts relevance into the time dedicated by this group of students who tirelessly work on to uplift community members.

“The team would like to thank their Business Advisory Board including Shafeek Sha, Tshidi Mohapeloa, Lowel Scarr, Maso Nduna, Jay Pillay and Sifiso Mlimi for their unwavering support,” Dr Ngqwala expressed.