BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
MBABANE – Saving power wins the day!
Sifundzani High School came out on top at the Junior Achievement (JA) Eswatini Expo today with their power saver monitor. Their company, called Time Out, was awarded E10 000 for their business of a power save which regulates electrical consumption for households and businesses.
In addition to the E10 000 cash prize, the JA Eswatini Company of the Year 2022 will be representing Eswatini at the Africa Competition to be held in Nigeria this December. Sifundzani High School will compete with 12 other African countries, where the champion will represent Africa in the World championships.
JA Eswatini also announced through their social media that Ekukhanyeni High School came second place with a water pump which will be making water pumps from a closed PVC pipe, pipe reducers and check valves. The Ekukhanyeni team won E2 000. Third place went to Hlathikhulu Central High School with a solar water purifier designed for rural places – they won E1 500.
Photos by JA Eswatini.The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Mancoba Khumalo, who was represented by Minister of Economic Planning Dr Tambo Gina, said it was Government’s mandate to ensure that youth participation in economic recovery in the country is prioritized. He further commended JA for the role they have been consistently playing in training the youth on financial literacy and entrepreneurship, as well as empowering youth to be ready for work.
“This kind of education is one that will enforce a sustained economic recovery for the country, and the continent at large. There is no better time to train young people, especially the adolescents on leadership skills and success. The instilling of this knowledge at a younger age will ensure that we have great leaders in future who will lead with power and integrity”, said the minister.
Other categories which were awarded on the JA Eswatini Expo 2022 were as follows:
Best New Comer – Phonjwane High School
Best Kept Records – Ekukhanyeni High School
Highest Profits – Vulamasango High School
Most Innovative Product – Sifundzani High School
Green Award – Edwaleni High School
Social Entrepreneurship – Ekukhanyeni High School
Excellence Teamwork – St Mary’s High School
Excellence Marketing – Vulamasango High School
Most Viable Business – Sifundzani High School
Best CEO – Ekukhanyeni High School
Best Facilitator – Mbekelweni High School
Third Place – Hlatikulu Central High School
Second Place – Ekukhanyeni High School
Overall Winner – Sifundzani High School
JA Eswatini Marketing and Communications Specialist Siphesihle Mkhonta yesterday encouraged all headteachers to show interest in the JA program by formally reaching out to them as they look at increasing the number of schools going forward.
