By Puisano news Reporter
It was for the very first time participating in the Allan Gray Inter-College Entrepreneurship Competition, and the rest became history as Flavius Mareka TVET College and their entrepreneurial student, Yolanda Mothibedi, made it to the finals.
Representing her college, Yolanda, an Engineering student, managed to pitch an idea that took her all the way to the finals. Yolanda, originally from Evaton Vaal, pitched a business idea of manufacturing an affordable, low-cost composting toilet that will replace the pit toilet.
Even though she knew there were such toilets in the market, the difference will be in how they are being manufactured and their advantages compared to the ones already in the market.
She was to work on an affordable, low-cost composting toilet that will be Eco-friendly, Waterless, Maintainable, Recyclable, and transform human waste into odourless fertilizer.
With some guidance and mentoring along the way, she was able to get an opportunity to pitch her business idea at the highest level of the competitions at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Gauteng.
Even though she didn’t make it to the top, Yolanda says this opportunity has presented her with so many opportunities she can’t believe.
“I feel like i have won, with so overwhelming support and encouragement I have received from my competing peers and various business representatives present at the finals. I received formal invitations from businesses in Gauteng and as far as Cape Town to come and present the idea,” said an excited Yolanda.
Yolanda is currently focusing on formalising her business idea and carefully considering the best route to take.
Allan Gray Inter-College Entrepreneurship Competition is aimed at fostering a culture of entrepreneurship among TVET students across the country.
In the competition, students are competing amongst themselves and are required to prepare and present an impressive business idea. The competition runs from local colleges up to the national stage, where they represent their respective provinces. Ultimately, the best business idea presented at the national level stages wins the competition.
