GEORGE NEWS - Garden Route Mall introduced the first Entrepreneurship Challenge in January this year to find students with unique business ideas that can potentially benefit the Garden Route and become sustainable businesses.
The young minds were given three months to submit proposals, after which a panel of judges from the centre management office went through all the proposals and chose the top three based on the entry criteria.
The winners were invited to the Garden Route Mall on 9 April to present their ideas and had the experience of sitting in on a "real world-like" business meeting.
NMU business management student Siphelele Mlonjeni was the third place winner and received R7 000 for her clothing brand idea, called Ricochet Infinity, that specialises in matric dance dresses. Siphelele said her future plans include having an online shop and specialised packaging for her line.
Jameela Van der Schyff from Mc Kinlay Reid was second with her presentation of "Reading can be fun". She is passionate about English as a language and wants to encourage individuals of all ages to learn how to read and write English properly.
Jameela could not be present and her principal, Steve Williams, collected her R10 000 prize on her behalf.
Jonty McKenzie from Pacaltsdorp High School took the winner's prize of R15 000 with his Emoji concept. Jonty believes that Emojis are fun and a great tool to lift the users' mood and energy.
Third-placed Jameela Van der Schyff of Mckinlay Reid was absent and was represented by two co-learners. From left are Mckinlay Reid learner Edoardo Eggers, Marketing Manager of Garden Route Mall Tumi Masango, Mckinlay Reid learner Kayla Greenwood, 1st prize winner Jonty McKenzie from Pacaltsdorp High School, General Manager of Garden Route Mall Rion Olivier (back) and 3rd place winner Siphelele Mlonjeni from NMU.
He sees the business growing and connecting people through the Emojis. He plans to study law next year.
Garden Route Mall wishes all the young entrepreneurs who submitted their proposals the very best of luck in their future endeavours and look forward to next year's challenge.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
