Is the next Elon Musk an SA graduate?

Aurecon helps drive the Africa Design Challenge leg of Innovate Durban’s Youth Innovation Challenge.
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Winners of the Aurecon Youth Innovation Challenge 2017
30 October 2017 - An initiative to empower the youth of
Global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon is one of the partners in the initiative, which is known as the Youth Innovation Challenge (YIC).
“Something extraordinary happens when people who might never have crossed paths otherwise band together with a common vision; they ignite something. For Aurecon, that something includes teaching the youth the skills they need to become agents of change in their communities.
"Together with the eThekwini Municipality and other stakeholders, Aurecon is investing in the future of the city using the Innovate Durban platform,” says Aurecon Global Service Leader for Electrical and Control, Richard Ahlschlager.
Launched in 2014 by the municipality, Innovate Durban aims to improve the city by bringing together businesses, academics, communities and other partners to build skills and foster innovation. The YIC, one of Innovate Durban’s key components, focuses on creating a platform to empower the youth.
Urban areas – effectively the economic nerve
“We need to equip our youth with the skills to think big and innovate groundbreaking solutions in response to Africa’s challenges,” says Abbas Jamie, Aurecon’s Director for Transformation and Innovation.
“Creativity is an integral part of what we do – whether it’s partnering with a photographer to
“It’s when we fuse that creativity with our technical expertise, that’s when we’re able to think out-of-the-box and innovate,” says Jamie.
This was demonstrated by the winners of the challenge, who were announced at the YIC Awards evening earlier this month. From creating a Facebook Chatbot, to developing a solution to prevent water wastage in
When the Feather Design team chose their company name, they settled on the word “feather” not for the delicate beauty the appendage lends to a bird’s plumage, but rather for the critical role it plays in helping it to fly.
“As a graphic design company, we want whatever we create to help others take flight,” says one of the company’s founders, Mlungisi Nzimande.
The 24-year-old and his team was awarded top
Together with fellow team members, Zathaba Ndlovu (20), Sandile Khuzwayo (22), Thulani Joyisa (23) and Sibanisezwe Dube (21), Mlungisi created a Facebook Chatbot to improve the municipality’s ability to address comments and service reports emanating from its social media channels.
Put simply the
Previously this task entailed capturing numerous reports before the municipality could respond – now the
Speaking of the process the team underwent – including learning essential skills such as problem-solving, how to develop a business proposal, as well as learning about the application of artificial intelligence – Mlungisi said for the first time they
“I want to help solve the problems we face as a country, including using technology to help disadvantaged learners.”
As the winning team, Feather Design will undergo a three-month
Having all grown up in rural areas, Brendon Clark (24), Njabulo Shange (31), Sphamandla Msane (25), and Sphelele Dumisa (25) are well aware of the desperate need there is for a good education.
“Disadvantaged children aren’t exposed to computers – we want to put an end to that. We need to get technology into rural areas so that they can develop,” says Clark.
This inspired the team’s idea to develop a low-cost computer which uses an open source operating system – that means the source code is open and people can make changes to it – and runs on solar and battery power. “Our main drivers were
When connected to the power grid, the team’s computer runs at a cost of R25 a month, as opposed to R250 a month for a conventional computer.
Having been placed second in the challenge, the team plans to use their winnings to build enough computers to pilot at a school. “Longer term, we hope to get more people in the rural areas into the tech space” says Clark.
Asked what he’s
It got him thinking about how he could help the community to conserve water. “In rural areas people depend on a communal water outlet, which everyone uses. I thought: why not have a tap that is foot operated?”
After Ntando and his sister, Yenziwe (21), entered their team, Innovators Technology, into the this year’s challenge, they then developed a basic prototype to demonstrate the water conservation and hygiene benefits. Instead of opening a tap, you step on a lever – which means the possibility of wasting the precious resource is reduced because releasing the lever stops the flow of water.
The experience has taught him invaluable skills, he says. “I’ve learnt how to communicate and present, and take criticism positively. It has also taught me how to network – and the importance of responding to emails!”
The final prototype is being manufactured, after which the siblings intend on testing and introducing it to the market.
Now on its third consecutive year, this year’s Innovation Summit was focused on finding sustainable, innovative solutions to the city’s challenges. Challenges such as urban sprawl, informal settlements, collapsing infrastructure and congested roads – which many of Africa’s rapidly growing cities face.
“The digital age is changing the way that cities run and the way that people move,
“The private sector has a crucial role to play in engendering skills development by giving the youth the tools, guidance, technology and insights they need to impact their cities,” concludes Ahlschlager.
Aurecon helps drive the Africa Design Challenge leg of Innovate Durban’s Youth Innovation Challenge.
Read full article ›Our Aurecon Industry Awards 2017 brochure celebrates diverse thinking through award winning innovation.
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