South African Social Entrepreneur awards finalists

4 Aug 2011

Ernst & Young and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship have selected the finalists for the sixth annual South African Social Entrepreneur awards. The winner will gain access to the Schwab Foundation's global network, providing opportunities to engage global decision makers from the public, corporate, media and academic sectors to strengthen and expand their models.

Andrew Muir - The Wilderness Foundation - one of few South African conservation NGOs currently involved with active, sustainable social intervention programmes, through Umzi Wethu Programme
Catherine Wijnberg - The Fetola Foundation - a specialist enterprise development, corporate social investment and accredited skills training organisation.
Kim Feinberg - The Tomorrow Trust - committed to assisting children in passing their schools exams through a holiday school support programme and Saturday school programme.
Nicola Leitch - African Queen - enables housebound women to produce world-class quality merchandise for a variety of retailers
Dr Peter Munns - The Christian Coalition - focuses on the health, enterprise development, education and moral regeneration, crime reduction, rural development - food security/poverty relief and homelessness and transitional housing encountered within communities.

"Social advancement of the country"

"Persevere, inspire, educate, struggle, embody, believe, deliver, overcome, these are but a few words which describes these individuals who are helping to capitalise on the contribution to social advancement of the country. We are proud to recognise these individuals and call on all South Africans to applaud these entrepreneurs who strive to make a difference," says Zanele Xaba, lead director for Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards Programme.

Abigail Noble, head of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship comments, "These individuals, who have created an innovative approach to addressing an important societal challenge, have invested not only tremendous positive energy into creating their enterprises but also a strong business acumen to create a scalable social enterprise that can improve the state of the world."