Saab Grintek Defence sponsors Techno-Girl programme

The tablets, each of which were supplied with 2.4GB data sim cards with 200MB of data per month for 12 months, were given to the 120 young women from 12 schools from Kwa-Zulu Natal. The learners received their tablets after they participated in a three-day conference hosted by the Department of Small Business Development during April, where they presented technology driven business ideas to a panel of judges and other interested parties.

The young women had worked together for several months to come up with an entrepreneurial idea, which was judged in terms of credibility, feasibility, practicability, originality and durability. The Department of Small Business Development collaborates with the various provincial Economic Development Departments to make sure that the ideas presented by the young women become reality.

"Access to technology, and to the internet as a whole, is essential for any businessperson, and we wanted to make sure that these remarkable young women were equipped with the technology tools that they need to make a success of their business ideas," says Charlotte Moagi, Head of Transformation at Saab Grintek Defence. "At Saab, we take great pride in exposing these young women to the power of technology, and how it can pave the way to a great career for them."

Participating schools:

• Amangwane High School
  
• Arthur Blaxall School
  
• Lewis Combined School
  
• Margot Fonteyn High School
  
• Mgezeni High School
  
• Mthwalume High School
  
• Ntabane High School
  
• Our Lady of Rosary School
  
• Phathakahle High School
  
• Sacred Heart High School
  
• Zwelonke High School

The winning team, from Arthur Blaxall School proposed a revolutionary coffee machine idea that uses handprint-memory technology to provide the user with the "perfect cup of coffee every time". The team, which was the first team of disabled students to enter the competition, won a printer and computer for their school, three laptops, smart phones, lunch with the Deputy Minister and the title of Techno-Girl's Winner of 2015.

In addition, the top two students from the team will travel to Cape Town as part of Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe's delegation for the Budget Speech in May, and will join a delegation of entrepreneurs travelling to Brazil with the deputy minister later in the year.