Teaching SA youth business through reality TV
Donald Trump, Tokyo Sexwale, Richard Branson, you guys better watch out - you're going to learn a few things about business, Mzansi style! YoBiz - an SABC education program that gives South Africa's youth the opportunity to show-off their entrepreneurial skills - is taking primary school children from across the country and showing them the ins-and-outs of business.
Four groups of rural and urban school children compete with each other for over a period of 13 weeks, whereby they focus on different aspects of the economy. Each week on Tuesdays at 3pm on SABC1, YoBiz showcases these business teams, giving viewers a practical understanding of how the economy and business works.
"YoBiz is also pro-active with its audience, allowing audience members to vote for the team that they think has performed the best," explains Sebolelo Phakisi, executive producer and CEO of Touchdown Africa. At the end of the season, the best team will be selected from a panel of judges and YO TV viewers. The winning team is awarded cash and sponsored prizes for them and their school.
In the first round, a team from Mpumalanga achieved huge success with its poultry-farming project, "Sizakancane Poultry Farming" - the brainchild of Thokozane Mahlalela, Welile Mabila, Noxolo Shungube and Knowledge Khoza. These four youths are from a rural village and have worked hard in making their business venture a success.
"The project resulted in community co-operation and support," comments Phakisi. Although the Mpumalanga project did not win, the children are now in the process of opening another branch of their poultry business and have used their money to save for their tertiary education. "It is true empowerment of our children," he concludes.
