Skills training for 200 learners in rural Zimbabwe

The National Business Case Competition (NBCC) this year has had a significant impact, reaching an average of 51,680 learners and involving 136 schools across all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe. Unlike previous years, the competition adopted a new approach, with provincial rounds conducted through online submissions rather than physical pitches. From the 136 participating schools, 10 were chosen to represent their provinces at the national level.

The NBCC Finals have always been a platform for Zimbabwe’s brightest young entrepreneurs, and this year was no different. All 10 teams presented innovative and impactful business ideas, demonstrating their creativity, feasibility, sustainability, and the social impact of their ventures.

The competition was intense and thrilling, with teams presenting solutions to some of the most urgent challenges in their communities. Here are some highlights from the top 3 teams, Mutendi High School, Tongwe High School, and Eveline High School:

• Tongwe High School, located in the rural areas of Matebeleland South Province, developed a web application for registering players in various sports disciplines. The application compiles and ranks athletes based on their performance, addressing issues such as the lack of investment in talented youth from underrepresented communities, the loss of sporting talent in local communities, and the rise in youth unemployment rates that hinder economic growth.

• Eveline High School, an all-girls school in Bulawayo Province, designed a website and application that offers temporary work opportunities (gig work) in established companies for secondary and high school learners aged 16 - 20. The aim is to provide learners with employability skills to prepare them for work after school, while also reducing the high rate of idling.

• Eveline High School, an all-girls school in Bulawayo Province, has developed a website and application that offers temporary work opportunities in established companies for secondary and high school learners aged 16 - 20. This initiative aims to equip learners with employability skills and reduce idleness after school.

• Anderson High School, located in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe, has a team that aims to produce affordable and organic fish feed from dried worms through their company, AQUA-VERM. Their goal is to reduce the deficit of fish feed in the Midlands market and promote fish farming in the province.

• St. Dominic’s Chishawasha, an all-girls school in Mashonaland East Province, aims to promote financial inclusion through their company, ACE Microfinance & Consultancy. They offer services such as lending operational capital to informal businesses, assisting with the preparation of financial statements, and conducting awareness workshops to educate the informal sector on financial services.

• Mutendi High School, a mixed-gender school in Masvingo Province, is working on the production of biodegradable utensils to combat poverty and manage waste in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner. This initiative aims to mitigate the adverse impacts of environmental land pollution caused by the dumping of plastic utensils.

These highlights remind us that the NBCC is a celebration of youth entrepreneurship and innovation, and a testament to the potential of young people to drive positive change in Zimbabwe. The five teams have been selected to participate in the 2023 Virtual Innovation Accelerator Program, where they will receive $5000 in seed capital to continue working on their solutions with their teacher coaches and global advisors. It’s exciting to see these bright, future business leaders begin their entrepreneurial journeys, and we look forward to seeing how they perform in the accelerator program. 

Links:

• 2023 National Finals Video Trailer

• Skills_Training_For_200_Learners_in_Rural_Zimbabwe_44084.pdf (PDF)