Press Release: Seed Funding Supports Youth-Led Social Projects

Eighteen (18) youth-led social initiative projects receive seed-funding through the enke: Incubator Fund Grant, an initiative by enke: Make Your Mark that is funded by The Australian Government and Absa.

Mihle Cuka, a Grade 10 student from the Eastern Cape is taking action by mobilising community members and municipality representatives to restore and reinstate a ruined and abandoned road within his village in Hamburg. Not only does Mihle believe that his road restoration project will make the community safer but he also believes that it will unify the people in his community, both young and old, to come together and take responsibility for the challenges that their community is facing.

Mihle’s project is just one of 18 community action projects that qualified to receive financial assistance as first round winners of the enke: Incubator Fund, an exclusive seed-funding initiative run by enke: Make Your Mark that is made possible through funding from The Australian Government and Absa.

The main goal of the enke: Incubator Fund Grant is to provide financial support to high school participants in the 2013 enke: Trailblazer Program through grants, to further develop and progress their youth-led social initiatives called Community Action Projects.

“Young people in South Africa face challenges in gaining access to funding so to succeed in their projects,” said Philippa Wheaton, CEO of enke: Make Your Mark, “The enke: Incubator Fund Grant not only empowers participants to make an impact within their communities, but also teaches them how to communicate their short-term and long-term project goals through the grant application process.”.

Other grant beneficiaries include eight participants of the 2013 Trailblazer Program (Ndilisa May, Talita Maliti, Lwazi Fanana, Vuyani Vorslag, Ambesa Mafanga, Ludwe Zigwebile, Onke Ntlolokotshane & Abenathi Ntelezi)  from the Western Cape, who came together to establish a community action project called the “Young Minds Reading Club” that promotes literacy amongst Grade 6 and 7 primary school learners in Khayelitsha. The group currently host reading sessions to encourage learners to develop a love of reading and are looking to hold a book drive to seek donations of used books from within the community and donor organisations.

Participants from these 18 projects, first round  winners of the enke: Incubator Fund Grant, recently received further coaching on financial responsibility and project planning, to help them make a greater impact and have more sustainable projects. It’s an exciting time for these passionate, young people who are taking action to make a positive social impact within their communities.