Name: Red Bull Amaphiko Academy, Langa
Start: 2015-10-31T00:00:00+10:30
End: 2015-11-09T00:00:00+10:30

Red Bull Amaphiko Academy, Langa

Red Bull Amaphiko Academy

The Red Bull Amaphiko Academy is a ten day excursion deep into social impact, where grassroots social changemakers find out how to take their ideas to the next level. Meet the 16 social innovators that took part this year; find out about the events that happened during the academy; plus all the articles, interviews and videos coming out of those ten special days in Cape Town.

It’s every social entrepreneur’s dream. To work, and play, with their peers; be mentored by some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, in a supportive environment and creative space.

That’s what 16 specially selected young social changemakers from all over South Africa did when The Red Bull Amaphiko Academy kicked off on October 30, 2015. The academy was hosted in Langa at Guga S’thebe Arts and Culture Centre; the inaugural in 2014 took place in Soweto.

The 10-day academy brings together budding social entrepreneurs from around the country and offers them mentorship and workshops with some of the best international and local social innovators, speakers and experts. It’s an inspiring and transformative week for all involved. Here’s a look at this year’s inspiring set of participants and their projects:

Cleopatra Simelane

Don’t tell Cleopatra Simelane print is dead. The Soweto-based actress and social entrepreneur is the founder of Recess Magazine: an edutainment magazine targeted at high school learners aged 15 to 20, and entirely produced by the students. Recess is freely available and distributed to 10 000 young people over 200 schools.

Brian Mokhachane

Brian Mokhachane is making things of beauty from discarded items. He runs a project called SoulArt Foundation that turns waste into art. The Joburg-based artist sees art as a medium for tackling society’s biggest issues. He wants to grow SoulArt into a community art academy in communities across the continent.

Samantha Ngcolomba

“Two out of three African women cannot access basic legal information and services,” says Johannesburg-based attorney Samantha Ngcolomba. She’s changing that as founder of Lady Liberty, a mobile legal office that travels to and provides pro-bono legal services to women in underprivileged communities. She’s reached 650 women and hopes to help 5 000 in the next three years.

Philasande Bongo

“I always look at problems and try to change them into opportunities,” says Johannesburg-based Philasande Bongo. In response to the country’s current energy crisis, he is setting up a project that uses solar fields placed on shopping centre roofs to provide electricity for surrounding communities. He thinks he might have a solution for a reliable source of power during electricity outages.

Ruramai Musekiwa

“We are beautiful,” reads a line on Ruramai Musekiwa’s website, Sibahle. A simple and conclusive statement for an amazing project. Her company, Sibahle, uses different artistic mediums to celebrate Africanism and African women. Her projects include an illustrated series of posters of inspirational black women, and Sibahle magazine.

Wandisile Nqeketho

Wandisile Nqeketho is tackling gangsterism through education. The Khayelitsha-based entrepreneur is the founder of 18 Musuem – a “gangster museum”, which will be curated by ex-offenders; giving them a second chance to reintegrate into society and employment. Wandisile, a graduate from the Raymond Ackerman Foundation is also one of Mail and Guardian 200 young South Africans for 2013.

Shalton Mothwa

Technology and science are Shalton Mothwa’s playground. The nuclear physics honours graduate is the inventor of AEON power bag — a small bag that turns radio signals into electric energy that can be used to wirelessly charge your cellphone or tablet. Last year Shalton clinched top honours at the Just Pitch 180 competition.

Bushera Bashir

Johannesburg-based Bushera Bashir is the founder of Trebene: an ethical fashion label that produces handcrafted, luxury Cashmere scarves. The scarves are designed in South Africa and manufactured in Kashmir, South Asia, and a portion of the revenue generated goes towards the education of the scarve-weavers children.

Glenda Ramathavha

Baking company Glenz Cakes is the brainchild of Midrand-based entrepreneur, Glenda Ramathavha. It teaches young people and women how to bake and connects them with potential clients. Glenda, who currently works as a financial manager, wants to focus on her project full time.

Dumisani Msweli

Umlazi-based Dumisani Msweli is an eco-entrepreneur who wants to “green the planet”. His idea is to plant fruit trees outside township homes. The homeowners will sell the fruit to him and he will, in turn, sell the produce to organic markets and juice makers. It’s his way of creating employment while contributing to the environment’s well-being.

Ian Dommisse

Architect Ian Dommisse is currently rebuilding a learning centre in Port Elizabeth. Nothing to make a noise about, until you consider the fact that he’s using plastic bottles as his building blocks. Founded in 2013, The EcoBrick Exchange tackles pollution and infrastructural challenges by using waste to make “eco bricks”, 2 litre plastic bottles filled with non-recyclable waste material.

Siviwe Mbinda

Siviwe Mbinda is the founder of Happy Feet: a youth-focused dance project based in Langa, Cape Town. The project teaches children how to dance and secures performances for them at special events. But it’s about more than just dance. The children also receive meals, educational bursaries and donations as well as life skills to teach discipline and hard work.

Lukholo Funde

Lukholo Funde wants to use chemistry to change the world. The Port Elizabeth-based changemaker is setting up a project that will turn used cooking oil into biodiesel. The project is still in its concept stage, but Lukholo has a team and the expertise to turn it into a reality.

Zuko Mandlakazi

Zuko Mandlakazi wants to break down the communication barrier for deaf people. His company produces a device that makes deaf people maneuver daily life easier. It picks up sound, which it then converts to vibrations and LED light signals.

Vari Mureriwa

Vari Mureriwa is a Johannesburg-based changemaker with a passion for science and technology. She’s the co-founder of P-STEM Foundation: an NGO that promotes science, technology, engineering and maths as a way of dealing with youth unemployment. She recently left a job at a top consulting firm to focus fully on P-STEM.

Thabang Mabapa

Don’t let Thabang Mabapa’s age fool you. At 23 he’s already doing big things. The Soweto raised (but Limpopo-based) PR graduate is the founder of Selokong sa Dimelana: a project that uses castor oil and castor cake as an alternative to fossil fuel. This forward-thinking entrepreneur has a 10-year business plan to ensure its success.