Primestars celebrates nine years of youth entrepreneurship

This year the national entrepreneurship programme is geared towards harnessing the green economy to upskill young people and help them become business owners and job creators

- Elaine Wabwire

The Primestars youth entrepreneurship initiative, Step Up 2A Start Up, celebrated its ninth year of operation at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in September. The milestone event united industry leaders, educators and aspiring young entrepreneurs and signified a crucial moment in the organisation’s mission to nurture sustainability and entrepreneurship among South Africa’s youth in pursuit of a green economy.

Step Up 2A Start Up is a national entrepreneurship programme focused on preparing young entrepreneurs for a changing climate through job creation. It aims to equip high-school learners nationwide, from urban, peri-urban and township areas, to shift from being job seekers to becoming job creators. This year, the programme adopted the theme #GreenLeads2Green and is geared towards harnessing the green economy to upskill young people and create opportunities for them.

EDUTAINMENT MODEL 

The programme has reached 90 000 high school learners, involving 3 000 dedicated teachers from 1 500 underresourced high schools across South Africa. Since its inception in 2014, it has harnessed an innovative edutainment model to engage learners and teach them about entrepreneurship.

After training, each learner receives a practical handbook to aid them in applying the skills that have learnt, allowing them to develop and succeed as social entrepreneurs. The programme then transitions to the national entrepreneurship boot camp and National Youth Awards ceremony, where school teams submit and present their business solutions. This year’s event is set to happen in December, and schools stand a chance to win prizes valued at over R4 million.