WSU STUDENT FACILITATE AT ROBBEN ISLAND MUSEUM SPRING SCHOOL

Four entrepreneurship student ambassadors from Walter Sisulu University (WSU) were invited to participate as facilitators at the prestigious 2024 Robben Island Museum Spring School.

The nine-day programme, held in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Museum, aimed to engage young people from the Eastern Cape in workshops that promote heritage awareness and entrepreneurial development.

The Spring School’s primary objective is to inspire young African leaders by equipping them with entrepreneurial skills and innovative thinking, enabling them to drive positive change in their communities.

A studentpreneur from WSU, Anathi Mbhekelwa, shared his motivation for participating in the initiative.

"My desire for joining this programme was to empower learners with essential knowledge on business compliance and registration, foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, and contribute to building a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem," Mbhekelwa said.

Sharing the same sentiments, Fulufhelo Mudavhi, said he hoped to empower young African leaders with entrepreneurial skills and innovative thinking that will enable them to drive positive change in their communities.

“The aim was to inspire a new generation of socially responsible entrepreneurs who can address SADC’s unique challenges and opportunities,” he said.

WSU Education lecturer, Nontuthuzelo Ngubane, emphasized the broader significance of the initiative.

"Transformative community engagement through interdisciplinary approaches is an impactful way for WSU to make a mark. The Spring School responds directly to global imperatives like the UNSDG youth development drive and the AU’s commitment to youth empowerment," she said.

Ngubane highlighted the importance of learning from diverse experiences and skills transfer, adding that entrepreneurship lays a strong foundation for future success.

Nobuntu Rabaza, another WSU facilitator specializing in leadership, praised the programme’s ability to nurture young talent.

"Through this project, I aim to reach more young people by helping them enhance their untapped skills. It’s an eye-opener for learners who possess different abilities that are nurtured through this programme. As a practitioner, I’ve seen a new generation of leaders who will be joining our university in the next few years. This requires WSU to rethink and expand its out-of-class programs," Rabaza said.

WSU Entrepreneurship Coordinator, Khanyisa Blaai, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with the Robben Island Museum and Nelson Mandela Museum.

"I am humbled to have received an invitation for our student-preneurs to be part of this prestigious program. Their role is to facilitate discussions on business innovation, and I’m proud of how they’re using this platform to impact others positively," said Blaai.

By Yolanda Palezweni