Social Entrepreneur Award South Africa 2007

Finalists 

(click here to download the official press release)

 

Name: Taffy Adler

 

Organization: Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC)

 

Type:  Hybrid not-for-profit

 

Description:  Taffy Adler is changing the face of downtown Johannesburg and reversing the apartheid city  while providing safe, affordable and comfortable housing. His organisation, Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC), is refurbishing occupied buildings and constructing new ones in the inner city; its 24 buildings, offer a home to more than 8500 people. Focusing on long term maintenance and sustainability while working with the communities around the buildings and mobilising commercial funding for social housing, JHC delivers housing with sensitivity to social and economic realities. Link: http://www.jhc.co.za

 

 

Name: Cedric Buffler

 

Organization: Trident Institute (Micro-MBA)

 

Type:  Hybrid for-profit

 

Description:  Cedric Buffler's Trident Institute offers the Micro-MBA programme which has helped to create or improve over 160 000 small businesses since 1991 by empowering aspirant entrepreneurs with essential business skills.  The programme is based on a multiplicative model which is designed to be replicated:   Trainer/Mentors are equipped to run courses and support emerging businesses within their local communities.   Over 4800 Trainer/Mentors, representing some 350 organisations across a broad spectrum of communities have been trained to date.   Recognising the challenge of funding for education, Trident has also established the Micro-MBA Bursary Fund as an avenue for donors to provide funding for aspirant entrepreneurs who cannot afford the course costs.

  Link: http://www.micro-mba.com

  

 

Name:  Natalie Killassy

 

Organization: Stitch Wise

 

Type:  Hybrid for-profit

 

Description: Natalie Killassy’s Stitch Wise is an internationally recognised producer of backfill products and a broad range of protective wear with registered patents and innovative ranges. The company had its beginnings when Killassy, noting the prevalence of disabling injuries in mineworkers, sought to design equipment which would enhance underground support, and personal protective equipment that would help prevent these injuries. The majority of employees are paraplegics who – having suffered disabling injuries underground – are employed by the company to produce equipment that will ensure that their colleagues underground are protected from similar injury. Link: http://www.stitchwise.co.za

 

 

Name: Helen Lieberman and Sipho Puwani

 

Organization: Ikamva Labantu

 

Type:  Leveraged not-for-profit

 

Description:  Helen Lieberman and Sipho Puwani are the driving force behind Ikamva Labantu which celebrates 45 years of existence this year. Ikamva Labantu functions as a development catalyst for community-based social service programmes in South Africa.  Working in partnership with the community, Ikamva Labantu (which means ‘The Future of Our Nation) strives to improve the quality of life for South Africa’s underprivileged communities by providing a holistic approach to capacity building, social development and other services. Today, its primary focus falls on four main areas of social development: health (focusing on primary health interventions); education and skills development; food security and enterprise development; . access to land and buildings. Ikamva Labantu delivers core services to five primary targets: early childhood development; vulnerable children and their families; youth; visually Impaired; and senior citizens.  

Link: http://www.ikamva.com

 

  

The finalists are to attend the World Economic Forum’s Africa Economic Summit from 13 - 15 June 2007. The winner will gain access to the Schwab Foundation’s global network providing unprecedented opportunities to engage global decision takers from the public, corporate, media and academic sectors to strengthen and expand their models.

 

 

The Social Entrepreneur of the Year South Africa Awards

are run in collaboration with:

 

   

For further information, please contact francois.bonnici@schwabfound.org