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Applications for the 13th annual SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards and the eighth annual Disability Empowerment Awards are now open for applications. Prizes range from R200 000 to R1.3 million in grant funding and each award winner will receive valuable business skills development coaching, mentorship, and technical support.
The Social Innovation Awards are aimed at innovators, entrepreneurs, institutions and social enterprises with prototypes or early-stage businesses that can solve social issues in our country. These products, services, business models and processes should directly address the social challenges faced by low-income women, youth, or people living in rural areas while simultaneously creating a sustainable business model.
The Disability Empowerment Awards award entrepreneurs or social enterprises that have developed an innovation that improves access to the economy and/ or provides solutions for persons with disabilities, while generating enough revenue to become sustainable over time.
Online applications will close at midday on 27 March 2023. Only applications submitted on the SAB Foundation web portal will be accepted.
Watch the video about how to apply for the Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards 2023:
“We are excited about the 2023 applications and look forward to meeting our finalists this year,” says Itumeleng Dhlamini, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Manager at the SAB Foundation. “Over the years we have been so inspired by ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things.”
“These awards give us the opportunity to support and encourage talented innovators who drive change and improve the lives of people in their communities,” says Dhlamini. “Through the funding, training and mentorship that we provide, we enable them to grow and scale their businesses and ultimately achieve self-sustainability.”
Some of the award winning social innovations we have awarded include a solution developed by Lemo Motshwane that provides customers with motorbike drivers, motorbikes and provides free training for unemployed youth. Another innovative business founded by Oxolo Mofokeng is one that empowers emerging farmers to grow bulbine destined for export that will be used for cosmetic products.
In the Disability Empowerment Awards category equally innovative solutions were awarded, such as a device designed by Tieho Tsiane that assists visually impaired individuals to navigate their phones without the need to touch, hold or tap the screens.
Through this prestigious awards programme, the SAB Foundation has invested over R90 million in grant funding and business support to support 176 entrepreneurs. Between 2011 and 2021, these individuals have created 1 638 new jobs since winning an award and collectively employed 3 174 people.
Applications are open to all South African citizens of 18 years or older with evidence that prior to applying, they have spent time and money developing the innovation. The Awards are not open to NGOs that are fully dependent on grant income.
Apply now: https://sabfoundation.co.za/social-innovation-awards.
This post and content is sponsored, written and produced by the SAB Foundation.
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