Samsung South Africa, in partnership with State Information Technology Agency (SITA), has launched the Solve for Tomorrow school competition, aimed at giving grade 10 and 11 learners from underserved communities an opportunity to gain invaluable skills while solving some of the challenges within their communities through Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
The competition, which started in January this year, is designed to increase interest and proficiency in STEM education. Fifty-one pre-selected schools nationally were encouraged to participate in the competition, and 10 schools have been selected to move on to Phase Two.
The Top 10 schools that have been selected include:
| School Name | Province |
| Mbilwi Secondary School | Limpopo |
| Moyaneng Secondary School | Limpopo |
| Phendukani High School | Kwa-Zulu Natal |
| Adams College | Kwa-Zulu Natal |
| Umlazi Comprehensive Tech | Kwa-Zulu Natal |
| Rebatlathuto High school | Free State |
| Lekgarietsi High School | Free State |
| Maphuthaditshaba Secondary School | Mpumalanga |
| Phomolong Secondary School | Gauteng |
| Buhle Bemfundo Secondary School | Gauteng |
The selected schools will tackle an emerging challenge and produce tangible innovations to help improve society, with the help of assigned Samsung employee-mentors.
Samsung is enabling the learners by giving them funding for prototypes, taking them to a design thinking workshop and sponsoring every school with a Samsung tablet and data to help them do research. The final stage of the competition will be an opportunity for each school to present the prototype of their solution to a panel of judges with the potential to win STEM equipment for their schools worth R100 000 (1st place), R50 000 or R30 000 (2nd and 3rd places respectively). In addition to the main prizes, each of the learners in the top three teams will be rewarded with a Samsung device.
The government believes that the most effective and sustainable way to build an economy is to equip young people with the skills and know-how to drive it. This is what motivated state-owned agency SITA to be part of the initiative. Samsung shares the government’s view that South Africa needs to equip the youth to seize the opportunities that lie in the ICT sector. The company recognises that education and beneficiation are the cornerstones of the country’s future and are requirements for it to be a major player in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
The Solve For Tomorrow competition is a carefully curated programme which is supported by ten (10) of Samsung employee-mentors from various disciplines in the Samsung business, who also have a passion and interest in STEM. These mentors act as a support structure to the learners.
The partnership between Samsung and SITA seeks to redress the imbalances of the past, empower the youth and shape South Africa to be able to be counted among the top nations. “We’re happy and proud to be associated and working with Samsung in this initiative,” said Tlali Tlali, Head of Corporate Affairs at SITA.
“We believe that this community and youth-driven initiative is but one of the ways that we are using to embrace digital transformation in South Africa, by continuing to harness the power of technology and innovation to effect great positive change in the country. We are convinced that investment in South Africa through digital transformation will contribute positively towards sustainable future economic growth,” added Hlubi Shivanda, Director of Business Operations and Innovation and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa.
The Solve for Tomorrow competition is an excellent initiative that encourages innovative thinking, creative problem-solving and teamwork to nurture social innovation ideas that can address various communities’ most pressing problems. It is an essential step towards equipping the youth with the skills and know-how to drive the economy and achieve sustainable future economic growth.