The Entrepreneurship Olympiad, hosted by Mr Price Foundation, is helping young people discover their potential as future entrepreneurs. The programme began with more than 300 learners from 11 Quintile 1–3 public high schools, with learners taking part in months of structured learning and entrepreneurial challenges, including the R50 Challenge, where they developed mock enterprises with a miniscule budget.
This required them to demonstrate innovation and resourcefulness, with only the Top 10 learner-led businesses advancing to the highly anticipated Demo Day on 28 March 2026. Here, they presented solutions designed to address real needs within their communities to a panel of esteemed judges. By the end of the Olympiad, 168 learners were recognised for their completion of the programme.
For many of these learners, the Entrepreneurship Olympiad marked a shift beyond the classroom and into the realities of building a business. Through a guided journey of ideation, research, and business modelling, they began to see challenges not as barriers, but as opportunities.
One of the educators who witnessed this transformation firsthand was 30-year-old Mpumelelo Kweyama from Hammarsdale. Teaching is a calling rooted in purpose and compassion, rather than simply a profession. As a Grade 8 and 9 Economic and Management Sciences teacher at GABIGABI Secondary School, each moment in the classroom is fuelled by her passion for guiding young people and helping them believe in the possibilities that exist beyond their circumstances.
As a champion educator, Ms Kweyama played an important role in mentoring and guiding learners throughout the Olympiad. She supported them as they refined their ideas and grew in confidence. Reflecting on the programme and its most rewarding moments, she says, “Seeing learners proudly showcase their entrepreneurial abilities and dream beyond the limitations of their surroundings was so fulfilling.”
The Demo Day itself was made even more meaningful through the support of judges Duduzile Mathabela, Thandeka Zulu, Jayshree Naidoo, Nolan Nagoor, and Nonkululeko Mthembu, whose encouragement reminded learners that their ideas were valuable and worth pursuing. The event was further energised by programme director Simo Nzama, whose enthusiasm created an unforgettable experience for learners, educators, and guests alike.
Although mentoring learners during examination season came with its challenges, Ms Kweyama says the impact has been undeniable. The programme boosted learners’ self-confidence and validated their ambitions in a way that even inspired the educators around them. She describes the Entrepreneurship Olympiad as having “a huge positive impact” on her school and community. To this day, she remains amazed by the intelligence and creativity of the learner entrepreneurs she worked with.
Her story demonstrates what becomes possible when passionate educators join forces with committed partners and determined young people to nurture potential and pursue brilliance.
As the Foundation continues its mission to empower 500 000 youth by 2035, stories like Ms Kweyama’s serve as a reminder that meaningful change is built through ecosystems of support. From educators and facilitators to judges, mentors, and community partners who choose to invest in the next generation, we’re shaping the journeys of young South Africans who will ultimately drive the country’s future. At a time when youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges, this early-stage investment is critical.
