by marketing | Feb 24, 2026 | blog, News @ ORT, Old News
𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌: 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐚 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭
What innovations have we lost because a girl once heard the words, “Science isn’t for you”? As we commemorate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February, we reflect not only on the women who shaped scientific history but also on the many whose contributions were dismissed, forgotten, or erased. Their stories remind us why encouraging girls to pursue STEM is not just important, it is essential for global progress.
At the heart of this issue lies the 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐚 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭, a term used to describe the long-standing pattern of overlooking or misattributing women’s scientific achievements. This effect reveals a painful truth: women have always contributed to science, but history hasn’t always allowed them to be seen.
𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞
The story of women in STEM stretches back centuries, long before laboratories, universities, or modern careers existed. One of the earliest examples is Agnodice, an Athenian woman who defied strict laws that forbade women from practicing medicine. Determined to help the women of her city, she disguised herself as a man and became a skilled midwife physician. Her popularity grew quickly, so quickly, in fact, that male physicians accused her of impropriety.
When she courageously revealed her true identity to defend herself, she exposed not only her innocence but the injustice of the restrictions placed upon women. Her case sparked public outrage and ultimately pushed lawmakers to rethink the role of women in medicine. Agnodice’s story shows that even in ancient times, women were innovating, healing, and leading, often at great personal risk.
𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝
Centuries later, the pattern continued. In the early 1900s, Mary Anderson witnessed a streetcar driver repeatedly stopping to wipe snow from his windshield. Seeing a problem that needed solving, she designed and patented the first manual windshield wiper in 1903.
Although her invention greatly improved driver safety, manufacturers dismissed it as unnecessary. Anderson’s patent expired before cars became widespread, and just a few years later, windshield wipers became standard features on every vehicle, without her receiving any recognition or financial benefit.
Her story is a textbook example of the Matilda Effect: a woman innovates, the world benefits, but the credit never reaches her name.
𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐞
Fortunately, not all stories are lost to history. Today, women like Ariellah Rosenberg show girls what is possible when passion meets opportunity. Starting her career as a science teacher and later working in a science museum, Ariellah built her life around making science accessible and exciting. Now, as the CEO of ORT SA, she leads initiatives that equip young people with skills in coding, robotics, digital literacy, and technology.
Her journey, from classroom to leadership, matters. Representation is powerful. When girls see women thriving in STEM roles, they begin to imagine themselves in those spaces too. It sends a clear message: you belong here.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲
Even now, girls begin doubting their abilities in math’s and science as early as primary school. These gaps aren’t rooted in capability, they’re rooted in confidence, stereotypes, and a lack of visible role models. As girls grow older, these barriers widen, resulting in fewer women pursuing STEM subjects in high school, university, and professional fields.
This isn’t just a gender issue, it’s a global issue. The world needs diverse thinkers to solve complex challenges: climate change, public health, technological innovation, environmental sustainability, and more. When girls are pushed away from STEM, we lose ideas, discoveries, and innovations that could change the world. ORT SA plays a critical role in empowering girls to build brighter, more ambitious futures. Through dynamic STEM programmes that focus on innovation, problem solving, and creativity, ORT SA equips girls with both the skills and the confidence to pursue careers in science and technology. Each project, each robot built, each piece of code written is a step toward dismantling outdated stereotypes and building a more inclusive future
𝐀 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝
Encouraging girls to pursue STEM is not just about equity, it’s about unlocking the full potential of the next generation. When we recognise the women who paved the way, challenge the biases that still exist, and actively empower young girls to explore and excel, we don’t just change their lives, we change the future of science, innovation, and society
𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.
𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬.
𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬: 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫.
by marketing | Jan 26, 2026 | blog, News @ ORT, Old News
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭, 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞
You’ve just finished matric. After twelve years of tests, timetables, colours, badges, and report cards, the pressure has shifted. Now comes the bigger question: What are you going to do with your life?
For many young people, the expected answer is familiar. Choose a degree. Choose quickly. Start immediately. Don’t waste time. Don’t fall behind. And don’t choose a path that looks uncertain.
Entrepreneurship, if it’s mentioned at all, is usually framed as risky, unstable, or irresponsible. It’s the road paved with failure, rejection, and stress. It requires resilience, grit, patience, and a tolerance for uncertainty, skills that are rarely taught or rewarded during twelve years of schooling.
And for students who never felt like top achievers, those who didn’t collect A’s and academic colours, the future can feel even more daunting. When school was hard, when comparison was constant, and when the academic route doesn’t feel like a natural fit, it’s easy to assume that success simply isn’t meant for you.
But that assumption is wrong.
Some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs were not top students. Many didn’t find their path early. Some found it late. Others stumbled into it almost by accident.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐲𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭” 𝐊𝐢𝐝
Let’s dismantle the idea that academic success predicts life success.
Take Barbara Corcoran. Today, we know her as the shark in the tailored suit on Shark Tank, a real estate tycoon with a net worth in the hundreds of millions. But in her teens Barbara was considered a “dumb kid.”
That wasn’t just her internal monologue; it was a label plastered on her by a school system that didn’t understand undiagnosed dyslexia. She was a straight-D student. She didn’t have a clear path after graduation. By the time she was 23, she had held twenty jobs. She was a waitress, a receptionist, a flower arranger. You name it, she quit it or got fired from it.
She didn’t start her real estate empire because she was a genius with an MBA. She started it with a $1,000 loan from a boyfriend, who, by the way, later dumped her and explicitly told her, “You’ll never succeed without me.”
School measures memory, compliance, and the ability to follow instructions. Entrepreneurship measures grit, street smarts, and the ability to hear the word “no” and keep moving. Corcoran proves that “drifting” isn’t bad if you are learning something from every stop along the way. Those twenty menial jobs taught her people skills, negotiation, and hustle that a university lecture hall never could.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟓,𝟏𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬
The problem with our education system is that it teaches us to aspire to perfection. An exam with red pen marks is a heartbreak. A project that doesn’t work is a failure. We are embedding a fear of error in our children.
Real life, however, is not a multiple-choice test.
Consider James Dyson. We all know the vacuum cleaner; it’s a status symbol of domestic efficiency. But we forget the 15 years of misery that preceded it. James Dyson didn’t get it right the first time. He didn’t get it right the hundredth time.
He built 5,126 failed prototypes.
Pause for a moment and really think about that number. 5,126. Imagine the crushing weight of that. Imagine the debt, rejections, Imagine the “concerned” friends at dinner parties telling him to stop playing inventor and “just get a real job.” He spent his savings. He mortgaged his house. He was on the brink of total ruin.
It wasn’t until prototype number 5,127 that he finally cracked the bagless vacuum technology.
What entrepreneurship teaches us is that failure isn’t the opposite of success; it is the cost of success. Dyson reframed failure as “data.” Every time a prototype failed, he didn’t say, “I’m a failure.” He said, “Now I know one more way this doesn’t work.” That is the essence of resilience.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 $𝟒𝟎 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝
If you need proof that frustration is the mother of invention, look at Reed Hastings.
In 1997, Hastings rented a copy of Apollo 13 from his local Blockbuster. He misplaced the cassette (a relic of the past, for our younger readers) and returned it six weeks late. He received a bill for a $40 late fee. He was furious!
That $40 fine was the spark for Netflix.
Hastings didn’t become an overnight billionaire. He spent years almost losing the business. He tried to sell Netflix to Blockbuster for $50 million in 2000, and they laughed him out of the room. Today, Blockbuster is a memory, and Netflix is a dominant global force that reshaped how humanity consumes stories, forcing giants like Warner Bros and Disney to scramble just to keep up.
Entrepreneurship is just a fancy word for problem-solving. It’s about being proactive enough to fix something that frustrates you.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲
However, we must be careful not to just copy-paste American success stories onto our reality. We are not in Silicon Valley. We are in South Africa.
Here, the stakes are different. In the US, entrepreneurship is often a pursuit of passion. In South Africa, it is often a pursuit of survival. But it is also a place where mentorship can bridge the gap between a wild idea and a sustainable business.
Consider Karen Schneid, the founder of Ooh La La Confectionery.
Karen did everything “right” by traditional standards. She became a lawyer. She had the degree, the title, and the safety. But the courtroom wasn’t her calling; the kitchen was. She started experimenting with French confectionery, making pebbles and marshmallows from her home.
It sounded crazy to leave a secure legal career to sell sweets. But she had the grit. What she needed was the business strategy to match her culinary talent.
She joined ORT Jet, a mentorship initiative by ORT SA that pairs entrepreneurs with business professionals. The ORT Jet program helped her refine her business model, understand her numbers, and position her brand. Today, Ooh La La is an award-winning brand found on the shelves of Woolworths and high-end retailers. Karen didn’t need to stay in a box she didn’t fit in. She built a new one.
At ORT Jet’s 20-year celebration in December 2025, Karen Schneid, was awarded Business of the 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 for turning a lifelong passion into an “internationally acclaimed artisanal brand”.
This is the real face of entrepreneurship in South Africa: taking a skill, adding business acumen, and creating value where there was none before.
This is the real face of entrepreneurship in South Africa: taking a skill, adding business acumen, and creating value where there was none before.
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 “𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐫” 𝐭𝐨 “𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫”
Within this struggle lies opportunity. Entrepreneurship is one of the few pathways that puts agency back in the hands of individuals. But to unlock it, we need a massive mindset shift: from ‘job seeker’ to ‘value creator’.
That shift must start in our schools.
For decades, our education system has trained learners to be employees. We teach them to sit still, listen, and repeat. But the future demands the opposite. It demands problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability.
Organisations like ORT SA are working directly with schools to help learners build these skills. We are teaching them to innovate, to experiment, and to see challenges as opportunities, not roadblocks. Coding, financial literacy, and digital competency cannot be optional extras anymore; they must be the oxygen of the curriculum.
𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
And finally, a word to the parents, the grandparents, the mentors.
We need to stop telling our youth to “go find a job.” Instead, we could be asking, “What problem can you solve?” If you can solve a problem for one person, by saving them time, making their life easier, or meeting a real need, you have the beginnings of a business.
Start with one customer, not a fifty-page business plan.
Nowhere is this more relevant than in South Africa.
Take Nohlonolo. She started with nothing but an idea and a desire to work, joined the ORT New Business Venture Program, and built a line of branded handbags using 100% recyclable materials. She didn’t wait for a venture capitalist to give her permission. She just started making bags. Today, her products are stocked in boutique shops in Stellenbosch. That is proof that small ideas, nurtured with grit, can grow into powerful stories of change.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲
To the matriculant reading this, wondering if you have a future thinking that success belongs only to prodigies, geniuses, or those who had everything figured out at eighteen. You do
To the parent worrying that their child is “drifting”: Let them drift, as long as they are learning.
Don’t wait for perfect conditions. They will never come. Start small. Start imperfect. But start. Because the future won’t be built by those waiting for opportunities to be handed to them; it will be built by those brave enough to create them.
Forget Bezos. He’s already made it. The future could be you.
Bezos started in a garage. You can start with a click. Turn that spark into a strategy at www.ortsa.org.za or www.ortjet.org.za.
by marketing | Jan 20, 2026 | blog, News @ ORT, Old News
Growth is rarely glamorous. It shows up in early mornings, uncomfortable learning curves, and the humility of asking questions you think you should already know. ORT South Africa’s programmes act as a mirror, reflecting both your weaknesses and your potential, and teaching lessons you never expected.
As a young person unsure of my path, I often followed what others told me instead of pursuing what I loved. Joining this programme shifted that mindset completely. It helped me discover my passions and reconnect with a creative side that had long been suppressed by a community that values financial security over imagination.
Through ORT SA’s programmes, learnerships, and work-readiness initiatives, you gain far more than knowledge in business, STEM, and digital fields. You earn recognised qualifications alongside practical life skills that stay with you long after the programme ends.
Before joining, I was shy and timid, often bullied for my inquisitive personality. At varsity, I stayed in the background, afraid to speak up or step outside my comfort zone. Seeing my younger brother grow through the programme — and hearing the lessons he was learning — inspired me to apply for the New Venture Creation Programme. Being accepted marked the beginning of a journey that opened doors to both the business world and deep personal growth.
Professionalism and Emotional Intelligence
One of the most impactful lessons I learnt was how to balance professionalism with emotional intelligence. Before joining the programme, I didn’t fully understand how deeply emotions affect workplace performance. Both research and lived experience quickly proved otherwise.
In our first week, the facilitator guided us on integrating emotional intelligence into professional environments. These sessions taught me how to present myself professionally while continuing to grow emotionally and personally.
I learnt that success is about more than qualifications. It is about developing employable skills, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. Learning from experienced facilitators helped me show up fully — both as a professional and as a person. While the programme supports entrepreneurs, its lessons are valuable for anyone seeking growth and a healthier work environment.
Understanding Communication
What is communication, really? Is it simply one person talking and another listening? Through the New Venture Creation Programme, I discovered that communication is far more complex. It includes verbal and non-verbal expression, confidence, body language, and active listening.
After years of feeling discouraged from sharing my opinions, the programme helped me find my voice. This transformation enabled me to present on stage, perform my poetry, succeed in job interviews, and support teenagers by reading non-verbal cues and creating safe, open spaces for them.
Communication became a tool for both personal and professional empowerment. As Peter Drucker said, “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.”
Celebrate Progress, Not Just Achievements
One of the most valuable lessons I learnt was to celebrate the journey, not just the achievements. Focusing only on the end goal often causes us to overlook the growth, lessons, and connections formed along the way.
Before this programme, I never celebrated small steps — only major wins mattered. That mindset changed completely. I learnt that every small step contributes to the bigger picture.
A defining milestone for me was participating in the business plan competition. For many, it was about winning. For me, it was about courage. As someone who disliked being in the spotlight, pitching my business idea was terrifying. Few people saw the anxiety, tears, and moments where I nearly backed out. Pushing through that fear gave me confidence I will always value.
That experience taught me that progress itself is worth celebrating — a lesson that can benefit any young person willing to step beyond their comfort zone. As Dovid Brown said, “Take a step back and look at the bigger picture life has to offer.”
Effort Is Essential to Growth
The New Venture Creation Programme taught me that real growth requires effort and commitment. ORT SA matched my dedication every step of the way, helping me unlearn the habit of looking for shortcuts and proving that hard work truly pays off.
This journey sparked lasting transformation. I now share my poetry online, develop business ideas, and work with young people to promote entrepreneurship. I’ve inspired others to join the programme because I have experienced its life-changing impact first-hand.
For communities like Eldorado Park, where gangsterism poses real challenges, programmes like this offer hope. They build business skills, confidence, and meaningful connections. My 12-month journey strengthened my belief in my own potential and encouraged me to embrace my many interests.
The journey is not only about what you learn — but about who you become along the way. Long after the certificates are earned, the growth, confidence, and values remain.
by marketing | Nov 26, 2025 | blog, COVID19, News @ ORT
𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶 𝗠𝗴𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗱𝘂 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 & 𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹
South Africa proudly stood out in this year’s World ORT Youth Entrepreneurship Programme (YEP) — a global competition featuring innovative learners from across the ORT network, including Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Lithuania, and more.
Two of our schools, Mbongeni Mgugudu Secondary School and Aquadene Secondary School, showcased exceptional talent, creativity, and leadership as they presented solutions to real-world challenges through entrepreneurship and technology.
𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 – 𝗠𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶 𝗠𝗴𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗱𝘂 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹
The Mbongeni YEP team demonstrated remarkable growth and teamwork as they developed Techno Farm, a mobile container farm designed to bring farming directly to communities facing food insecurity and limited land availability.
Their innovative prototype combines agriculture, technology, and sustainability through:
Smart environmental sensors
Automated irrigation
Built-in cold storage
Mobility that enables farming anywhere, anytime
Techno Farm reflects the learners’ deep understanding of South Africa’s agricultural challenges and their commitment to creating practical, future-focused solutions.
𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹
Aquadene Secondary School earned 3rd place globally with their impressive innovation, BioGreen Incorporation — a system designed to capture harmful emissions before they leave factory chimneys.
Their prototype uses point-source emissions capture technology to:
Reduce the direct release of greenhouse gases
Help companies significantly lower their annual carbon-emission taxes
Convert captured waste into valuable secondary gases for resale
BioGreen presents a powerful, scalable model that supports environmental protection and economic benefit — a smart, balanced response to one of the world’s most pressing issues.
Both schools showcased the brilliance and potential of South Africa’s youth, proving that when young people are empowered with the right tools and opportunities, they create solutions that can uplift communities and shape a better future.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from the World ORT YEP competition, where our learners continue to shine among global innovators.
by marketing | Nov 18, 2025 | blog, COVID19, News @ ORT, Old News
Thembeka always loved the ocean. After completing her Master’s degree in Marine Biology, she stepped into the world expecting to build a career in her field. Instead, she ran into a harsh reality: there were simply no jobs. Like many young South Africans, she found herself qualified, motivated, and shut out of a labour market that can’t absorb the talent it produces.
Instead of giving up, she looked for another route. Drawing on her marine biology background, she explored the idea of using fish waste as fertiliser. That spark of an idea showed promise, but running a business demands more than technical expertise. It requires strategy, networks, and a different kind of resilience.
That’s when Thembeka joined the ORT–AEDF New Business Venture Programme. There, she gained the business skills she needed to turn potential into action. She applied for a WWF tender supporting coastal communities with oyster cultivation and won it. That success gave her the confidence to go further, and she soon submitted a tender to the United Nations to help communities develop marine-based solutions. Today, Thembeka is working closely with the UN as she grows a business built not on fantasy, but on purpose, and commitment to her community.
Her story speaks to a wider truth about youth in South Africa. Unemployment is at crisis levels, and the traditional job market is no longer keeping pace. Most young entrepreneurs aren’t chasing Silicon Valley dreams. They’re trying to build something that allows them, and their families, to survive.
This is the real face of entrepreneurship in South Africa: not driven by wealth, but by need. And yet, within that struggle lies opportunity. Entrepreneurship is one of the few pathways that puts agency back in the hands of individuals. To unlock it, we need a mindset shift, from ‘job seeker’ to ‘value creator’.
That shift must start in our schools. For decades, our education system has trained learners to follow instructions and pass exams. But the future demands something different: problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability. ORT SA works directly with schools to help learners build these skills. We teach them to innovate, to experiment, and to see challenges as opportunities, not roadblocks. Coding, financial literacy, and digital competency should not be optional extras, they should be embedded in the curriculum.
We also need to rethink the messages we give our youth. Instead of saying go find a job, we should be asking: what problem can you solve? What do people in your community complain about? What’s broken, missing, or in demand? That’s where a business begins.
And it doesn’t require a million-rand loan or a 50-page business plan. Sometimes all you need is R100, one customer, and a community willing to give feedback.
Take Nohlonolo, who started with nothing and built a line of branded handbags using 100% recyclable materials. Today, her products are stocked in shops in Stellenbosch, proof that small ideas can grow into powerful stories of change.
Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Start small. Start imperfect. But start, because the future won’t be built by those waiting for opportunities, it will be built by those creating them.
by marketing | Nov 10, 2025 | blog, COVID19, News @ ORT, Old News
Our community recently celebrated the Investec Jewish Achievers Awards. It’s an energetic, high-profile event that puts a spotlight on leadership. But it also forces us to ask: what is leadership, really?
After being nominated in the categories of Business Leadership and Woman in Leadership, I didn’t walk away with a trophy, but I did walk away with something lasting: perspective.
Going through the process, the forms, the panels, the questions, forced me to slow down and reflect on what leadership really means, beyond the spotlight and the title.
I realised leadership isn’t a glamorous title or a dazzling role. Most days, I stare at a problem, a budget, an overpriced resource, or a challenging project that’s deviating off its original plan, and just say, “Okay, now what?”
It’s the hard calls that rarely make headlines; telling a school we can’t supply computers because they haven’t met project requirements. It’s explaining to funders why the robotics kits cost more than planned, or sitting with a staff member and giving feedback that’s uncomfortable but necessary.
It’s acknowledging the realities we face: that some young people turn down opportunities because they expect stipends, not seeing that our programmes offer far greater long-term opportunity than a short-term pay check. It’s continuing to show up anyway, believing that with the right exposure, mentorship, and persistence, lives can change.
Most of all, leadership isn’t about having the right answers. Often, it’s about asking the hard questions. The most difficult one is always: “How do I keep my promise to our mission and our calling?”
Leadership is about keeping a promise- a promise to South Africa’s youth and communities.
It’s a promise that a young girl in a rural school can discover she loves coding, and all she needed was a computer and the chance to learn.
It’s a promise to the talented young men and women who can’t find a job despite all their certificates, degrees, and diplomas. It’s the promise that we will build the bridge to take them from unemployment to a real career.
And it’s the promise to the small business owner, just trying to build a life of dignity, that they won’t have to do it alone, that we will provide the support, mentorship, and network to help them succeed.
Leading ORT SA has been my way to keep that promise. It’s my personal mission to connect opportunity with potential across South Africa’s diverse communities.
Leadership, I’ve learned, isn’t about standing at the front. It’s about standing with people, in uncertainty, in hard decisions, in the work that doesn’t make headlines. It’s about staying committed when it’s complicated and finding a way forward; it’s about the daily “now what?” It’s the hard “no” and the hopeful “yes.” It’s the messy, difficult, and deeply rewarding process of turning a promise into a reality.
That is what truly matters, not the title but our work, one kept promise at a time.
