Virtuoso is a registered non-profit organisation established in 2014 by youth, that offers services to unemployed youth aged 18 years to 35 years and women affected by oppression and Gender-based Violence since 2014. We also target youth and women with disabilities.
We are based in Newlands, Johannesburg and have satellite centres in Johannesburg, Krugersdorp and Dobsenville (Soweto) and Ekurhluleni, Alberton. Virtuoso also offers free skills training opportunities, entrepreneurship and enterprise development, career and personal development programmes including university and bursary applications and youth and women advisory services. Our biggest flagship programmes are the Hair & Beauty and Fashion Design & Textile Manufacturing which are targeted at unemployed and oppressed women. We give them skills training opportunities in various sectors and assist them in their entrepreneurial journeys to success in these industries.
Zainub Dockrat is a journalist and educator. She began her career as a producer and journalist at the SABC before transitioning into education, where she taught English in Asia and at Greenside High School. Most recently, she has taken on the role of Marketing and Training Coordinator at fraycollege. She cares deeply about social and environmental justice and is interested in how these struggles are linked.
Brief description of activities
Following a visit to China & Thailand we saw the impact E-bikes and E-Cargo trikes had on the economy of these countries and decided to start producing these vehicles for the African market. We have been busy with this project for over ten years. We soon realized this could have an enormous impact on job creation in South Africa and designed our E-bikes and E-Cargo trikes to suite our conditions and applications. The applications include, waste picking, street cleaning, street vending, garden service, pet grooming, pool cleaning, canteens, spaza shops, grocery deliveries etc...
The powers that be overlook the mobility part of unemployment; how would one ever start to be self-sustainable without being mobile once this hurdle is overcome the rest kind of falls into place. We at Whoppa Cycles have realized this and have addressed this by creating a sustainable wealth creating machine to help the less fortunate and unemployed.
MOBILITY CREATES OPERTUNITIES TO GENERATE A SUSTAINABLE INCOME
These E-vehicles can be funded through willing Government, Corporates, with social development responsibilities, donations, roving advertising, and citizens wanting to clean up the streets and the environment. We are constantly working with youth employment organizations and looking for funding, donations, and grants to further our cause of creating an environment that is green, clean and creates much needed jobs so help us to help the less fortunate and unemployed.
Verson Is from our Repair program . He repairs household appliances , his business is twofold in that he buys broken appliance repairs it and sells these, he further can repair bigger household appliance like fridges and microwaves and does house calls to repair those . He has 3 children and provides for his family through these business. He has been doing this for about 10 years now.
Siyabonga Ndlangamandla, a dedicated urban farmer and founder of Makers Valley Farm, goes beyond cultivating crops; he nurtures a thriving community through sustainable agriculture. His venture, Farm Table, is about more than just farming—it's about empowering individuals and revitalizing communities. Makers Valley Farm provided the fertile ground for Farm Table's inception, driven by Siyabonga's commitment to sustainable practices and community development. His dream: to support local farmers and empower the Makers Valley community to cultivate their own sustenance. Farm Table embodies Siyabonga's unwavering vision for self-sufficiency and community resilience, amplifying sustainable farming while fostering broader engagement and empowerment. Through Farm Table, Siyabonga transforms farming into a catalyst for positive change, enriching lives and landscapes alike.
Dr. Radhika Mia, CEO and Founder of Social Impact Africa, envisions catalyzing a 'social entrepreneurs revolution' across Africa, supporting innovators from concept to market. Collaborating with Makers Valley Farm, Social Impact Africa introduced Farm Table in early 2024, aiming to transform local agriculture and empower urban township communities, especially women and youth. Beyond her leadership at Social Impact Africa, Radhika serves as a Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg, exploring the nexus of social innovations and the Circular Economy in South Africa. She also educates through a course on Circular Design and Innovation for Business, demonstrating her commitment to driving positive change through higher education and practical application.
My passion for impact investment and empowering people is deeply rooted in my firsthand experiences of witnessing the harsh realities that many individuals face on a daily basis, coupled with their lack of means to alter their circumstances. Having come from a background in traditional finance and investments, I found myself yearning for more than just making decisions solely based on financial returns for listed companies. The disconnect between my work and the tangible, positive change I aspired to see in people's lives became increasingly apparent.
It was this realization that prompted me to pivot towards impact investment. By leveraging my background and expertise, I now have the opportunity to channel my skills towards creating meaningful change in the lives of those often marginalized or overlooked by society. This alignment between my professional abilities and my desire to contribute to social progress has brought a sense of fulfillment and purpose to my career that I had been searching for.
Simphiwe Zakwe is the visionary founder behind Sankofa Solutions, a dynamic organization committed to environmental sustainability and community engagement. With a deep passion for sustainable living and a determination to make a positive impact on the world, Simphiwe has been a driving force in creating innovative solutions for waste management and environmental education. Zakwe's journey began with a simple but profound belief: that communities, regardless of their economic circumstances, can actively participate in and benefit from sustainable practices. He founded Sankofa Solutions with the mission of empowering individuals, particularly in lower-income communities, to become environmental stewards.
Under his leadership, Sankofa Solutions has introduced pioneering waste management initiatives, including smart food waste composting systems and reward collection systems for recyclables. These innovations not only reduce environmental impact but also generate economic opportunities for communities. Simphiwe's commitment to education is also evident in his partnership with local schools and edtech companies. Through this collaboration, Sankofa Solutions introduces interactive learning tools, such as VR and AR, to immerse scholars in waste management scenarios and solutions.
The goal is to create a new generation of environmental leaders who can drive positive change in their communities. Simphiwe Zakwe's vision, dedication, and innovative spirit continue to inspire a sustainable mindset and promote eco-friendly practices. His leadership at Sankofa Solutions is a testament to the potential for transformative change in the field of waste management and environmentaleducation. Simphiwe Zakwe is not only making a difference; he is empowering others to do the same.
Ndia is the CEO and co-founder of Everlectric. Everlectric packages leading international electric vehicles, charging infrastructure & innovative finance solutions that remove the hurdles to adopting a cleaner & more efficient future. The services make fleet transition to electric vehicles as painless as possible. She holds a B.Comm (Hons) degree in Accounting Sciences and is a Qualified Chartered Accountant.
Ndia started her career at Deloitte after which she went into Development finance. She is an ex Senior Deal Maker at the Industrial Development Corporation where she spent 7 years and got experience in Due Diligence investigations and Transaction structuring in the Chemicals and Allied Industries, Heavy Manufacturing and Agro Processing units. She is an ex Principal in Mergers and Acquisitions at Momentum Metropolitan Holdings.
Currently, she is a Director in Blackslope Group which has a consulting arm called Blackslope Consulting and a Greener Mobility arm called Blackslope Mobility (trading as Everlectric where she is the CEO).
Ndia is a non-executive director on a number of Boards. She is a guest lecturer on Mergers and Acquisitions and a speaker. She enjoys reading, travelling and cooking.
Is a single mother of three beautiful children . She came across TCB resell program and knew that this opportunity will change her life . She has been on the program for 4 years and in this time has opened two stores . she has provided employment to 3 staff members. She assists community in providing quality clothing at reasonable prices .
I have been part of the organisation for 5 years, my background in Psychology assists me in understanding people. I am reponsbile for recruiting particpants on to the 2 year program and creat the space for holistic development so that unemployed South African can generate income into their lives through running sustainble buisness.
Tshwanelo Rakaibe is a Senior Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) where she leads the CSIR’s Just Energy Transition portfolio, leading a team of researchers whose work focusses on analysing the socio-economic impacts of the transition. Her experience includes various roles in Eskom, national government, an international development agency, and research. Tshwanelo holds an MSc in Energy studies from the University of Dundee in Scotland, BSc in Energy Studies as well as a BCom Honours in Economics (both from the university of Johannesburg) and a BCom Economics degree from the University of Pretoria.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
GUIDING RULES:
Code of Conduct: Participants are expected to adhere to ethical standards and respectful conduct throughout the competition, avoiding any form of discrimination, harassment, or offensive content.
Gloria Sellwane Phala is a qualified Civil Engineer, specialising in Transportation with almost 10 ears experience in the Built Environment. She is a passionate person who is highly adaptable to new challenges. Gloria is committed to cultivating both technical and interpersonal skills that contributes to the success of teams she leads. She is currently the Operations Manager for a women owned and led pan-African pioneering organisation, In Pursuit Renewable Energy.
At In Pursuit, Gloria leads the organization's day to day operations and a multidisciplinary team, delivering Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy solutions projects, technology and advisory services for the private, public and non-profit sectors. She is also an internationally certified current practicing Yoga Instructor and a former English Teacher with experiences from China and India.
Highly motivated and deeply passionate about sustainability, Bakang Moeng is a trailblazer in the development of the Green Building Industry in South Africa. Recently appointed as the Advocacy, Public Policy, and Sustainability Specialist at the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), Bakang brings to the role a robust technical knowledge acquired over 17 years in the Built Environment.
With a background in architecture and over a decade of experience as a Sustainability Consultant, she has been a driving force in advancing green practices within the industry. Bakang's commitment to sustainability is evident in her dynamic career, making her a valuable asset to the GBCSA and a key figure in shaping the future of sustainable building practices in the region.
WWF South Africa is part of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisation. With more than five million supporters worldwide, WWF has an active global network in nearly 100 countries.
WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Rehabilitation of the Upper Jukskei River catchment through community participation, green technology and enterprise:
Founded in 2017, we are a citizen-led NGO concerned with improving the plight of the river and its surrounds. We establish and nurture relationships between City officials, local businesses and resident communities. With the support of interested role-players, Water for the Future envisions an accessible, walkable, green corridor along the waterway that enables a thriving ecosystem and the economic prosperity, health and well-being of Johannesburg's citizens.
Read more about the three prongs of our outcomes-based strategy to bring health, wealth and biodiversity to the Jukskei headwaters. You can also view all we are doing to establish and nurture relationships between stakeholders, businesses and resident communities, and explore current issues associated with our work and the river.
The University of Johannesburg's Process, Energy and Environmental Technology Station's (UJ PEETS) primary mandate is to contribute towards improving the competitiveness of Industry in the circular green economy through the application of specialised knowledge and technology transfer. UJ PEETS facilitates the interaction between academia, industry (especially SMEs) and government. To achieve our mission, UJ PEETS supports various capacity building and policy influencing initiatives to grow the circular green economy, while providing engineering and technology development support to SMEs.
We are thrilled to introduce Sankofa Solutions (Pty) Ltd as a participant at this year's City of Joburg Green Jobs Youth Expo. Sankofa Solutions is a dynamic startup committed to implementing innovative waste handling solutions in communities across Johannesburg.
We are proud to share that Sankofa Solutions was awarded third place at the Imvelisi Circular Economy Hackathon in 2023, highlighting our dedication to sustainable practices and creative problem-solving. This recognition further motivates us to continue our mission of promoting environmental stewardship and creating green job opportunities for youth in our city.
At Sankofa Solutions, we believe in the power of education and technology to drive positive change. Through our innovative approach, which integrates edutech tools such as VR, we engage with schools and communities to raise awareness about waste management and empower youth to become environmental leaders.
We are excited to showcase our initiatives and discuss potential collaborations at the City of Joburg Green Jobs Youth Expo. Together, let's build a greener, more sustainable future for Johannesburg.
Peco Power is currently the only South African "local-is-lekker" clean-energy company that manufactures and produces electrification solutions to communities in Africa. Developed by WITS University's Professor Willie Cronje, Peco Power has entered the retail market with the patented Powerbrick. It is an affordable, expandable and easy-to-use mini-grid solution for homes and businesses in rural or township communities. Peco Power believes in empowering communities by promising Energy Freedom for All.
PACJA South Africa, a chapter of the PanAfrican Climate Justice Alliance, brings its robust voice to advocate for climate justice within South Africa and beyond. Established in 2023, we actively engage in national and international platforms, driving mitigation, adaptation, and advocacy efforts.
Our core mission is to promote pro-poor development and environmental equity specific to South Africa. We actively participate in climate change dialogues, interventions, and processes at all levels
Guided by the vision of a world safe from climate threats, we work towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals, promoting equity, and advocating for justice for all at national, regional, and global scales.
Our 50-member strong community collaborates extensively to cultivate relationships and amplify our impact. Join us in forging a sustainable and just future for all.
FURNITURE REQUIREMENTS
If you need additional furniture - Any additional requirements will be at the exhibitor's own cost. You will be sent documents to specify your selection.
Standard furniture provided - 3x3m Walling structure as required, 1 x LED Light per 9sqm , 1 x 220V plug point , 1 x Fascia board with company name, 1 x table and 2 x chairs
