PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA, 07 August 2025 – The 2025 Enactus South Africa National Exposition brought together the country’s brightest young changemakers, showcasing powerful student-led initiatives designed to solve South Africa’s most urgent social, economic, and environmental challenges. Among 25 competing universities and 450 delegates, the University of Mpumalanga emerged as the 2025 Enactus South Africa National Champion, earning the honour of representing the nation at the Enactus World Cup in Bangkok this September.
Their win marks a significant moment not only for the university, but for the national Enactus programme and its long-standing partner, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, which is simultaneously celebrating 10 years of local impact through the Ford College Community Challenge (Ford C3).
Empowering Communities Through Innovation and Action
The University of Mpumalanga’s path to national victory was powered by two standout projects that embody the essence of entrepreneurial action for sustainable change.
CSK Environmental Consulting addresses water quality challenges in some of South Africa’s most water-intensive sectors. Their flagship product, the CSK Aqua Device, is a smart monitoring tool that tracks water quality indicators in real time. Integrated with the Earth View App, it empowers industries and communities to comply with environmental regulations and respond swiftly to contamination. The project is bolstered by workshops for SMEs on environmental law and sustainable practices, aligned with key UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The university’s second initiative, Ehlanzeni Star School, is a non-profit centre supporting out-of-school youth in Mbombela. With a focus on education, digital literacy and driver’s training, the programme helped over 365 young people from July 2024 to June 2025—providing critical support for matric rewrites, computer skills, and employability through driver’s licences.
Together, these enterprises demonstrate how youth-led innovation can drive scalable, measurable impact across education, sustainability and employment.
Ford C3 Challenge: Celebrating a Decade of Purpose-Driven Innovation
Coinciding with the Enactus National Exposition, Ford South Africa commemorated 10 years of the Ford College Community Challenge (Ford C3) in South Africa. A global grant initiative funded by Ford Philanthropy and implemented in partnership with Enactus, the Ford C3 Challenge enables student teams to apply entrepreneurial thinking to real-world community problems—moving ideas from the classroom to the field.
“The innovation and commitment we saw at this year’s exposition is nothing short of extraordinary. These students are tackling real-world challenges with energy, creativity and compassion,” said Yota Baron, Chief Financial Officer at Ford South Africa and Enactus South Africa Board Member. “We are honoured to support them as they take their solutions to the global stage.”
This year’s Cycle 12 of the Ford C3 programme awarded over US$9,000 in grant funding to the top three student teams:
- 1st Place – University of Mpumalanga | Reviva Designs
Transforming post-consumer glass waste into eco-friendly construction materials, while promoting local employment and reducing landfill impact. (US$5,000 grant) - 2nd Place – Durban University of Technology | Myco Feeds
A sustainable mushroom farming enterprise aimed at improving food security and community resilience. (US$3,000 grant) - 3rd Place – University of the Western Cape | WebMax
A digital upskilling and freelance empowerment platform for youth, with a strong focus on bridging the digital divide for SMMEs. (US$1,000 grant)
A representative from the top Ford C3 team will accompany the national champions as an observer at the Enactus World Cup, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and shared learning across student teams globally.
A Shared Vision for a Better Future
Since its South African inception in 2015, the Ford C3 programme has become a cornerstone of student social innovation, with its reach now extending to Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Germany, Mexico, the UK and the USA. Rooted in Henry Ford’s belief in practical education, the programme challenges students to “do something” with their learning—creating solutions that uplift communities and nurture self-reliance.
“What makes Ford C3 so powerful is that it helps students grow into the role of changemakers,” Baron added. “They gain the confidence to lead, to build, and to create value where others only see challenges.”
As the University of Mpumalanga prepares to represent South Africa on the global stage, their journey stands as a beacon of what’s possible when innovation meets purpose—and when young people are given the platform, support and belief to lead from the front.
Looking Ahead: The Enactus World Cup 2025
The University of Mpumalanga will join 32 national champion teams at the Enactus World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, from 25–28 September 2025. With support from Ford South Africa, they’ll showcase their innovations alongside the world’s best student social entrepreneurs—demonstrating that local action can spark global impact.
In a time of complex challenges, these young leaders are reminding South Africa—and the world—that the solutions of tomorrow are already being built today.
