Ten finalists showcased their ideas at the grand finale at the TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) Sustainathon South Africa 2022, a problem solving competition that empowers youth to find creative solutions to real-world challenges, held at the Sustainability Institute in Stellenbosch. The ideas were based on the theme Zero Hunger, focusing on finding ways to ensure adequate nutrition and food security for children and all South Africans living in underprivileged communities.
Team Waste Warriors emerged the winner for its innovative solution. The winning team from Louwville High School in Vredenburg presented their solution, entitled “Grab Life by the Fork”, addressing food wastage in South African schools and how schools and students can work together to combat the challenge. Cape Town schools Gardens Commercial High School (Team Smurfs Going Green) and Livingstone High School (Taste the Waste) secured the second and third place, respectively.
The winning school-team members won cash and gift vouchers to the value of R30 000, while the runners up won R20 000, and the team in third place won R10 000. In addition, the seven remaining finalist teams each received R5 000.
This was the first South African edition of TCS Sustainathon and attracted more than 110 participants. To develop their ideas, participants had the opportunity to work with TCS Sustainathon challenge partners: Pick n Pay, Unilever and BankservAfrica. Other strategic partners were the Western Cape Education Department, United Nations Global Compact South Africa and Sustainability Institute.
Langa Dube, Country Manager, TCS South Africa, said: “TCS, along with its partners, believes technology can play a pivotal role in solving the world’s most pressing problems. Through the TCS Sustainathon we aim to foster innovation in our younger generation and inspire the creative use of technology in building a sustainable future. We were really impressed with the ideas presented by the finalists. These could make a real difference to South Africa’s hunger challenge.
“We are honoured to have been a strategic partner in the TCS Sustainathon 2022 inaugural event in South Africa,” Vaughan Pierce, Head of ESG, Pick n Pay, said. “The Pick n Pay School Club recognizes learners for their positive societal impact through its Hero Awards and we are grateful for the opportunity the TCS Sustainathon provided, to give recognition to learners for their innovative ideas to reduce surplus food from becoming waste. We look forward to the 2023 TCS Sustainathon and hope many more schools will make use of the opportunity the TCS Sustainathon provides to get learners excited about finding new ways to reduce environmental impacts.”
Janine van Rooyen, Nutrition Business Unit Director, Unilever, said: “Unilever is thrilled to have been a part of the TCS Sustainathon for 2022. Our mandate was challenging yet most rewarding, as the results were tangible and measurable. The challenge aligns with the purpose that drives our Knorr brand, which recently partnered with the Department of Basic Education in a National School Nutrition Programme, where our team of Unilever Chefs helped train Volunteer Food Handlers on basic cooking skills, preparation, hygiene and how to use fresh ingredients to bring more flavour to the current balanced menu in schools. We look forward to more innovation in the 2023 Sustainathon, which is ultimately all about creating a positive impact for our environment.”
The first edition of TCS Sustainathon South Africa 2022 invited students aged 15 to 17 and from schools selected by the Western Cape Education Department. Future events will have increased involvement and participation across universities and schools across South Africa, with greater focus on technological solutions as well as public policy.
