Teach A Man To Fish launches awards for entrepreneurship in education

There is a top prize of $10 000, two runners up prizes of $5 000 and awards of $1 000 for the best entrant from every country in Africa. The top three awardees will received their prizes in early 2013 and all-expense-paid trips to the 2013

Education That Pays For Itself conference

South Africa has always provided great entries into the competition. In 2011 Cape Town charity Zip Zap was awarded $1 000 towards their project. Zip Zap equips youth in Cape Town with circus and technical skills, life values and ethics, allowing them to grow and pass on their knowledge to the younger ones. The aim is to develop them to be responsible, independent, employable citizens.

Pioneering approach is rewarded

In 2009 Soil For Life, a Cape Town based NGO was awarded $1 000 for their environmentally friendly and entrepreneurial approach to education. Soil For Life teaches people how to build the soil and grow healthy plants so that families can sit down to plates of safe, fresh nutritious food all year round. The low-cost methods enable gardeners to harvest large amounts of food from small spaces using very little water and no harmful chemicals.

The Pan-African awards for entrepreneurship are unique in that they reward small organisations across Africa for their pioneering approach to education. Last year over 500 organisations entered the competition, and this year the competition hopes to extend its reach.

The Pan-African Awards is run by international charity, Teach A Man To Fish in partnership with Educating Africa, an education foundation that supports international development. Nik Kafka, director of Teach A Man To Fish, says they hope that this year South Africa can continue to produce great entries for the competition so that organisations can receive the recognition they deserve.