IWISA No 1 Community Champions Competition closes tomorrow, 31 May: Last call for entries from Gauteng, Free State, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape’s s unsung heroes

Social entrepreneurs, your time is now! This is the call to action of the IWISA No 1 Community Champions Competition. Already in its second year, this flagship initiative once again celebrates the unsung heroes working tirelessly to uplift and grow communities across South Africa. No matter whether they’re solving societal problems, finding ways to unlock new impact, or overcoming systemic challenges, these entrepreneurs are bringing new hope and opportunity to those who need it most. Social entrepreneurs are urged to submit their entries by tomorrow, 31 May 2024 – before it’s too late.

Launched at the start of April 2024 by Premier in partnership with the Silulo Foundation, the IWISA No 1 Community Champions Competition is making its final call for submissions. Designed to identify, upskill, support and enable our nation’s impact-makers, the initiative spans Gauteng, Free State, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.

Targeting established social entrepreneurs who have developed viable township SMEs that solve for a social need such as crime, poverty or unemployment, the competition journey empowers and prepares regional finalists to “pitch” their SMEs to a panel of experts – and win their share of R60 000. “In the build-up to the final round, entrepreneurs receive expert training focused on their marketing and sales abilities. In this way, they will receive new insights that can assist them to continue to take their SMEs to market and build sustainability as a direct outcome of participating in the competition,” explains Sibongile Mooko, Premier Executive: Marketing (Milling). 

She adds that the competition is an extension of the brand’s commitment to support, build and grow the communities in which it operates: “As a corporate, it is critical that we not only support businesses that are ‘doing good’, but empower them to scale and amplify their positive social and environmental impact.”

Social entrepreneurs can complete the online entry form on Iwisa’s website (www.iwisa.co.za). “This must be done by 31 May 202,” says Mooko. “We’re excited to meet these game-changers and change-makers who are catalysing such positive on-the-ground impact. We look forward to igniting fresh thinking and unlocking new tools that can add real value to them and their businesses. To everyone who has already entered – good luck! To those who haven’t yet, please submit your entry today. We want your stories to be told and your phenomenal contribution to be celebrated,” Mooko concludes.