More than 4 000 local and international university students will converge on the Sandton Convention Centre today (Wednesday 14 October) to participate in the 2015 Enactus World Cup, which gives young minds the world over the platform to develop entrepreneurial ideas that have the potential to positively change their communities and the world.
Enactus is an international non-profit organisation that seeks to inspire students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action.
The three-day event, which will be officially opened by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau, will see 36 local and international teams battle it out for the Alvin Rohrs World Championship Trophy, to be presented to the winning team at a prize-giving ceremony on Friday October 16.
“Enactus provides a platform for teams of outstanding university students to create community development projects that put people’s own ingenuity and talents at the centre of improving their livelihoods,” says Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development Councillor Ruby Mathang.
“Guided by lecturers and supported by business leaders, the students take the kind of entrepreneurial approach that empowers people to be a part of their own success. Enactus’s work transforms the lives of the people we serve and in turn the lives of students as they develop into more effective values-drive leaders.”
About 2 500 students from countries around the world and 1 500 from various South African universities will take part in the challenge.
Enactus is one of the global events that Joburg Tourism’s Convention Bureau team has successfully bid for.
“Johannesburg has successfully hosted a multitude of international events covering economic, environmental and sport sectors. It has a proven track record in respect of its capacity, capability and successful execution of international events. We are immensely proud as the city to host the Enactus World Cup 2015,” said Joburg Tourism’s Laura Vercueil said.