With the help of Samsung mentors and educators; this STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) competition challenges learners to identify real issues in their communities and develop practical, technology-driven solutions that create meaningful social impact. Samsung has taken the time to speak to four (4) educators from the Top 20 schools in this year’s SFT Competition.

These conversations sought to evaluate what impact this competition is making in the lives of both the learners and the educators; as well as the broader community, more specifically the schools they are representing. When asked, this is what these educators had to say:

Tyron Greyling is an educator representing Cape Recife High School – a special needs school in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. He taught CAT (Computer Applications Technology) and Digital Technology at Cape Recife before moving to a new school recently. However, he’s still working closely with his team back at Cape Recife with learners who are excited to present their prototype to a panel of Judges at the finals in Johannesburg on 02 October.

According to Greyling, he took the initiative to apply for the SFT programme online early in the year, putting his school and its learners forward for the competition. He expressed the importance of such competitions because this platform has given his learners hands-on exposure to technology and problem-solving skills that can shape their future studies and career paths. Greyling added: “The competition’s impact has been felt across the whole school. Everyone is genuinely excited; it’s sparked real interest among our younger learners, who are already looking forward to getting involved in the future.

Our School Governing Body (“SGB”) and other educators in our school have also expressed how incredibly proud they are of what the team has managed to achieve so far”

Samsung also spoke to Nkosiyomuzi Joseph Zimu, an educator from Klerksdorp Secondary School located in an area called Manzilpark in the North West province. Zimu mentioned that when he heard about the competition, he grabbed it with both hands because he knew that the learners he teaches who come from economically disadvantaged families – needed this opportunity more than ever.

He stated that this competition has opened the eyes of his entire institution and has made them realise just how smart their learners are. In addition, they now understand that with proper guidance – their learners could achieve much more. Zimu also touched on how this SFT Competition has helped to improve the relationship between the learners and teachers.

This educator is convinced that competitions like these are able to unite communities, and he clarified by saying: “We never thought we would be forced to collect information from those outside our school, but we knew that in order to complete the project; our success depended on the knowledge of others within our community.”

Zimu also acknowledged how beneficial this competition has been to their educators as well, and said: “We have now learnt to work as a team; this SFT Competition has helped us appreciate the fact that this is not about one teacher but about the school as a whole. We now know that collectively we can build a better community.”

Another educator, Thabang Jethro Leshaba who has been representing Florapark Comprehensive High School that’s located in Polokwane. Leshaba teaches Physical Science in Grades 11 and 12; and is also the main organiser of the school’s Science Projects Committee. Part of his responsibilities include ensuring that his learners participate in competitions that focus on STEM subjects. He is another educator who’s confident about his school’s chances of winning this year’s competition.

Leshaba said that he became aware of the SFT Competition a day before the closing date. But in spite of the short notice, was able to immediately identify learners whom he believed had the academic ability, commitment and potential to participate well in the competition. He said: “Since our project made it into the Top 20, the school has announced it to the entire community and the project has also been displayed throughout my classroom. A lot of learners, particularly those taking Mathematics and Science have become intrigued by the idea.”

He also added that they have seen a growing interest in the project from learners and educators who participate in sport at their school. “Through our participation in this SFT Competition, he expanded: “our school learners have started to realise that what they learn in STEM subjects can be applied in real-life challenges as well as different fields, including sport. And, this competition has also helped us reinforce an important message – that science is everywhere and sport itself is made possible in many ways by science and technology.”

The fourth and last educator that Samsung spoke to is: Tendayi Gilbert Jobi from Kgomotso High School in the Northern Cape. This educator teaches both Natural and Physical Sciences. Jobi said when he came across information on the Samsung SFT Competition, he saw it as a great opportunity for his Grade 10 learners to participate in. He then guided them in the process of identifying a real community problem related to environmental sustainability through technology.

Jobi explained further and said that this competition has transformed their school in many positive ways. It has inspired both learners and teachers to embrace innovation, creativity and problem-solving. According to Jobi, this competition has also shifted learning beyond the classroom by encouraging their learners to apply scientific and technological knowledge to solve real-life community challenges. And furthermore, he is convinced that this competition has also raised the profile of their school. He said: “being selected among the Top 20 schools in the country has brought our school the much-needed recognition”.

Samsung has, through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and the R280-million worth Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) launched in 2019 in collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC), shown real and measurable impact in the lives of the youth from underserved communities. Since the dawn of democracy, when Samsung entered the African continent through the establishment of the South African office, the company has ensured that there’s sustainable investment in youth-focused education initiatives that demonstrate real impact.

The company is well aware of the fact that young people in the country are the leaders of the future. And while the future might be full of uncertainties, education remains the foundation that allows the youth to realise their full potential and prepare themselves to keep moving forward. Case in point, Samsung’s education-focused, CSR programmes strive to promote innovation and empower youth through technology, with the ultimate aim of addressing societal issues.

These CSR programmes that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, fourth industrial revolution (4IR) skills development, youth entrepreneurship as well as environmental sustainability – seek to promote innovation and the empowerment of youth through technology. Ultimately, Samsung aims to contribute to job creation and the country’s economic growth.

Nicky Beukes, Samsung EEIP & B-BBEE Manager said: “As Samsung, our continued investment in education-focused and technology-driven initiatives is aimed at combating youth unemployment and fostering local entrepreneurship. We therefore remain dedicated to our goal of investing in programmes that contribute to skills development, education, job creation and entrepreneurship opportunities for the South African youth.

“This is a clear reflection of our commitment to long-term, sustainable development in the country’s youth. As a company, we will continue using education and technology as tools for driving positive change in youth as well as their underserved communities,” added Beukes.

Samsung understands the importance of education and for this reason, the company has been equipping the country’s youth with critical skills through the following initiatives:

• The Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) – Through this programme, Samsung has successfully partnered with various universities in the country with the aim of teaching Coding and programming, software development and artificial intelligence (AI) skills to youth from previously disadvantaged communities. These institutions include the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Nelson Mandela University (NMU), the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and the Central University of Technology (CUT). Samsung has further expanded this SIC programme into other African countries, such as Kenya.

• Launched for the first time in 2023 in South Africa, the Samsung Solve For Tomorrow (SFT) competition is a global, STEM-based educational programme that engages Grade 10 and 11 public school learners from disadvantaged schools – challenging them to use STEM to address local community issues.

• This year’s SFT competition that is themed: “Social Change through Sports and Technology”; and “Environmental Sustainability via Technology” – is encouraging innovative thinking and problem solving for Gen Z to build sustainable solutions through STEM. Importantly, this year marks a major shift in the SFT competition as it has now been opened to all public schools, including quintile 5 – making it more inclusive and nationally representative; while also allowing learners to gain invaluable skills.

The company’s transformation objectives driven through its CSR initiatives and the ten-year plan for the Samsung EEIP programme – aim to address key developmental aspects linked to the National Development Plan and the overall transformation of the South African economy. This in essence means that Samsung’s efforts are in direct alignment with the national education priorities when it comes to job creation, digital literacy and economic inclusion.

Samsung strongly believes that its efforts through its EEIP and other programmes are essential to creating a more inclusive and equitable business environment. This EEIP programme, for instance, seeks to bridge the digital divide, foster ICT innovation and empower future leaders – ultimately striving to reduce youth unemployment and drive sustainable economic growth across the country. And, further to Samsung’s EEIP agreement with the DTIC, some of the youth-based developmental areas of investment that take place include:

• The Software Development Training programmes with previously disadvantaged universities, where Samsung successfully trained 510 unemployed youth as software developers. And out of the beneficiaries from the Introduction to Software Development and Social Digital Innovation Programme at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the University of Limpopo (UL), over 90% were successfully placed into tech industry jobs. Furthermore, the Samsung, Tshimologong & UWC Advance Industry Experience Internship achieved a near 100% industry uptake rate; launching graduates directly into roles at premier software firms.
• Technician Training in underserved provinces – In partnership with Ocule IT, Samsung has trained 162 artisans across Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Eastern Cape as well as Gauteng – in an effort to alleviate the critical shortage of consumer electronic repair technicians. Currently, a further 40 unemployed youth are enrolled for the 2026 programme and a further 40 are planned for next year’s intake.

Beukes explained further and said: “The execution of these Samsung EEIP initiatives delivers tangible results in the areas of job creation, business growth, women empowerment and technical skills. Overall, Samsung’s view is that these EEIP projects have a sizeable rate of investment and measurable impact on the South African economy.”

Samsung also believes that through its strategic public, private partnerships (PPPs) with various institutions of higher learning, government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector – its CSR and EEIP programmes have successfully managed to make a tangible impact in the lives of the youth in the country.

“As Samsung, we are convinced that our transformation efforts have been able to empower the country’s future innovators to achieve their full potential. In addition, these impactful initiatives have managed to ensure that South Africa’s youth become the next generation of leaders that will continue to pioneer positive social change and build a better world for all,” concluded Beukes.

These Design Thinking Workshops which took place from 08 May until 15 June 2026 were effectively conducted at central venues in the provinces where this year’s Top 20 finalist schools are based – Gauteng (2 finalists), Limpopo (3), Free State (3), KwaZulu-Natal (2), Western Cape (2), Eastern Cape (1), North West (4), Northern Cape (1) and Mpumalanga (2).

The Samsung SFT Design Thinking workshops are highly collaborative and human-centric problem-solving sessions. They are structured around a hands-on and community-focused problem-solving approach that seeks to teach participating grade 10 and 11 school learners to empathise, define, ideate, prototype and test.

This year’s SFT competition is driven by two themes: “Social Change through Sports and Technology” which ensures that the power of sport is recognised as a unifying force in South Africa. And the second theme: “Environmental Sustainability via Technology” – encourages young people from different schools in the country to develop tech-driven solutions that protect natural resources, promote renewable energy and support sustainable living. Beyond the competition, these themes are intended to build skills essential for the country’s 4IR agenda – including critical thinking, design thinking and collaborative problem-solving.

This exciting 2026 STEM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) competition was opened to all public schools, including quintile 5 – and seeks to foster innovation among high school learners from underprivileged backgrounds throughout South Africa. For Samsung, this 2026 iteration demonstrates a major shift – ensuring that the competition is more inclusive and nationally representative and that there’s broader participation from public schools across South Africa.

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung South Africa said: “As a company, we are very happy with how this year’s Design Thinking Workshops have run and it was pleasing to see the impact that our Samsung mentors in collaboration with the school educators had on the lives of learners.

“These Design Thinking Workshops are a critical stage of this STEM-based competition. And importantly, these workshops have now managed to move the school learners’ minds beyond theoretical knowledge – giving them the hands-on experience they need for the next, prototype-building stage of the competition. The learners who participated in these workshops will now be able to use STEM principles they have learnt to address real-world community challenges, such as environmental sustainability.”

The designated period of the Samsung SFT Design Thinking Workshops is used to breakdown key elements and core objectives of the competition which include:

• Human-Centred Design – that teaches teams to approach challenges from the end-user’s perspective, prioritising empathy to design functional solutions.
• The Prototype Development Element of the SFT Competition – where learners are guided through moving from a conceptual idea to creating tangible paper or digital prototypes.
• And then there is the Skills Enhancement Part of the Design Thinking Workshops – which encourages and fosters the need for learners to master the art of collaboration, creative brainstorming, critical thinking and effective communication.

Following these Design Thinking Workshops, the learners will now – under the guidance of their teachers and mentors, embark on the next phase of research and prototype development in preparation for the competition’s finale. At the final stage, scheduled for later this year, the teams will present their prototypes to a panel of esteemed judges.

For Samsung, this SFT competition has – since 2023 when it was launched in South Africa – been challenging public school learners to dream, develop and build real-world solutions to enact positive social change. And, at every level of the SFT competition, public school learners have the opportunity to gain invaluable STEM skills – allowing them to give back to their schools and communities while also creating lasting friendships along the way.

Makgato added: “As Samsung, we strongly believe that this SFT initiative and in particular – these Design Thinking Workshops which equip learners with critical STEM-based and interpersonal skills – directly support South Africa’s national educational and transformation goals, particularly in fostering 4IR skills, critical thinking and equitable access to opportunities. 

“And, we are convinced that our partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) in this SFT competition highlights and reaffirms a shared conviction that investing in youth, particularly through technology is crucial for South Africa’s sustainable future economic growth and social transformation,” concluded Makgato.

In attendance was Mr. Simon Lee, the President and CEO of Samsung Africa with his management team and some of the country’s dignitaries and strategic partners that included Ms Elspeth Khembo, Director for Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST), Curriculum Innovation and E-Learning at the National Department of Basic Education (DBE); as well as Mr. Tlali Tlali, the Director of Corporate Affairs at State Information Technology Agency (SITA).

Pictured: Samsung, Department of Basic Education and State Information Technology Agency representatives

This announcement marks the end of the initial application phase which ran until 06 March 2026 and Samsung along with its partners were recognising the outstanding contributions that these Top 20 schools have made to the programme; showcasing their achievements and potential impact. This year’s participation has reached new heights, with over 143 submissions from public schools across the country – a remarkable growth from 47 entries last year. This is testament to the unwavering dedication of the country’s educators and learners as well as Samsung’s valued partners: DBE and SITA.

The notable increase in participation can also be credited to the major shift in the application process in this year’s SFT competition, which has now been opened to all public schools, including quintile 5 – making it more inclusive and nationally representative. Now, the competition has reached a stage where it moves beyond theoretical knowledge. It is shifting from mere idea submissions going towards an active, mentored development of the solutions stage that is designed to create a positive social impact in local communities.

This year’s global themes: Social Inclusion through Sports & Technology and Environmental Sustainability via Technology, reflect our shared responsibility to build an equitable, sustainable and inclusive future. These themes which seek to foster innovation among high school learners from underprivileged backgrounds throughout South Africa – are encouraging critical thinking and problem solving for Gen Z to build sustainable solutions through STEM.

Mr. Simon Lee, the President and CEO of Samsung Africa

Speaking at the event, the President and CEO of Samsung Africa, Mr. Lee shared his sentiments on the collaborative agreement between Samsung and DBE which has in the last few years – highlighted the direct alignment of the SFT’s objectives to the country’s national education priorities. He added that the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Samsung and DBE has been instrumental in driving this success, anchoring the company’s partnership in strengthening STEM education and equipping learners with critical skills for the digital economy.

Elspeth Khembo, Director for Mathematics, Science & Technology (MST), Curriculum Innovation & E-Learning at the National Department of Basic Education.

And, according to the Director for Mathematics, Science & Technology (MST), Curriculum Innovation & E-Learningat the National Department of Basic Education, Ms. Elspeth Khembo: “By teaching learners to use digital tools, data and technology to develop innovative solutions, this Samsung SFT competition advances the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen STEM education, expand digital learning opportunities and cultivate future-ready skills among the country’s learners.

Ms. Khembo explained further and said: “All of this is in direct alignment with our national education priorities including fostering 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution) skills, critical thinking and equitable access to opportunities in an effort to build a capable, innovation-driven and inclusive economy,”

For these Grade 10 and 11 learners from selected public schools – making it to this stage of the competition is a significant milestone. Advancing to this next phase means that these Top 20 school learners will – through project-based learning – be equipped with the 4Cs which are Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Communication. These skills are essential for solving real-world challenges.

Tlali Tlali, Director at SITA – Corporate Affairs

The Director at SITA – Corporate Affairs Mr. Tlali Tlali also added: “We’re honoured to be part of this amazing initiative and even prouder of the fact that we’ve been partners with Samsung from inception. It gives us great joy to see the enthusiasm that’s evident in the significant increase in the number of schools from the country’s previously disadvantaged communities, that participate in this unique, global initiative. Our goal of aligning with Samsung’s transformation goals and building a digital South Africa by improving educational and career prospects for our youth, remains intact.”

With the support of mentors, design thinking workshops, prototype funding and tablets for research and project execution, the learners will have the resources to turn their visions into reality. This is complemented by the invaluable contributions from the judges and partners whose expertise and guidance is instrumental in nurturing this year’s young innovators.

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung South Africa

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in South Africa said: “We would like to congratulate the Top 20 schools that made it to the next stage of this competition. As Samsung, we are very happy with the quality of the entries that we received from various schools around the country and are appreciative of the interest and overwhelming participation in this year’s competition. We are also grateful to our partners: DBE and SITA, whose strategic priorities align perfectly with our mission to empower students with skills that transcend the classroom and are able to prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow.”

And when taking a closer look at the themes for this year – the social change through sports and tech theme focuses on how the power of sport as a unifying force in South Africa is recognised. And, when combined with technology – sport becomes a tool for inclusion, youth development, health and community building. This first theme encourages young innovators to use digital platforms, data and smart solutions to improve access to sports, develop talent, promote wellness and create safer, more connected communities. It’s about using technology to amplify the positive social impact of sport beyond the field.

The second theme which focuses on Environmental sustainability through technology addresses the urgent environmental challenges that the country faces, such as climate change, water scarcity, waste management and energy access. This environmentally focused theme invites young people to develop tech-driven solutions that protect natural resources, promote renewable energy and support sustainable living. It signifies a shift toward responsible innovation using technology not just for convenience, but to secure a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.

And furthermore, this year’s announcement places these Top 20 schools in the running to win substantial prizes, including up to R100,000 in STEM equipment for the winning school – with 2nd and 3rd place winning R50,000 and R30,000 respectively: plus Samsung devices for the top learners in the winning schools.

Makgato concluded: “As a pioneer in education and innovation, this SFT programme provides us with an opportunity to reinforce our dedication to nurturing the country’s future problem-solvers. Samsung is resolute in its mission when it comes to its education goals: we remain committed to continue empowering South Africa’s learners to address global challenges through technology and innovation.”

Top 20 Schools for the 2026 Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition

This is a transformative experience for learners’ personal development and career aspirations – empowering them with critical skills to innovate and solve real-world problems. Launched for the first time in 2023 in South Africa, this SFT competition encourages innovative thinking and problem solving for Gen Z to build sustainable solutions through STEM. This year marks a major shift, the programme is now open to all public schools, including quintile 5 – making it more inclusive and nationally representative.

The SFT competition aims to reduce skills gaps, encourage youth led innovation and show young South Africans that their ideas have value and real-world impact. This global initiative envisions a South Africa where young people are not just job seekers, but solution creators who contribute meaningfully to inclusive growth and sustainable development.

This year’s competition that’s themed: “Social Change through Sports and Technology” and “Environmental Sustainability via Technology” – seeks to foster innovation among high school learners from underprivileged backgrounds throughout South Africa. With the social change through sports and tech theme – here the power of sport as a unifying force in South Africa is recognised. When combined with technology – sport becomes a tool for inclusion, youth development, health and community building.

This theme encourages young innovators to use digital platforms, data and smart solutions to improve access to sports, develop talent, promote wellness and create safer, more connected communities. It’s about using technology to amplify the positive social impact of sport beyond the field.

The Environmental sustainability through technology theme on the other hand addresses the urgent environmental challenges South Africa faces, such as climate change, water scarcity, waste management and energy access. This theme invites young people to develop tech-driven solutions that protect natural resources, promote renewable energy and support sustainable living. It signifies a shift toward responsible innovation using technology not just for convenience, but to secure a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in South Africa said: “As Samsung, we are inviting more South African public schools to enter this competition so that their learners can have the exposure and networking opportunities that will help them connect with industry leaders and our Samsung mentors – aiding their transition to tertiary studies. By engaging in this year’s incredible themes; as well as fostering innovation and providing critical skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), public school learners who enter the 2026 SFT competition have an opportunity for their lives to be significantly impacted and transformed in more positive ways.”

Public schools in the country are encouraged to apply for the 2026 SFT competition and join this year’s challenge that will give them an opportunity to showcase their creativity. Schools can now be part of a movement that empowers the next generation to shape a brighter future. In addition, school learners and educators will now be empowered with technological aspects that will help them to solve their communities’ problems using STEM skills. With this SFT competition, this is an opportunity for those that are ready to turn their ideas into action.

This year’s participants can look forward to being tasked with addressing pressing community problems using STEM principles, thus improving their analytical abilities and gaining professional guidance from Samsung employees. Importantly, school teams that enter this year’s competition stand a chance to win exciting prizes and the recognition as South Africa’s next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. The 1st prize is R100K worth of STEM equipment for their school, with 2nd and 3rd prizes winning R50K and R30K respectively. And that’s not all, the prizes also include Samsung devices for the learners on the top three teams – to help them develop their STEM-based, tech-for-good projects even further.

Makgato explained further: “Even though there’s ultimately three winners of the competition; the previous participating learners have also learnt something fundamental – that this SFT competition is less about winning and more about the journey of learning and personal growth. We are happy to see that some of the former participants and winners of this SFT competition have transitioned into tertiary education, often pursuing degrees that align with the STEM skills they developed during the programme.”

According to Samsung, this SFT competition aligns very closely with the national education in particular the Department of Basic Education’s priorities and transformation goals of South Africa, especially those that focus on improving STEM learning, critical thinking and equitable access to opportunities. First, at the heart of South Africa’s education policy is the goal of strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics education because these subjects are essential for the current jobs market. The SFT competition does exactly that: it gives learners practical, hands-on STEM experience. This directly supports the national education priority of building stronger STEM capacity in schools.

Acting Director for Communications and Research at the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Terence Khala added: “The Department of Basic Education welcomes the continued expansion of the Samsung SFT programme as a strategic STEM enrichment platform that advances curriculum relevance, innovation capability and equitable access to opportunity within the public schooling system. Experiential competitions of this nature strengthen critical problem-solving, design thinking and applied learning competencies essential for participation in South Africa’s digital, green and knowledge-based economies.”

‘’The inclusion of all public schools reflects a shared commitment to broadening high-quality STEM exposure and nurturing a diverse pipeline of future innovators,” Khala concluded.

Additional Information on the Qualifying Criteria for Entering 2026 SFT Competition

In order to enter the Competition, a Team shall be required to comply with the following entry criteria:

• The Candidates of each Team must be South African citizens
• Prior written consent must be obtained by the applicable Public School from each Candidate’s parent and/or legal guardian for written permission that the Candidate may enter and participate in the competition
• The Candidate must be enrolled as a learner at the applicable Public School, as at the date of the commencement of the Competition and for its duration thereof
• Each Team may comprise of a maximum of 5 (five) learners from Grade 10 to Grade 11
• The Public School entering a Team into the Competition may only enter one Team.

How to Apply:

Application forms are accessible online. Visit our website https://www.samsung.com/za/solvefortomorrow/ to register your school and submit your team’s proposal. Do not miss out on an opportunity to empower your learners to gain critical thinking skills, collaborate and shape the future of our country. Together, we can inspire change – one idea at a time. Join and be part of the movement that seeks to empower school learners to innovate and change their communities’ problems using STEM.

For more information, visit https://www.samsung.com/za/solvefortomorrow/ or contact us at ssasft@samsung.com

In an effort to highlight how learners envision a better future through education – three learners were selected from the Top 10 schools and given an opportunity to share real and relatable stories on how they found their passion for school as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Their personal stories aim to highlight how these young people who participated in this year’s Solve For tomorrow competition viewed their experience and the power of choice as well as the impact of being part of this succesful initiative.

As one of Samsung’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives – the Solve For Tomorrow competition has a striking effect on the lives of the youth in the country. Over the years, Samsung has been using its resources in its quest to bridge the STEM education resource gap in the country and this is an illustration of Samsung’s commitment to empowering the youth from underprivileged communities.

Samsung is dedicated to fostering responsible corporate citizenship in the education sector through various global and regional initiatives that include the Solve For tomorrow competition. Over the years, this global electronics giant has demonstrated a strong commitment to education across Africa through programmes such as these, with notable results in South Africa. By leveraging its technological expertise, Samsung focuses on empowering youth, closing digital divides and promoting STEM education in underserved communities.

One of the learners from Masibambane Secondary School said his community has had a serious water scarcity and power cut crisis for some time and, while he cared about this situation – he felt powerless to do anything.

The Masibambane learner explained further: “I knew a bit about STEM and was excited to learn how I can apply it to find solutions to solve real world problems. This competition seemed like a huge mountain to climb and honestly, I wasn’t sure if I had what it takes to reach the top 10. My team and I decided to tackle water scarcity and the effect of power-cuts in our student community by designing a “smart” system titled: HYDRO GUARD.

“This Hydro Guard system is able to use the water that is normally wasted by residents in our community and stores this unclean water in an effort to create power (Hydroelectricity) for the school. It’s now able to recycle this unclean water through water treatment before it is served to the school so that it can be used again.”

This learner and his team mates spent weeks in the Solve For Tomorrow 2025 design thinking workshops, where they learnt how to brainstorm ideas, collaborate with others and even fail forward when their initial designs didn’t work. Participating in this competition, he said: “The skills I’ve learnt from problem solving, scientific research and critical thinking to public speaking aren’t just for a school project; they are tools I can use in my life. I’ve realised that I don’t have to wait for someone else to solve the problems I see – I now have the power to be a part of the solution.”

Because of this impactful experience, this learner from Masibambane Secondary is now considering a career in architecture, specifically in the theme of designing sustainable and eco-friendly buildings that are powered by renewable energy. He said that he’s now more confident about his future than ever before. “The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition didn’t just help me build a smart bin; it also helped me build a smarter, more confident me,” he added.

A second learner from Umlazi Comprehensive Technical School said: “Through this journey, I’ve learnt that teamwork is very important. What you do together as a team has a better chance of turning out well than when it is done by an individual. I’ve also learnt that communicating well with your team, makes the process of working together much easier. And through this Solve For Tomorrow competition, I also discovered some of the skills that I didn’t know I had, like creativity as well as being able to speak in front of many people.”

This Umlazi Comprehensive Technical School learner went on to say: “The Solve For Tomorrow experience also helped me realise that people are affected by the same problem in different ways. This therefore taught me to not only look at things in my own perspective, looking for information from other people also helps an individual to see things in a different light. It also helped me realise that when faced with challenges such as load shedding or floods – I can come up with innovative ideas to help solve these pressing problems in my community.”

Another team member from Phomolong Secondary School explained: “When we began our journey in this competition, I didn’t know how it would work out. It seemed like a big challenge, but as we worked together – I realised the power of teamwork. Each of us had different ideas and when we combined them, we were able to achieve something meaningful.

“This journey has taught me that teamwork is not always easy – there were moments of confusion and even disagreements. But those moments helped us learn how to listen and respect one another. I am grateful to my teammates, our teachers and the Samsung mentors for their support. This journey has helped me to grow, not only as an individual but also as a team player and a leader.”

Samsung is dedicated to fostering responsible corporate citizenship within the education sector through initiatives such as the Solve For tomorrow competition.

After months of dedication, creativity and innovation, Gauteng-based Tembisa West Secondary School was named the overall winner. Their ground-breaking energy efficiency AI system earned them first place for its potential to drive meaningful change in their school. The achievement earned the learners R100,000 prize money which will go towards purchasing STEM equipment for their school.

Umlazi Comprehensive Technical High School (KwaZulu-Natal) and Koffiefontein Combined School (Free State) took second and third place respectively for their forward-thinking ideas and practical applications of STEM to their community’s challenges. The second and third runners-up received R50,000 and R30,000 respectively to go towards purchasing STEM equipment for their schools. Each of the learners in the top three teams also received a Samsung Galaxy smartphone as part of the prizes.

The announcement followed an intense final round on 7 October 2025, where the top ten finalist schools showcased their prototypes before a panel of expert judges. Each team presented innovative solutions designed to address pressing issues in their communities. Under any of these three themes; Energy Efficient Schools, Innovative Transport Solutions or Affordable Safety Devices, the learners had to demonstrate sustainability and the transformative power of STEM when fuelled by purpose and collaboration.

The winning school chose the Energy Efficient Schools theme and came up with a smart energy solution AI system dubbed Green Jarvis. Their solution produces energy by using electromagnetic harvesting), and also monitors and reduce its usage. Green Jarvis has sensors which monitor energy usage at their school, adjusting where necessary to optimise efficiency. Housed in a dedicated server, Green Jarvis can monitor any system or tool that uses electricity, from lights to air-cons and heaters. For instance, when a room is being heated, as soon as it reaches the required temperature, the system will kick in and switch the heater off. The smart system, that has an interactive application as well as real-time metrics tracker for reporting, can also reduce the brightness of lights when needed.

“In doing our research and trying to find what we can do, we realised that a lot of energy was being used in our school and that there was room for us to be more efficient. That’s when we came up with the idea to build this system, that could be a game-changer even for other schools, especially those in underdeveloped areas where financial resources are in short supply. I’m so happy to be part of the team and very proud of our achievement,” said Ntumiseng Mafemo, team member and Grade 11 learner from Tembisa West Secondary.

“We are delighted to announce the winner of Solve for Tomorrow in South Africa, a remarkable example of how young innovators can drive meaningful change. This initiative aligns perfectly with our goals of enhancing STEM education in underserved public schools, fostering a culture of innovation, and equipping learners with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. By empowering these bright minds, we are not only addressing immediate challenges but also investing in a sustainable future for all. We are proud to support these inspiring individuals as they transform their innovative ideas into impactful solutions.”,” said Lefa Makgato, CSR Manager at Samsung South Africa.

Echoing this statement, Dr. Neo Mothobi, Chief Education Specialist in the Ministry at the Department of Basic Education, said the competition is a reminder of the potential that the youth of South Africa has in the fields of STEM. “The competition inspires young people to drive innovation through creativity and collaboration. It is remarkable that it inspires the youth to find solutions to real challenges in their communities. This initiative reflects what’s possible when industry and education work hand in hand and together, it shows that we can build the South Africa we all want. These learners have not only embraced STEM, they’ve shown that with the right guidance, South Africa’s youth can lead the way toward a smarter, more inclusive future.”

“Public-private partnerships, such as the one we have with Samsung, remain a major catalyst for development. They are particularly key to unlocking uniquely South African solutions to local challenges, and this competition helps push that very notion of localisation as it gives our youth an opportunity to find solutions for our issues. Information and communication technology is one of the sectors that we can use to ensure that young people are not left behind. We really need to focus our attention on investing in young people, who can be at the forefront of helping our country to grow and move forward,” said Tlali Tlali, Head of Corporate Affairs at SITA.

Now in its third year in South Africa, Solve for Tomorrow is part of Samsung’s global education initiative designed to equip young people with critical STEM skills and a mind-set for innovation. The competition has given learners the tools, mentorship and confidence to tackle local issues with global potential. SFT is a reflection of Samsung’s continued commitment to investing in youth empowerment and community-driven innovation.

As the winners celebrate their success, their journeys mark just the beginning of what promises to be a legacy of ideas that inspire progress, ignite change and shape a better tomorrow for all.

Given the scope and impact of the competition, it is essential that the judging process be both fair and effective, ensuring that all participants are evaluated equitably and that the most innovative, impactful solutions rise to the top. Samsung employees who have volunteered their time to judge the competition are passionate and generous individuals who are there to ensure that a fair process is followed.

Themed: “Infrastructure and Safety”, the 2025 Solve for Tomorrow competition is brought to life by a group of dedicated Samsung volunteers and carefully curated to show how technology can help tackle some of society’s biggest issues. Two Samsung employees: Craig King, an experienced Supply Chain and Logistics Professional and Astrud Meintjes, a head of e-commerce – are part of a group of judges that are evaluating and selecting the three finalist schools that are contending for the highest and ultimate prizes: R100,000 (first place winner); R50,000 (second place) and R30,000 (third place winner), respectively.

The judging process involves multi-stage phases and criteria that culminates in a final evaluation of prototypes. Initially, schools submit their entries and this dedicated panel of judges take the time to evaluate them based on innovation, feasibility and completeness. It is then followed by a paper prototype submission and then final prototype evaluation by judges that include Craig and Astrud, who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure the success and credibility of this competition.

Craig has extensive history of working in the information technology and services industry. He believes that he is also a student that’s learning daily, but also an aspiring leader who is a strong advocate of continuous improvement, development and progression. Craig has, over the last few years been part of the judging team that has ensured that the entire process is transparent, ethical and focused on evaluating every school’s submissions against established standards.

This year, Craig has been working in tandem with Astrud – an experienced Samsung E-Commerce and Business Development Professional whose experience is underpinned by a mindset that is both result and growth-oriented. With a career spanning over 25 years, Astrud has extensive breadth and depth of knowledge in financial management. She comes with a winning attitude that never forgets to have fun and, she has taken these traits with her to the judging process in the Solve for Tomorrow competition.

The competition has now progressed through several rounds, with the Top 20 finalists presenting their paper prototypes, which will then be judged to select the Top 10 schools. From here on, the Top 10 schools will develop physical prototypes and present them to this unique and dedicated panel of judges, who will then determine the ultimate winners. And, in the final phase – the selected top 10 schools will receive resources and support that will assist them to develop physical prototypes of their solutions.

These prototypes will then be presented to this panel of judges. After this entire process is finalised and the top three winners are determined – the winning teams will then receive outstanding prizes that will also be accompanied by STEM equipment and funding for their schools.

Ultimately, the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition aims to use a fair and transparent judging process to identify and reward young innovators that are able to use STEM to solve real-world problems. And furthermore, this competition seeks to honour and recognise the innovative spirit of learners from underprivileged communities in South Africa.

These Design Thinking Workshops were part of Phase 2 of the competition – where the top 20 schools were invited to collaborate and develop paper prototypes of their solutions. This phase has offered learners from various schools in the country, an opportunity to experience hands-on collaborative guidance from Samsung’s mentors who helped them to tackle the next phase of their prototype developments.

Themed: “Infrastructure and Safety” – the Design Thinking workshops in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest are designed to equip learners with the skills to transform their ideas into workable solutions, particularly those addressing community challenges. The recent workshops focused on critical thinking, human-centred problem-solving and collaborative design.

According to Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in Southern Africa: “It was amazing to see how well the school learners and their educators that participated in this year’s Design Thinking Workshops responded to their assigned mentors and the experience as a whole. Both the learners and their educators found this experience engaging and beneficial for their learning and design processes.”

“As Samsung, we believe that the activities that these learners engaged in during the workshops are meeting the overall objectives of the Solve for Tomorrow competition. This contest has, from the onset, been seeking to foster collaboration among the learners, educators and their mentors as well as to develop their skills and promote a growth mindset. Importantly, this experience has now encouraged independent learning, challenged the learners’ perspectives and allowed their mentors the opportunity to provide them with valuable feedback.”

Some of the aspects of the Design Thinking workshops included the following:

• Skills Development: Learners have gained valuable skills in translating their ideas into practical solutions that can solve their respective communities’ problems.
• Human-Centred Design: The workshops emphasised understanding user needs and created solutions that can address real-world challenges.
• Cognitive & Structured Processes: Participants have now learnt structured processes for creative problem-solving.
• Collaboration & Communication: The workshops have fostered teamwork and improved the learner’s communication skills, which are essential for successful project development.
• Prototype Development: These workshops have now successfully prepared learners for the next phase of the competition, where they will develop and present their prototypes.
• Inspiration & Motivation: The workshops are designed to foster a mindset of innovation and problem-solving, encouraging learners to “think, speak and act like designers.
• Support for Teachers: The workshops have also gone an extra mile as they have benefitted the teachers as well. This platform and the mentors have provided the tools and guidance for the educators to support their learners in the next, prototype development phase.

And furthermore, with the help of Samsung mentors – the workshops have cultivated a mindset of innovation and great problem-solving skills.The Samsung team is convinced that the solutions developed by the brilliant learners in conjunction with their educators during this year’s workshops – have the potential to make a real difference in their respective communities.

Makgato added: “We are pleased with the impact and outcomes of this year’s Design Thinking Workshops. And, we are certain that these workshops have achieved the objective of enhancing the learners’ ability to identify, analyse and solve problems creatively and effectively.

“As Samsung, we remain committed to using programmes such as the Solve for Tomorrow to bridge the country’s resource gap in STEM education. We believe that by fostering innovation and social impact through technology, we also inspire learners to use their skills to improve their respective communities,” she concluded.

The Top 20 schools that were selected to attend this year’s Samsung Solve for Tomorrow – Design Thinking workshops were paired with a group of mentors who were more than ready to turn and empower participating school learners into the next generation of problem-solvers. During these workshops which took place between April 10 and May 30, the 2025 mentors were able to assist both the participating learners and their educators by ensuring that they were equipped with essential skills and tools to approach problem-solving creatively and systematically.

These advisors also played a crucial role in ensuring that the workshops fostered critical thinking, design thinking practices, teamwork and the ability for the learners to develop human-centred solutions. During these workshops, the mentors were able to offer support through Question & Answer (Q&A) sessions, video calls and other forms of communication. And when the work of these mentors was analysed – looking at how they contributed in empowering learners from different schools to transform ideas into tangible solutions that address real-world challenges – ultimately leading to positive change in their communities – this is how the whole process penned out:

Zanele Sobuswa who was assigned to mentor learners form Mthiyaqhwa High School, in Kwa-Zulu Natal expressed just how  excited she was to be part of the group of mentors this year as well. Last year, Zanele mentored Mbilwi Secondary School learners that hailed from Limpopo into a second place win. She is convinced that she can also help this year’s KZN-based school to not only move into the Top 10, but also to be part of the Top 3 winners for 2025.

This year, Zanele acted as a support structure – guiding learners of Mthiyaqhwa High School through the competition process and provided them with guidance in areas of problem-solving, research and prototyping. As a committed advisor who contributed to the development of learners last year as well – Zanele has once again helped to develop these incredible learner’s skills in STEM and encouraged their creative thinking capacity.

Another dynamic Samsung employee who returned as a volunteer this year is Rose Legodi. Rose is a very passionate marketing professional at Samsung – she possesses a curious nature, which allows her to approach life with imagination, creativity and an open mind. She was yet again more than willing to share her expertise, experience and guidance with the learners from two Bloemfontein-based schools: Lenakeng Technical and Lereng Secondary Schools.

In addition, Rose played a critical role in guiding learners from the two schools through the competition process and this included brainstorming and research – in preparation for the prototype development stage. She was also able to assist this year’s learners and their educators to not only identify a challenge, but to also come up with a solution that will help address a genuine and pressing issue within their community related to infrastructure and safety, using technology. Like all the other advisors, she also ensured that the ideas for their solutions were based on the 2025 theme: “Infrastructure and Safety”.

Sizwe Mahlobo, another dedicated volunteer was assigned to a Limpopo based school – Thengwe Secondary. Sizwe has played a pivotal role in keeping his students focused and on track throughout the competition. He has successfully provided guidance and support to the learners, helping them to understand the competition’s requirements and develop their solutions. Importantly, during the workshops – Sizwe was able to help both the learners and teachers of Thengwe Secondary School with planning, learning and developing their solution – using the design thinking process.

As a mentor and advisor, he has also managed to offer STEM expertise and experience, checking the learners’ ideas and helping them refine their solutions. Sizwe has successfully provided guidance and support to the learners as they are in the process of developing their projects and prototypes – helping them to refine their ideas even further, while improving their problem-solving skills.

With the help of the Samsung mentors – one of the most significant and consistent takeaways from this year’s workshops is how the learners were able to effortlessly exercise their critical thinking skills. They have now been able to add to their STEM proficiency and are prepared for the rigors of higher education. Another critical observation is the growth in the learners confidence – allowing them to take on leadership roles, collaborate with their peers and successfully prepare to build their fully realised projects from idea to execution.