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-Learning at 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.

In an effort to recognise and celebrate the work done by the participating schools, Samsung took the time to speak to both learners and teachers from four finalist schools that entered the competition this year. The aim of the conversation was to ascertain how these participants felt about being part of the contest, how their experience has been and how their preparations were going before the prototype presentation in October. A crucial stage that would determine which school would end up walking away with the ultimate prize; and this is what they had to say:

Nomfundo Manqele, a learner from Adams College in KwaZulu-Natal expressed how thrilled she was to be part of the finalist schools. However, from time to time she did experience a bit of anxiety and a roller coaster of emotions when she was reminded just how big the competition was. Nomfundo mentioned that it was both an incredible and hectic experience for both the teachers and learners as they all learnt new things, every day.

She also admitted to the fact that they also faced many challenges along the way, but overall, it was an affirming experience. Nomfundo added by saying: “Preparations for our final prototype are currently underway and coming along quite nicely. Although, we have encountered many challenges in this journey, we somehow found a way to persevere. In spite of the challenges, I am certain that the win is coming to KZN considering the effort we put into crafting our masterpiece.”

To date, we’ve learnt quite a lot in this competition and one of the lessons that stands out for us and one that we will forever hold onto is that: “In life, if you want to go far, go together. Nothing beats working well as a team and having a great leader that will lead you to victory through healthy competition and teamwork.”

Nomfundo’s words of encouragement to schools that haven’t yet entered the contest are: “This is a really challenging contest that requires hard work and dedication, so always bear that in mind. However, in a competition arena, resilience separates winners from the rest. There are no winners or losers, only learners – nothing more, nothing less.”

Amyoli Resha, a grade 11 learner from Khwezi Lomso Comprehensive School at Zwide township in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape said: “Entering the Samsung SFT competition and even becoming a finalist makes me feel very ecstatic.

“This competition and this milestone has brought a sense of pride, considering the fact that we are the only school in the Eastern Cape to make it to the Top 20 & Top 10, we definitely embody the spirit of the Home of Legends.”

He added that it has been quite a wonderful, yet very challenging experience. From the start of the programme, their team has enjoyed a great deal of support from the entire school and its faculty. And this unwavering support is what got the team through all the challenges they faced during the process leading up to where it is today.

Amyoli confidently said that the preparations for the prototype were going quite smoothly. “The team is not in panic mode because we were told that the final product may take some time to materialise into perfection. However, by the look of things and the confidence we possess – the team is more than convinced that we WILL definitely Bring the Win Home,” he added.

Above all, the competition has taught the whole team from Khwezi Lomso – the importance of teamwork and believing that their combined proposals and ideas can actually make a large impact. Amyoli then called upon all schools to enter this competition so that they can unleash their learners’ potential because this contest will give them the opportunity to advance and explore their imaginations.

Zandile Sonandze, a teacher also from Khwezi Lomso Comprehensive School in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape said that she’s very excited because they didn’t think that they could get this far in the competition, especially as a new entry. She said that, as an educator, the entire team’s confidence has been boosted enough to enter other competitions. “When we first entered the SFT competition, we didn’t even think that we would be selected for the first round, but look at us now,” Zandile exclaimed.

According to this enthusiastic teacher: “This experience has been exciting and overwhelming at the same time, because everything had to go as planned. Our learners are also excited to be in the Finals and for the opportunity to fly to Johannesburg. Our educators and the entire school are also cheering for us – they are all very proud of how far we’ve come.”

Zandile also explained that the preparations are not yet 100%, and that there are still some finer details they are trying to wrap-up in an effort to help the team to win the competition. However, she said that they are trying their best to be as creative as possible – the team is now just hoping for the best. She has also taken the time to encourage other schools to enter the competition as this has been an eye opening experience for their entire school.

Phume Unarine, a learner and group leader from Thengwe High school located in the Limpopo Province said that she’s very happy and looking forward to what the finals have in store for them. For Phume and her team, this has been one of the most interesting and exciting experiences that the learners, teachers and their whole school has participated in.

“The preparations for our prototype went according to our plans,” Phume added confidently. “We’ve faced every obstacle that came our way with the full support of our mentor whose support has been crucial to us reaching this stage of the competition. I have confidence in my team and I’m convinced that we’re going to come out victorious.”

During this competition, we learnt that people aren’t the same and their differences are what makes them unique. She added that she learnt that teamwork is not only about being part of a group and that a great leader is made by the motivated people around him or her. I’d like to advise other schools that have not yet participated in this contest to take a leap of faith and enter because this will help them discover more knowledge and open them up to new experiences that they wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else.

Makhosazana Mazibuko, a learner and team leader from Mandisa Shiceka School of Specialisation in Gauteng appreciated being part of the SFT competition and found the contest to be a very exciting experience that she thoroughly enjoyed. She also saw this as an opportunity to improve her community. For Makhosazana, the competition was full of research and helped their team members to create lasting bonds. As far as preparation for the prototype presentation is concerned, she said: “It’s going very well, we are productive and are dealing with our trial and errors very well. Our idea involves one of the basic necessities in our community and is unique, so I’m very confident that we will win.”

During this competition, Makhosazana believes that she learnt how to be patient, how to “turn down” ideas and how to be a better leader. Overall, she’s learnt to be kinder and more understanding with circumstances, peers, adults and above all herself. She also feels that her presentation skills have improved and that she’s gained more confidence, in herself and her intellect.

And lastly, Nonki Bridgette Motlogelwa, an educator from Mandisa Shiceka – a Gauteng-based Maths, Science & ICT School of Specialisation, with a focus in mining and manufacturing said: “As a new entry, I feel so honoured and grateful to be part of the competition. Over the last few months, we put in so much effort into our idea and to know that it is being appreciated – has truly made us feel on top of the world. Now, we feel like we can do anything as long as we put our minds to it.” 

Nonki expressed how proud and blown away she was by the learners from her school. She explained how they have shown so much courage, creativity and teamwork, a clear indication that they are heading in the right direction. During the competition process, the learners started feeling the pressure but fortunately they pulled through and decided to do hydroponics. This technique involves growing plants using water-based nutrient solution rather than soil.

When it was announced that the school is in the top 10, the entire school was so happy, this has motivated other school learners to want to enter next year. Having a Samsung mentor as well, she believes, made this challenging experience much easier, because she was able to guide the team through.

For Nonki, the overall experience was amazing and thought-provoking. She also confirmed that their preparations for the prototype presentation are going well, the learners are putting their all and their teamwork is superb. The learners were also able to alternate themselves in terms of building the prototype and preparations for the final presentation. 

Nonki is encouraging learners from other schools who have not yet participated in this SFT competition to always take chances and believe in themselves, because the future is in their hands. “Because all the learners have the brains and creativity, its important to let them shine and show the world that every individual deserves an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances,” concluded Nonki.

Samsung has announced the Top 10 Finalist Schools selected from the Top 20 Finalist Schools that attended an extensive six weeks of the most crucial part in the second phase of the Solve for Tomorrow 2024 Competition – the Design Thinking Workshops.

The theme for this year’s competition – ‘Our Environment’, speaks to Samsung’s overall approach to business and commitment to prioritising environmental sustainability as a business imperative. This also aligns perfectly with most of the projects that the learners are undertaking in the competition, which vary from recycling and water purification, to devising ways to conserve limited resources such as electricity and water.

The Design Thinking Workshop stage specifically designed to help both learners and their educators from the 2024 Top 20 Finalist Schools to prepare for the crucial, next prototype development phase enabled some of the country’s most brilliant young minds to refine their ideas and create their paper prototypes. From 08 April-to-14 May 2024, the Top 20 Finalists participated in workshops conducted in conjunction with Samsung mentors at central venues in their provinces. Samsung also sponsored each team with a tablet and data to help them do research and communicate effectively with their mentors.

The provinces that participated included Gauteng with (8 semi-finalists), Limpopo (3), Free State (4), KwaZulu-Natal (3), Eastern Cape (1) and Mpumalanga (1). The second stage, which included intensive mentorship sessions and engagement with the teams from the participating schools, has allowed the judges to determine which schools had the best paper prototypes – good enough to make it to the Top 10 Finalist Schools that can now compete for the ultimate prize.

The Top 10 Finalist Schools in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition are now in a race against time to complete their solutions in a critical, next prototype development phase of the nationwide challenge. This involves creating physical prototypes to solve the various environmental challenges that the learners identified in their respective communities. Samsung is enabling these learners by giving them funding for their actual prototypes.

Below is a list introducing the Top 10 schools that have been selected, which include:

The final stage of the competition will be an opportunity for each school to present the physical prototype of their solution to a panel of judges with the potential to win STEM equipment for their schools worth R100 000 (1st place), R50 000 or R30 000 (2nd and 3rd places respectively). In addition to the main prizes, each of the learners in the top three teams will be rewarded with a Samsung device.

Lenhle Khoza, Manager for BBBEE and Transformation at Samsung South Africa said: “We are exceptionally proud of all the schools that participated this year as well as those that made it to the Top 20. Now, we would like to congratulate the Top 10 Finalist Schools for making it this far.

“The rigorous process that these schools went through and the amazing ideas that came out of it, is a clear indication of just how brilliant the learners for this year are. We would like to wish the schools moving to the crucial next phase, all the best and would like to re-affirm our commitment in helping them reach their ultimate goals.”

Samsung recently completed a crucial part in the second phase of the Solve For Tomorrow 2024 Competition – the Design Thinking Workshops with some of the country’s brilliant young minds who are part of this year’s Solve for tomorrow competition Top 20 Finalists.

These workshops are specifically designed to help both learners and their educators to prepare for the crucial prototype development phase. More importantly, these skills-transfer sessions are not only developed to encourage learners to think, speak and act like designers, but also to build strong teams and gain research insights that could transform their ideas from the conceptual stage to a solution that addresses concerns within their communities.

Conducted in conjunction with Samsung mentors at central venues where the finalist schools are based, the Design Thinking Workshops took place from 08 April-to-14 May 2024 and the provinces that participated included Gauteng with (8 finalists), Limpopo (3), Free State (4), KwaZulu-Natal (3), Eastern Cape (1) and Mpumalanga (1).

The theme for this year’s competition: ‘Our Environment’ speaks to Samsung’s overall approach to business and commitment to prioritising environmental sustainability as a business imperative. This also aligns perfectly with most of the projects that the learners are undertaking in the competition which vary from recycling and water purification, to devising ways to conserve limited resources such as electricity and water.

With immense pride, Lenhle Khoza, Manager for BBBEE and Transformation at Samsung South Africa said: “As Samsung, we went into the workshops to transfer skills to learners from the Top 20 Finalist schools who made it because they had the best conceptual ideas this year. However, what we didn’t anticipate after spending time with them – was finding out that some of the most brilliant minds in the country were actually from the schools that are located in some of the most impoverished areas in South Africa. For us, this was both very impressive and refreshing.”

One of the main objectives for this year’s Design Thinking workshops was to equip the learners with essential skills and insights necessary to transform their innovative ideas into tangible solutions as they use Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to address critical environmental issues within their communities. In Samsung CSR team’s interactions with the learners, they found out that some of the school learners were so passionate, self-motivated and reliant, to the extent that they proactively entered the contest without the knowledge of their teachers.

Their educators were made aware after they had submitted their entry for this contest. In addition, some of the sentiments that were shared by the beneficiaries about their experience at this year’s workshops included the following:

Both the learners and the educators expressed just how excited and honoured they felt to be part of the workshops. They expressed how grateful they were to have acquired some critical skills that included how to communicate better with their team members, how to identify and acknowledge their mistakes but most importantly, how to learn from them so that they could use this knowledge to improve their solutions. Most of the learners now know that no idea is too big or too small.

Almost all the learners and educators are confident that their schools that are part of the Top 20 Finalists will win the ultimate prize of the Solve For Tomorrow competition. The educators in particular, are convinced that their learners are very smart and creative, when given sufficient opportunities to learn. When asked what they will do with the prize money, they all indicated their plight when it comes to limited resources in their schools.

This is because most of the learners come from communities that are adversely affected by the country’s socio-economic issues. In most of these schools, there is a huge need for equipment that can be used in the schools’ science and technology labs and/or their specialisation workshops. They believe that this equipment will help their learners to enrich their knowledge and interest in technological subjects and other critical trades as well.

And furthermore, the team of facilitators which included the Samsung mentors – found the time they spent at the workshops with both the learners and their educators – very fulfilling. This was mainly because of the learner’s enthusiasm to learn and how they saw the workshops as a platform to prepare everyone for what’s coming in the next phases of the competition.

Another learner from Mbilwi Secondary, the school that won first prize in the 2023 Solve for Tomorrow contest indicated just how elated they were to be part of the Top 20 Finalist Schools for 2024. This is because the workshops presented an opportunity for their team to further develop their idea and be able to solve environmental issues within their community. The skills they felt that they learnt include co-operating with their team members, brainstorming as well as creative and critical thinking.

The Mbilwi school learner explained further: Winning last year’s competition motivated another group of learners in our school to enter the contest again this year. Last year’s win and this year’s workshops have had a very positive impact on us. We are now motivated enough to enter more competitions and to do better at school with the resources that we acquired with the prize money we won.

A learner from Kwezilomso Comprehensive school in Gqeberha – the only school from the Eastern Cape that made it to the Top 20 Finalists said: We are excited to be part of the Top 20 and we would like to win the first prize of the competition. What we’ve learnt so far are the dynamics and necessary steps that we need to implement throughout our design process as well as to consider the effects that our design could have on our community.

Khoza expressed just how impressed she and her Samsung colleagues were to see the learners’ level of confidence which grew immensely as the workshop progressed. The learners came out of their shells and showed everyone how they didn’t allow their backgrounds to hinder their progress.

“Most of these exceptional learners are actually so  oblivious of their personal surroundings and only see the world as one full of infinite possibilities – far beyond their current circumstances. As the Samsung team, we were also impressed by the educators of these learners who – against all odds and with very limited resources – are able to achieve amazing results and produce some of the country’s brightest minds,” Khoza concluded.