Prince Harry inspires Jozi’s young entrepreneurs

04 December 2015

 

England’s Prince Harry and Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau bore testimony to the entrepreneurial spirit reigning among the city’s youth at the Jozi Youth Entrepreneurs’ exhibition at the Bus Factory in Newtown on Thursday December 3.

 

The event showcased youth development programmes and featured initiatives spearheaded by the City, Branson Centre for Entrepreneurs and the British Council. The City showcased its Jozi@Work, Vulindlel ‘eJozi and JoziDigital programmes, while the British Council showed off its Maker Library Network and Digify Bytes initiatives.

Mayor Tau said talking to young entrepreneurs and discussing their ideas had been “extremely exciting” engagements for Prince Harry and spoke to his interest in youth enterprises and youth development.

“Initiatives that foster youth development and entrepreneurial spirit not only grow enterprises, [they also] help to create jobs and positively contribute to our economy.

“His Royal Highness has brought to the fore the importance of youth development and employment creation as critical to people of this country and to people of this city. This showcasing enables us to demonstrate our determination to develop appropriate partnerships to address such issues,” said Mayor Tau.

He said the Jozi Youth Entrepreneurs event also positively raised the profile of all the featured programmes, featured entrepreneurs and their achievements.

Mayor Tau had taken time off from his busy schedule –the he was hosting the Africities Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre and was due fly out to Paris to participate in the climate conference – to accompany Prince Harry to the exhibition.Prince Harry visited Bus Factory as part of his tour of South Africa.