For a group of Grade 7 learners from rural KwaZulu-Natal, entrepreneurship is becoming more than a classroom concept – it is opening their minds to new possibilities for themselves, their families and their communities.
This vision came to life recently when academics from the School of Commerce at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) volunteered as mentors and reviewers for the KHULA Kids MBA Programme, supporting learners as they developed business ideas in preparation for the Kids MBA Shark Tank Competition in September.
The aim of the programme is to develop more than entrepreneurial knowledge. Through the programme learners gain confidence, critical-thinking, teamwork and creativity, while applying classroom concepts to real-life situations. They learn about manufacturing costs, profit margins, percentages, marketing and communicating ideas – helping them understand the practical value of subjects such as Mathematics and English.
The UKZN team of reviewers comprised Dr Andrisha Beharry-Ramraj (Management and Entrepreneurship), Dr Jayrusha Ramasamy-Gurayah and Dr Eric Dumisani Ncube (Supply Chain Management) and Mr Sinethemba Sangweni and Dr Sanele Gumede (Economics).
The learners, drawn from schools in rural communities around the historic Battlefields region of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, demonstrated remarkable creativity, enthusiasm and resilience as they presented their business concepts.
As reviewers, the academics challenged learners to think critically about their customers, value propositions, financial planning and business models while encouraging them to communicate their ideas with confidence.
Beharry-Ramraj said the experience reinforced her belief in the transformative power of exposure, mentorship and opportunity. “I was truly inspired by the determination, creativity and potential of every learner we encountered. Their enthusiasm reminded me that talent exists in every community; what is often needed is access to opportunity, guidance and encouragement,” she said.
Reflecting on the four-year relationship between KHULA and UKZN, KHULA CEO Ms Debbie Heustice said: “We hugely value this partnership and the contribution of the UKZN team, who are so generous with their time and engage with our learners with such openness, kindness and positivity.”
She added that the partnership helps bring higher education closer to rural learners. Heustice said that, as UKZN is a university of choice for many local matriculants, early exposure to the Institution and its academics helps break down barriers and makes university feel more accessible.
Heustice said one of the programme’s most significant impacts is the shift in how learners perceive their communities. “Young people begin to see where they live as a place of opportunity. Their ambitions for themselves and their future begin to take shape.”
For Beharry-Ramraj, seeing learners grow in confidence is particularly rewarding. She said: “There is something incredibly powerful about watching a young person move from uncertainty to confidence in expressing an idea. These moments can change how learners see themselves and what they believe is possible for their future.”
In communities affected by unemployment and limited economic opportunities, the programme also aims to instil hope and a sense of possibility.
The Kids MBA Shark Tank Competition will take place in September, giving the young entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their ideas and apply their newly acquired business knowledge.
Through the KHULA–UKZN partnership, academics share their expertise with learners while supporting the development of entrepreneurial knowledge and skills.
