IN a bid to teach South Africa’s children to save money, Nelson Mandela Bay businesses have teamed up to launch a unique piggy bank competition.
The Coink 2018 PiggyBank Design Challenge, to be launched on Saturday, October 6, at the PE Express First Choice Kids and Baby Expo, calls for youngsters aged seven to 13 to design and make their own weird and wacky piggy banks, using only recycled materials.
According to South African Reserve Bank figures, the average South African saves just 0,2% of their income.
“We don’t have a culture of saving in this country. This is a creative way for kids to get into the habit of saving money from a young age and watch their money grow,” said Young Entrepreneurs’ Ansulene Prinsloo, who is spearheading the competition with partners Old Mutual and Walmer Park.
“The kids can be as creative and innovative as they want, as long as their piggy bank is within the size parameters (30cm x 30cm x 30cm) and allows for the insertion and removal of money without having to destroy the piggy bank. It also does not have to conform to the shape of a pig.”
The top-placed learners in two age categories – seven to nine years and 10 to 13 – will receive Young Entrepreneurs’ programmes to the value of R10 000.
They will also receive Old Mutual money accounts to the value of R3 500, along with 10 hampers provided by Walmer Park and Old Mutual.
“We don’t mind if the entrants turn to Google for inspiration, but we want it to be their work, with very little or no assistance from their parents. We don’t want them to buy materials, but to create their piggy bank from whatever they have lying around at home or in their neighbourhood, such as wood, cardboard or plastic bottles, but no glass.”
Entrants have a month to come up with their creations, which must be handed in at Young Entrepreneurs at 87 Main Road in Walmer, any day from October 31 (which is also World Savings Day) to November 7.
All the entries will be on display at Walmer Park Shopping Centre on November 10 and 11, with the winners announced at 11:00 on November 11.
“There will also be a ‘people’s choice’ winner, which the general public will vote for.”
While most entrants will be able to take their piggy banks home and start saving, the winning designs will be auctioned off at a separate function, to raise funds to enable 40 underprivileged children to attend the Young Entrepreneurs’ programme.
“As part of our community outreach initiative, we are already offering the YE programmes at Charles Duna and Uitenhage primary schools, but we would love to add more schools,” said Prinsloo.
Entry forms for the Coink 2018 PiggyBank Design Challenge are available at the PE Express First Choice Kids & Baby Expo (October 5-7), at the Young Entrepreneurs’ offices and Walmer Park Shopping Centre at the info desk.
The forms are also available online at www.younge.co.za. For more information, contact piggybanknmb@younge.co.za or 076 456 9396. Entrance is free and one submission is permitted per child.
