Top 10 finalists for the Youth Innovation Prize 2023, South Africa

Caitlin Courtney (1st place)

Age 30, Western Cape

Caitlin graduated with a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in 2023, and is now a lecturer in chemical engineering at UCT. She has a passion for nurturing the next wave of engineers and prioritizes instilling an understanding of sustainability and circularity in her students. Driven by her commitment to a greener future, her research specializes in pioneering non-sewered sanitation systems that harness value from waste streams.

Pee-cycling: The future of equitable sanitation and sustainable fertiliser production

Pee-cycling is an innovative business approach to provide sustainable sanitation by collecting and treating human urine to produce liquid fertiliser. By making our pee valuable we are able to reduce pollution of our waterbodies and incentivise the provision of equitable sanitation
to all.

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Victor Xaba (2nd place)

Age 27, Gauteng

Victor is a passionate advocate for planetary health and menstrual equity. After graduating with a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Cape Town, he enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship to gain business skills. He leads HemPad South Africa with a vision for "sustainable hemp pads everywhere."

Empowering planetary health: Innovating menstrual solutions for a sustainable future

My essay explores the innovative potential of HemPads, sustainable menstrual products made from industrial hemp, in tackling period poverty and reducing the environmental impact of disposable sanitary products. It highlights how HemPad South Africa's journey aligns with the broader goals of planetary health and gender equity.

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Ryan Hendricks (3rd place)

Age 19, Western Cape

Ryan is an active member in community volunteering projects at the First Westridge Scout Group in Mitchells Plain. His future ambition is to be a pilot and to travel the world. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, cycling, and playing sports.

The art of gardening: Helping solve South Africa's food insecurity crisis

My essay is about addressing food insecurity through skills development programmes in gardening. This involves partnering with schools and community-based organizations to equip the youth with skills.

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Jordan Langenhoven (Honourable mention)

Age 19, Western Cape

Jordan Sarah is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Environment and Development at Stellenbosch University. Her passion for sustainability has grown through student involvement in gardening, leadership and entrepreneurship. As an aspiring urban planner and environmental consultant, Jordan Sarah enjoys design and spatial thinking. In her free time, she enjoys reading Kaapse Afrikaans poetry and listening to contemporary jazz.

Healing Cape Town’s waste wound

Residents of the Cape Flats suffer disproportionately from pollution, illegal dumping and waste inequality. My essay explores the origin of this issue and evaluates the physical, psychological, and environmental impacts on people and the planet. The core of my essay is about providing local waste innovations - namely Spaza Skips and Greenvendors - to heal Cape Town’s waste wound, and bring about spatial justice.

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Michael Burke (Honourable Mention)

Age 25, Western Cape

Michael studied Industrial Engineering at Stellenbosch University and Business Analytics at the University of Edinburgh. During his MSc, he explored earthquake prediction using deep learning and spatiotemporal satellite data. He is eager to transition into a climate-focused sector, where he can use his analytical skills to contribute to initiatives addressing environmental challenges.

Spectral fingerprints from space: How AI and satellite data can save South Africa's biodiversity

My essay presents a technological solution, termed as GreenSight, which aims to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) and satellite data for monitoring and managing biodiversity in South Africa. Through deep learning and remote sensing data, GreenSight could provide granular information on plant species and environmental conditions, aiding in urban planning, conservation efforts, and combating the threats posed by invasive species and climate change.

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Anuoluwa Makinde

Age 21, Western Cape

Anuoluwa is a final year Mechatronic Engineering student at Stellenbosch University. She was born in Polokwane and completed her primary and secondary school education in Cape Town. She enjoys reading and writing, being in nature, participating in and watching sports and doing creative arts.

Sustainable food security: A key to South African social and technological development

My essay emphasised the importance of food security and non-destructive agriculture in promoting technological advancement and innovation in South Africa. The aim of the essay is to bring awareness to the fact that the youth (i.e., learners) are capable of being agents of positive change with respect to food security.

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Benjamin Astfalck

Age 19, Western Cape

Benjamin is an Electrical Engineering student at Stellenbosch University. He grew up in the beautiful village of Franschhoek. He is a problem solver and loves a challenge - his personal motto is, "Impossible is for the unwilling." He has a passion for technology, computers and programming in particular. He strives for excellence and to give back to the communities he is a part of.

An at-scale solution to South Africa’s sanitization problem

During the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, I pioneered a sanitization station along with my father to enable people without access to basic sanitation to protect themselves from the pandemic. My essay explores this solution in relation to the sanitation problem South Africa faces, and how it could be implemented to protect local communities from another large scale pandemic.

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Patricia Pieterson

Age 27, Mpumalanga

Patricia is a fourth-year student studying a Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching at the University of Mpumalanga. She runs a business called Amari designs, which specialises in making digital invitations. She recently registered an NPO called Omari Women of Change, which focuses on bringing about change in South African primary schools through creating conducive learning environment.

Innovations for planetary health

My essay focuses on land pollution, including the destructive impacts of human actions, and how we can work towards healing our earth by establishing clean-up campaigns in our communities.

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Selisha Haripersad

Age 28, Gauteng

Selisha is studying towards a BSc at Unisa, with majors in computer science and information systems. When she's not working or studying, she enjoys spending time with family and being in the garden. She loves the outdoors and considers herself to be a tree-hugger when it comes to conservation and being environmentally friendly.

Innovations for planetary health

My essay tackles the topic of period poverty and the ways in which it affects society. My proposed solution aims to improve the standard of living of those experiencing period poverty as well as provide sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives for all.

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Slindile Ngcobo

Age 30, Gauteng

Slindile is a global health and sustainability enthusiast. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Johannesburg Department of Complementary Medicine. Slindile is a multi-category winner for the United Nations SDG design competition for 2023.

Protecting nature to protect ourselves

Transforming food systems by establishing innovative sustainable hubs is the solution for achieving planetary health.

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Michael Burke

Michael studied Industrial Engineering at Stellenbosch University and Business Analytics at the University of Edinburgh. During his MSc, he explored earthquake prediction using deep learning and spatiotemporal satellite data. He is eager to transition into a climate-focused sector, where he can use his analytical skills to contribute to initiatives addressing environmental challenges.

Spectral fingerprints from space: How AI and satellite data can save South Africa's biodiversity

My essay presents a technological solution, termed as GreenSight, which aims to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) and satellite data for monitoring and managing biodiversity in South Africa. Through deep learning and remote sensing data, GreenSight could provide granular information on plant species and environmental conditions, aiding in urban planning, conservation efforts, and combating the threats posed by invasive species and climate change.

Patricia Pieterson

Patricia is a fourth year student studying Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching at the University of Mpumalanga. She runs a business called Amari designs, which specializes in making digital invitations. She recently registered an NPO called Omari Women of Change, which focuses on bringing about change in South African primary schools, through creating conducive learning environment.

Innovations for planetary health

My essay focuses on land pollution, including the destructive impacts of human actions, and how we can work towards healing our earth by establishing clean-up campaigns in our communities.

Ryan Hendricks

Ryan is an active member in community volunteering projects at the First Westridge Scout Group in Mitchells Plein. His future ambition is to be a pilot and to travel the world. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, cycling, and playing sport.

The art of gardening: Helping solve South Africa's food insecurity crisis

My essay is about addressing food insecurity through skills development programmes in gardening. This involves partnering with schools and community based organizations to equip the youth with skills.

Selisha Haripersad

Selisha is studying towards a BSc at Unisa, with majors in computer science and information systems. When she's not working or studying, she enjoys spending time with family and being in the garden. She love the outdoors and considers herself to be a tree-hugger when it comes to conservation and being environmentally friendly.

Innovations for planetary health

My essay tackles the topic of period poverty and the ways in which it affects society. My proposed solution aims to improve the standard of living of those experiencing period poverty as well as provide sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives for all.

Victor Xaba

Victor is a passionate advocate for planetary health and menstrual equity. After graduating in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, he enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship to gain business skills. He leads HemPad South Africa with a vision for "sustainable hemp pads everywhere."

Empowering planetary health: Innovating menstrual solutions for a sustainable future

My essay explores the innovative potential of HemPads, sustainable menstrual products made from industrial hemp, in tackling period poverty and reducing the environmental impact of disposable sanitary products. It highlights how HemPad South Africa's journey aligns with the broader goals of planetary health and gender equity.

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