Young Hustlers Get Ready: Nature-I-Am Youth Entrepreneurs Market & Competition
- Amanda Bekker
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
The Nature-I-Am Youth Entrepreneurs Market & Competition is back, and it’s setting the stage for a whole new generation of savvy schoolyard business brains to flex their entrepreneurial muscle. Hosted at the Lekwena Private Game Reserve just outside Potchefstroom, this event on 24 September 2025 promises more than just pocket money, it’s a full-on business bootcamp for learners, complete with real stalls, real customers, and real money.
The Basics: When, Where, and How Much?
Date: Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Time: Setup from 07:00, trading from 10:00 to 14:00
Venue: Lekwena Private Game Reserve – Plaaskombuis, 11 km outside Potchefstroom on the N12
Cost:
Stall Fee: R100
Entry for visitors: R20 per vehicle
Entries close on 31 August 2025, so learners (and their hopefully hands-off parents) better move fast.
Who Can Join?
The event is open to learners from Grade 6 to Grade 12. Whether you're in primary or high school, this market is your shot to showcase your business flair. You can enter solo or as a group (up to four members). But remember, once that stall is up and running, it’s all on the kids. No sneaky adult "project management" allowed.
What You Can Sell
Entrepreneurs must choose from the following sections:
Food
Handmade
Innovation
Entertainment
Services
Think anything from homemade fudge to backyard tech hacks, hand-drawn stickers to car washes. The only strict no-go’s are: no animal sales, no selling for your folks, no pyramid schemes, and no packing up early if you sell out.
Judging: Not Just About Raking in the Cash
Participants will be assessed on a detailed 20-point scorecard that looks at:
Business name, slogan, and logo
Uniqueness and feasibility of your idea
Marketing quality and target market focus
Financial planning and pricing
Presentation and stall design
Creativity counts. So does realism. And, yes, budgeting matters too,just like in the real world.
Learn While You Earn
This market is as much about building confidence and learning life skills as it is about making money. Kids will:
Handle customers
Prepare and serve food (if that’s their biz)
Manage payments
Create marketing material
There’s a guide packed with tips, from managing stock to nailing your elevator pitch. Participants are expected to plan pricing, manage a simple budget, and design a stall that turns heads.
Rules for the Adults: Sit Down, Stay Quiet
Parents can help set up the stall, then it’s time to become invisible (ideally with a book). No handling cash, answering questions, or sneakily making the biltong. This is the learners’ show from start to finish.
How to Enter
Here’s what’s needed:
Fill in the online form
Pay R100 per stall to:
Nature I Am (Pty) Ltd, First National Bank
Account: 63113757421
Branch Code: 250655
Reference: Your Name + School
Email proof of payment and the completed entry form to nature.entrepreneurs@gmail.com
Prizes and Perks
There are prizes up for grabs, not just for the best businesses, but for the school with the most entries. Winners will be announced on the day of the market.
Stay Connected
For info, updates, or help, contact:
📞 082 459 7702
Or scan the QR code on the poster to get the full info pack and registration details.
Whether you're there to sell, support, or just grab a boerewors roll, this is shaping up to be a lekker day with a serious mission: teaching kids how to hustle, pitch, and maybe even fund their next big idea. See you at Lekwena. Don't forget your gazebo.
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