Cape Times innovative competition inspires mom to see a way
MOM-OF-FIVE Saneeya Adams from Muizenberg has been chosen as the second finalist in the Cape Times Innovation Awards competition.
She won R1 000 and the opportunity to present her idea to the judges at the final event on December 9.
Her idea was triggered by a story in last Friday’s Cape Times, right alongside the story of last week’s winner.
The caption for the main picture – “Having fun: Children from Athlone School for the Blind play at the blind-friendly park close to the school in Bellville” – got her thinking about a blindfriendly hiking trail around Princess Vlei, Grassy Park.
She also thought play parks, similar to the one shown, could be built not only for sight-impaired children, but for party venues as well. “I have five children,” said Adams, “so we’ve often had to think of entertaining them. Probably because I often have kids in mind, that particular picture sparked the idea, especially for children who are sight-impaired or disabled in other ways – that’s where the idea came from.”
Judge Charles Maisel said: “What I like about Saneeya’s idea is that it can be expanded to become a social enterprise. If she includes all municipal parks around Cape Town and turns them into a service for party venues for parents with children between the ages of one and six, then this business is providing a service parents need.
“Part of the profits could be used to upgrade the parks themselves and then the city can get involved as well. This would also create many jobs, as there are so many parks.”
The competition will run until Sunday, November 20 with the best idea this week and next each receiving R1 000. To enter, read any copy of the Cape Times, new or old, and tell us a) what you saw/read, including date and page of the relevant edition, and b) what your idea's based on in what you saw/read. E-mail your idea to rsvp@inl. co.za by midnight on Sunday this week and next Sunday.
The finalists will present their business proposal to a panel of judges on December 9 and the winner will receive: R10 000 cash prize. A personalised business plan from Grant Thornton valued at R75 000.
A two-hour mentoring session with Charles Maisel valued at R1 500.