The Google Impact Challenge supports organisations with game-changing ideas to create economic opportunity in their communities.
Our 2018 winners have been announced and you can find them below! Thank you to our finalist organisations, public voters and members of our judging panel for helping to create a better future for all South Africans.
Meet the winners
Each of our finalists receives a share of $2 million in grant funding as they continue to create better futures for all South Africans. Finalists receive $125,000 in grant funding while the winners receive $250,000.
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Memeza Shout Crime Prevention
Bringing safety to vulnerable people through a Public Community Alarm System.
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RLabs (Zlto Digital Platform)
A mobile and blockchain platform that tracks and incentivises positive behaviour in youths.
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Corruption Watch: BUA MZANSI
An online interactive website to enhance public participation and transparency in policing.
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Gradesmatch
A platform to serve as a comprehensive career guide.
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mLab CodeUp!
Matching coders to community startups to build prototypes and gain practical work experience.
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The Youth Employment Service
A business-driven collaboration with government that offers a disruptive approach to South Africa's youth unemployment challenge.
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Clothes to Good
Helping mothers of children with disabilities to find financial independence in a green eco-system via clothing recycling.
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Quirky 30 NPC
Coding a New Future.
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GreenFingers Mobile
A digital solution to enable small and emerging farmers to access the market.
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The MakerSpace Foundation
The MakerSpace offers tools, technology, training and physical work space to enable people to make things that improve the world around them.
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hearX Group
Ears and Eyes for Education (3E) - a mHealth supported community-based programme.
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Saide’s African Storybook initiative
An offline app to create and publish illustrated digital African storybooks with young children.
About the challenge
Your community. Your ideas to make it better. For the first time, the Google Impact Challenge is coming to South Africa! The challenge asks local innovators how they would make their community–and beyond–an even better place. The public and a panel of local Judges vote for the ideas with the most potential, and Google.org pairs each winner with a package of strategic support, funding and Google volunteers.
Meet the judges
Our 2018 finalists presented their projects to a panel of judges. Their selection, combined with the public vote, determined the winning organisations.
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Basetsana Khumalo
Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
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Nomzamo Mbatha
Actress and Model
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Ferial Haffejee
Journalist
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Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Humanitarian
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Rapelang Rabana
Chief Digital Officer at BCX, Founder & Chair at Rekindle Learning
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Maps Maponyane
Entrepreneur, Aspiring Philanthropist and TV Presenter
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Simphiwe Dana
Artist and Activist
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Bryan Nelson
Sector Lead Retail and Finance, Google South Africa
