Empowering Youth to Lead the Charge: TCS Sustainathon South Africa to Tackle Sustainable Water and Sanitation

Tata Consultancy Services’ Problem-Solving Competition Empowers Students to Create Innovative Digital Solutions to Help Overcome the Most Urgent Sustainability Challenges

PRESS RELEASE

JOHANNESBURG, August 18, 2023: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) has launched the second edition of TCS Sustainathon South Africa with the theme Sustainable Water and Sanitation Management.

TCS Sustainathon is a global problem-solving competition that inspires the youth to develop and execute innovative ideas that address real-world problems leveraging digital technologies. It is a platform that enables young minds to collaborate with private companies, non-profit organisations, and government agencies to co-create solutions to sustainability challenges. This year’s partners for the South Africa challenge are Geekulcha, UbuhleBakhe Water, SkillsLAB and City of Tshwane.

The theme of Sustainable Water and Sanitation Management aligns with Goal 6 of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at achieving universal, equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for everyone. TCS is a registered UN partner, and has collaborated with the organisation on numerous initiatives.

Students and graduates over the age of 18, from any university in South Africa, can sign up as teams of three – five, to participate in TCS Sustainathon. Entrants can read through a set of challenge statements on the website and select one. They have until 31 August to make an online submission of their solution proposal. The 10 finalists selected will have the chance to prepare their presentation for the grand finale event on 2 October.

The winning team will collect a cash prize of R 30,000, while students in second and third place will win R 20,000 and R 10,000 respectively. All finalists will receive R 5,000.

“We are proud to help empower our country’s young people to make a difference through TCS Sustainathon. The program provides them with mentorship and access to corporates in South Africa, which we believe helps inspire them to advocate for a more sustainable world,” said Langa Dube, Country Head, TCS South Africa.

“We look forward to working with young people on their TCS Sustainathon ideas, and together coming up with sustainable, practical solutions, to help our country meet its water and sanitation needs,” said Colleen Makola, CEO / Founder of uBuhleBakhe Water™. “The challenge is a great way to drive positive change and create a lasting impact in South Africa.”

TCS Sustainathon was launched last year to great success, exposing students to many of the real-life environmental issues and challenges facing South Africa today, and providing a platform to address these problems through policy, design, and innovation.

TCS Sustainathon is a global initiative that is also held in the UK, Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and India. Details about the challenge are available on the TCS Sustainathon website.