Fechter and Leff crowned 2017 Bank Windhoek BizzKids

Fechter and Leff crowned 2017 Bank Windhoek BizzKids The Bank Windhoek BizzKids Market took place over the weekend at Maerua Mall Shopping Centre, in Windhoek where young promising Namibian entrepreneurs traded their products, skills and services.

Bank Windhoek BizzKids Competition is an entrepreneurial competition, designed to help scholars realize their business ideas. It was established eight years ago and is a platform created for scholars across Namibia, between the ages of 8 and 18. The selected finalists come together and compete by selling and promoting their business ideas, products, services and skills.

The competition was divided into two different categories. Scholars between the ages of 8 to 13 years competed against each other and while those between 14 to 18 years old, formed the second category.

Sixteen year-old Florian Fechter who traded as “vetstert.com”, won first prize in 14 to 18 category. A passionate sheep farmer from southern Namibia, Fechter’s business idea is based on selling lamb on the internet. “Lambs are displayed on the website and customers can select their preferred one. For example, there is a contract for lambs between one and four months old. After signing of contracts, the customer will pay a monthly fee. When the lamb is ready to be slaughtered, contact is made with the customer and the carcass will be delivered to them,” said Fechter.

Thirteen year-old Hendrie Leff, from Gobabis won in the junior category. His business idea is based on recycling wastepaper and traded as “Paper Homemade Briquettes”. “I was not happy with the state of pollution in my town and came up with this solution,” said Leff. With the help of his father, he collected waste paper around the town.

After that he invented a machine that compressed the papers into cubes. “With this, one can save on buying expensive charcoal or gas,” said Leef. The two machines with a manual on how to build it, was also for sale.

“Congratulations to all the winners of the two categories. A special appreciation goes to all the participants for being passionate and dedicated - the judges, including myself, were impressed. You are all winners in the eyes of Bank Windhoek. We believe that you are indeed future entrepreneurs of our country. Thank you Maerua Mall Shopping Centre for hosting our young entrepreneurs,” said Bank Windhoek’s executive officer of marketing and corporate communication services, Jacquiline Pack.