When Lefa Makgato speaks about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, her voice carries both conviction and warmth — the kind that comes from seeing real change unfold in classrooms across South Africa. As Samsung South Africa’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager, she has helped shape an initiative that does more than inspire innovation; it gives young people in underserved communities the tools, confidence, and visibility to build their own futures.
“Solve for Tomorrow is Samsung’s way of giving back to the community,”
Makgato explains.
“It’s a competition that challenges learners from public schools in grades 10 and 11 to use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to solve real social problems.”
This year’s competition carried the theme
“Infrastructure and Safety in Schools,”
a topic Makgato describes as both urgent and deeply personal.
“We’ve seen far too many incidents where learners traveling long distances are involved in accidents, or even go missing,”
she says.
“We wanted to challenge young people to come up with ideas that keep learners safe and make schools more energy efficient.”
The results were extraordinary. Learners from across the country presented prototypes that tackled everything from innovative transport solutions to energy-saving systems that could lower costs for schools struggling with electricity bills. The creativity and technical skill on display reaffirmed what Makgato and her team already knew — that South Africa’s youth hold the answers to many of the nation’s most pressing challenges, if only they are given the right platform.
Each stage of the competition is designed to nurture that potential. From design thinking workshops to mentorship and funding support, Samsung ensures that learners not only dream up ideas but also bring them to life.
“We level the playing field,”
Makgato explains.
“Every participating school receives tablets, data, and access to mentors who help them think like innovators and problem-solvers.”
That commitment to equity and empowerment extends beyond the competition itself.
“Our goal is not just to end with a prize ceremony,”
she says.
“We want to help these learners develop prototypes that can make a tangible difference in their communities.”
The impact of Solve for Tomorrow is already visible. Past participants, such as Adams College from Amanzimtoti, have gone on to represent South Africa at international platforms with innovations like a microplastics-detecting robot designed to protect marine life.
“These are not just school projects,”
Makgato notes.
“They are ideas with global potential.”
As the 2025 competition concludes — with Tembisa West Secondary School crowned national champions for their AI-driven energy efficiency system — Makgato is already thinking ahead.
“For the first time, our winners will compete at a global level, representing South Africa on the world stage,”
she says proudly
Her message to young people is simple but powerful:
“Solve for Tomorrow is more than a competition. It’s a learning journey. It’s an opportunity to believe that your ideas can save lives, change schools, and shape the future.”
