The Empire Partner Foundation today announced Liyabona Vengane, a 20-year-old Bachelor of Accounting student at the University of Johannesburg, as the June 2025 winner of the TFS Q&A Competition, a monthly challenge run under EPF’s initiative, Solve 4 X.

This month’s question – “How can technology help students learn better?” – drew responses from bright young minds across the country. Liyabona’s entry stood out for its combination of creativity, feasibility, and its focus on inclusivity.

Her winning ideas included a NeuroLearning Band that detects when students lose focus or experience fatigue and suggests changes in activity to help them stay engaged, AI-Based Adaptive Textbooks embedded with augmented reality and smart chips that adjust content in real-time based on student performance, and a Digital Learning Twin – a personalized AI companion that helps explain complex topics in formats that best suit each learner.

However, it was her concept of Offline Learning Pods that most powerfully addressed a critical gap in the South African education system: access. These solar-powered, pocket-sized devices can project interactive lessons without the need for internet connectivity, and sync via Bluetooth with even basic mobile phones.

“I believe the Offline Learning Pods would make a significant impact in rural or underserved communities,” Liyabona explained. “These solar-powered, portable devices can provide interactive lessons and educational content without relying on Wi-Fi or expensive data… enabling students to access quality educational resources and bridging the digital divide.”

The TFS Q&A Competition, part of the Solve 4 X initiative, is a monthly platform that challenges South African youth to think critically and creatively about real-world problems – using technology as a driver for impact.

Liyabona Vengane’s work exemplifies the values of the program: innovation, accessibility, and youth-driven change.

Organizations interested in sponsoring the TFS Q&A Competition will have the opportunity to propose the monthly question and play a direct role in shaping the conversations and solutions driven by South Africa’s brightest young minds.

• Lelethu Mabala is a Public Relations Officer at Empire Partner Foundation
• [email protected]