Knight Piésold Southern Africa is proud to officially launch the 2025 Bokamoso Creative Essay Competition, an initiative designed to empower Grade 10 and 11 learners from under-resourced public high schools across Gauteng through creative expression and engagement with real-world sustainability challenges.
First introduced in 2019, the Bokamoso Creative Essay Competition forms a core part of Knight Piésold’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, which is focused on advancing access to quality education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Following the successful revival of the competition in 2024, the 2025 edition aims to deepen impact within the Gauteng province by engaging more schools, supporting infrastructure needs, and encouraging young South Africans to see themselves as agents of change.
Theme for 2025:
“Innovating for Impact: How Young Minds Can Engineer a Sustainable South Africa”
This year’s theme invites learners to reflect on how innovation, engineering, and science can address pressing issues such as:
• Access to clean water and reliable energy
• Infrastructure development
• Waste management
• Education and digital equity
The competition also promotes youth leadership in climate action and sustainability, encouraging learners to propose ideas that are informed by both modern technology and local community needs.
Target Schools and Learners
The competition is open to Grade 10 and 11 learners from no-fee or partially subsidised public high schools in Gauteng, with support and collaboration from the Gauteng Department of Education.
Key Dates:
• Competition Launch: 22 July 2025
• Essay Writing Period: 1 – 29 August 2025
• Judging: 5 – 12 September 2025
• Finalist Notification: 17 September 2025
• Prize-Giving Ceremony: 15 October 2025
Awards and School Contributions:
A combined prize value of R375,000 will be awarded, recognising both the learners and their schools. The top five essay writers will receive cash prizes, and the schools of winning learners will receive funding to implement meaningful infrastructure or educational support projects.
Prize Breakdown:
• 1st Place: R8,500 for learner | R125,000 for school project
• 2nd Place: R6,500 | R85,000
• 3rd Place: R5,000 | R70,000
• 4th Place: R3,000 | R45,000
• 5th Place: R2,000 | R25,000
Continued Commitment to Community Upliftment
Knight Piésold’s CSI strategy is centred on creating long-term impact by promoting education, innovation, and equity. Previous initiatives have included:
• Job shadowing and mentorship for high school learners
• Support to schools in the form of infrastructure upgrades
• Mandela Day classroom makeovers and STEM outreach workshops
• Bursaries for students pursuing engineering and environmental science
“Through Bokamoso, we aim to cultivate critical thinking and creativity among young people, while also recognising the important role schools play in nurturing the next generation of engineers, scientists, and leaders,” says Vishal Haripersad, Regional Manager at Knight Piésold Southern Africa.
Member of the media are invited to cover this year’s competition and the details of the event are as follows:
Date: Monday, 15 October 2025
Time: 11h30 – 14h00
Venue: Johannesburg, Gauteng
