South African Ideas Festival

SOUTH AFRICAN IDEAS FESTIVAL 2022 APPLICATION FORM

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 South African Ideas Festival

Participant Application.
Please fill in ALL PARTS of this application and send it to
bezosscholars@alastudents.org no later than the 31st of January 2022

CATEGORY: More About You

Full Name:

Email address:

Contact Phone Number:

Country of residence:

City of residence:

Name of current school, if any:

Date of Birth:

1) CATEGORY: Why the South African Ideas Festival (SAIF)

NB. Questions are in black and for convenience, explanations of key terms or parts are in red

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a) Why do you want to attend SAIF 2022 and what do you wish to gain from participating in
the festival?
What are the reasons behind your decision to apply for this program and what are some of
the things you wish to take away and grow from this program? (150 words max)
b) What do you consider to be your strengths and why?
What things are you good at, and what particular skills have helped you to build those
strengths? (80 words max)

2) CATEGORY: Problem or Opportunity Identification

Please note that for questions about what you have done or learnt to date, you will not be
discredited for not having done anything so far. However, you will be required to expand on
what you plan to do and hope to learn.

a) In one sentence, describe the problem or need that you identified in your community.
What is the problem that you would like to solve? (50 words max)

b) Explain why you chose to address this problem or need.

Why is this specific problem or opportunity particularly important to you? (80 words max)

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c) Who are the people most affected by the problem/need and how did you identify them?
Who are the people that are most impacted by the problem/need you are trying to solve and
where are they? (100 words max)

3) CATEGORY: Project Idea

a) What is the name of your initiative and how does it or will it address the problem or need
that you identified?

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Your initiative is the business or organization that you have or would like to create. What is
your solution to the problem/need that you identified and how are you planning to
implement it? (150 words max)

b) How is your solution different from those of other people who are also addressing the
same need/problem?
What makes your solution unique and enables you to stand out from people in the same
field? (50 words max)

c) What are the obstacles you have faced or might face in trying to implement your idea, and
how would you overcome them?
Your response can be in the form of a list. (80 words max)

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4) CATEGORY: Sustainability and support questions

a) Do you already have a team or company that you are working with?
 Yes
 No

b) Is your project currently profitable and how do you fund or plan to fund your project?
How will you acquire funding to keep your project running? Your response can be in the form

c) Where do you see your business/project in the next five years?

What do you plan to have done to develop your project/initiative in the next five years? (80
words max)

5) CATEGORY: Steps taken and steps ahead

Please note that for questions about what you have done to date, you will not be discredited
for not having done anything so far, but if you have made some progress in implementing
your idea, please answer the questions below.

a) If you have already started implementing your project/initiative idea, what steps have you
taken towards the creation of your project? (Could be from brainstorming stages to creating
prototypes)?
Your response can be in the form of a well expanded list. (100 words max)

b) Give three main components of your business that you would like to get guidance on
developing during the program.
Your response can be in the form of a list. (50 words max)

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5) CATEGORY: Additional information and uploads

Photo Upload:
May you please upload one professional picture of yourself

Additional information:
If there is anything you would like to share with the application review committee that is not
covered elsewhere in your application, please write it in the space provided (200 words max)

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How did you hear about the South African Ideas Festival? Select all that apply.
 Instagram
 Twitter
 Facebook
 YouTube
 Email
 Word of mouth
 Through a SAIF alumni
Other _______________