The initiative aims to enable brands to give back to communities by sharing skills and products that will enrich lives.

Learners at any school, as well as anyone in the community, can sign up and gain access to exclusive competitions, rewards, savings and prizes and educational information about issues. In exchange, participating brands will gain valuable market research and insight relevant to their industries.

Brad Stern, founder of Superiate Marketing, says, "Working with brand partners and the Department of Basic Education, and while coming out of Covid and remaining Covid conscious, we asked the question, 'How can we still have relevant conversations with school learners and their families?'.

"The objective is for SUP to be the connector between brands and the youth and their communities in aiding learners' social upliftment and education. The initial launch to 500 high schools is through prominently displayed posters and brochures that reach and inform the learners and their parents / guardians of the initiative," adds Stern.

"Our work with the Department of Basic Education will ensure we drive schools, teachers and learners to benefit and that the programme provides upliftment," Stern says.

Brand partners on board thus far include:
  • Google, providing development training and education to budding entrepreneurs and SMEs with Free Google Digital Skills Africa training
  • McDonalds’ McCafe, educating about sustainability, responsible production and growing vegetable gardens for communities to benefit from
  • RSAWeb, providing high-quality Internet to learners at schools and to homes
  • Score Energy, balancing intake with exercise, and healthy mind and body
  • Yenza, a career and CV development app
  • Presto and Splashlearn, both educational development software
  • Scoot, a sim card special offer specific to teachers throughout South Africa
  • Global Citizen, creating activists for positive change in the world, and
  • Give back partners tears.co.za, Operation Smile and Menstruation Foundation.
Stern concludes, "While always so, we believe that stimulating learning and future-focused economic activity is much-needed right now in these challenging times. Our vision is that SUP becomes a connector between business and government, where the real benefit goes to the youth and communities. We hope that SUP will leave a lasting mark in the hearts and minds of young people and communities throughout the country."

For more information, visit www.superiate.com. You can also follow the SUP on Facebook or on Instagram.