The first of its kind, the HIP2B² programme was launched after Mark Shuttleworth’s historic ‘First African in Space’ adventure eight years ago and aims to inspire young learners to take up the challenge of studying maths and science at school.
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| Elisheva Sacks and Eshed Cohen. |
Grade 10 Herzlia learners Elisheva Sacks and Eshed Cohen have been selected to be part of the group of 33 Brand Ambassadors from around the country to represent the ‘face’ of the HIP2B² brand in extending its ‘national formula’.
HIP2B² received a record 600 national Brand Ambassador nominations from teachers for 2010, the two Herzlians were among the 7 chosen from the Western Cape.
This is the first year that the programme has been able to appoint brand ambassadors in all nine provinces, and this will afford the brand the opportunity to extend its national footprint and multiply the HIP2B² message, that maths and science are ‘fun’ school subjects and the best means to open up a new world of boundless opportunity to learners throughout South Africa.
Working at times in conjunction with the Shuttleworth Foundation, as a separate entity HIP2B² also focuses on technology and developing entrepreneurial skills.
“HIP2B² Brand Ambassadors are well-rounded young learners that are passionate about science and maths, excel in them at school and more importantly develop this passion outside of the classroom,” says Cathryn Treasure, general manager of BSquare Communications. “Our Brand Ambassadors aim to show other learners how it’s possible to be smart, savvy and successful and still remain ‘cool’.”
The group will participate upfront as ‘the face of the brand’ and across all the HIP2B² platforms. These include a magazine, television programme, website, mobisite, as well as a Facebook page, MXit and annual events such as the iThink Challenge, an interactive national maths, science, technology and entrepreneurship schools’ challenge. They also choose a particular focus for the year — a topic or area of interest that they are passionate about and they are able to work on this throughout the year using the HIP2B² platforms as their leverage and support.
Whereas till now HIP2B² has focused on the teenage high school audience, from this year it will start focusing on reaching a younger audience to ignite an early curiosity in maths and science and show them, when they are at that crucial age making decisions regarding their future studies, that if they devote their time to science and maths, it will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
For more information about the HIP2B² programme log onto www.hip2b2. com, converse with them on Facebook (HIP2B2) or catch the television programme every Monday afternoon on SABC2 at 15h30.
