Iningi lamakilabhu ethu, okubalwa nayo le engingusihlalo wayo iBiggarsberg Athletics Club, lintula kakhulu izinsiza zokudlala nengqalasizinda. Lapha ngibala izinto ezinjengamateki afanele okugijima nokunye okudingwa ngabagijima ukuze bakwazi ukuziqeqesha ngendlela efanele,” kusho uNgobese. based organisation that sells patented reusable sanitary pads, was accepted into the SAB Foundation’s Social Innovation Fund and Accelerator Programme aimed at fast-tracking social purpose businesses. Sue Barnes, founder of Subz Pants and Pads and its non-profit extension, Project Dignity, said she is honoured to have been accepted into the SABF Social Innovation Accelerator and Fund Programme. “This is a huge injection of knowledge and funding for Subz Pants and Pads to grow and upscale the business,” said Barnes. “I will be guided and mentored through this process, as Subz is on the brink of explosion into the market, not only in South Africa but throughout Africa. The plan is to upscale the business by focusing on empowerment development and employment. I am very excited that Subz Pants and Pads has been recognised as a business to contend with.” The innovative programme was opened up to previous winners of the SAB Foundation’s Social Innovation Awards, which have been held annually for the past seven years. In 2015, Subz received the award which recognises organisations with workable business solutions to social problems. However, despite the mentorship that accompanies the Social Innovation Awards, the SAB Foundation realised there is very little early stage funding for social innovation companies beyond the competition. “It’s incredibly difficult for these organisations to apply for traditional funding because there is often no compelling business case in the early stages. However, these models are critical to support as they are finding innovative and sustainable ways of solving social problems,”