Arya-ICommunicate

One of the biggest hurdles facing South Africa’s many job seekers is access to vital online resources, including recruitment sites. Stats SA reported in August that the official unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2021 was a record 34.4%, one of the many social ills plaguing the country's most vulnerable. REGENT BUSINESS SCHOOL has developed the MAHALABox to try to make a difference. When the box is connected to a cellphone, users can download videos, e-books and other crucial information without data or access to the internet. "It is our solution for bringing important skills and resources to students, the unemployed and the youth in local communities, who may not otherwise have access to the internet or such curated digital resources. It is our hope that by providing such a service, it may afford better opportunities to these people," says the operations director at REGENT BUSINESS SCHOOL. While many South Africans have a smartphone, the cost of data can put internet access out of reach, and this digital divide reinforces the inequalities too many South Africans face each day. Almost 60-million smartphones are connected to mobile networks in South Africa everyday, which is why the MAHALABox requires just a smartphone to turn it into a one-stop shop for a wide range of information and job placements, along with access to agencies, employers and recruiters - all of which would be impossible without data. The MAHALABox allows users to download books, videos, templates and other important content and services, including self-help, emotional intelligence exercises, career assessments, aptitude tests, CV templates and interview preparation - all for free. As load-shedding returns, another big plus is that the MAHALABox can be powered with solar energy. "By making use of a solar panel and a rechargeable battery, the box can be powered with solar power. It uses low voltage, so requires minimal power input and uses this energy efficiently. It also …

Five self-employed beauticians are celebrating after winning REGENT BUSINESS SCHOOL's redHUB recent "shark tank" competition. Simran Mathura, Mercy Rutendo Membe, Danielle Wakelin, Neo Patience Maboe and Naomi Natalie Thubisi were the ultimate survivors of the contest, and each won R10,000 they can use to start their own small business. Hoosen Essof, operations manager: Gauteng at REGENT BUSINESS SCHOOL, said a "shark tank" format was chosen for the competition due to its familiarity, though the REGENT one was not quite as harsh as the TV version. "We weren't as tough or critical as the TV show, but we thought the format lent itself to the occasion. We asked the judges not to be too tough or critical and to help raise the contestants' confidence. In the end, it was an all-round good learning experience for all of us." REGENT BUSINESS SCHOOL, through the redHUB unit, ran the pilot programme for nine final-year students from the Face-to-Face Beauty and Makeup Academy. The aim of the practical "Starting Your Own Business" course was to give the students a thorough understanding of what is required to start and manage their own businesses. The CSI initiative invests in entrepreneurs to drive job creation, while providing skills to develop graduates to become employers rather than employees. "It was quite clear from the presentations and interactions with the ladies that some of them had the makings of being an employer rather than employee. Some were clearly 'I will do whatever it takes to make it a success' people, while others were 'we and us' people. Although one contestant was clearly more inclined towards training and empowering others in the beauty sector, all of them expressed a desire to own and manage their own businesses," said Essof. The grittiness of the course was evident when the contestants pitched their ideas to the panel. "Some of the ladies were very nervous, yet they managed to do enough to talk their way through the pitch and the Q&A …