RLabs *Reconstructed Living Lab

Our CEO, Christine Nicola Taphel, had the honor of speaking at the AWIEF 2024 Conference, held at the CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa, last week. Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs across Africa, helping them grow their businesses and reach their full potential. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to GIZ for inviting RLabs to be part of this inspiring event, and congratulations to Irene Ochem, Founder and CEO of AWIEF, and her team for organizing such a remarkable conference. The two day event featured thought provoking panel discussions with funders, investors, and entrepreneurs who are making a significant impact across our continent. A huge congratulations to all the incredible women honored at the AWIEF Awards ceremony. Your hard work and achievements are truly well-deserved! #RLabs #MakingHOPEContagious #RLabsCEO #RLabsFounder #AWIEF2024 #DigitalEconomy #InclusiveTraining #DigitalSkills #Entrepreneurship #Employment #FF2024 #RLabs2024

Our RLabs SA CEO, Christine Nicola Taphel participated in Day 2 of the Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Conference 2024! She took part in a panel discussion exploring key themes, such as the Digital Economy, Inclusive Training Programs, and the transformative role of digital skills in fostering entrepreneurship and employment. In closing, the moderator - Rani Chetty Schmidt from Thamini Africa beautifully stated, “When you upskill or train a woman, you are not just impacting one life but an entire family and community.” We were also proud to have our RLabs Founder and Director, Rene Parker involved in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Capacitation Workshop Series earlier this week. Representing RLabs, Rene contributed her insights during a panel discussion on strategies to drive systems change. #RLabs #MakingHOPEContagious #RLabsCEO #RLabsFounder #AWIEF2024 #DigitalEconomy #InclusiveTraining #DigitalSkills #Entrepreneurship #Employment #Empowerment #FF2024 #RLabs2024

We were delighted to welcome Steve Tchoumba Executive Director of ActivSpaces and Board Secretary at AfriLabs back with us, and it was a pleasure to host Alfredo Cuanda of Ideario˙ Venture Studio, and the talented singer and songwriter Tania Takoh known as T'neeya for the first time! During their visit, they also had the chance to be part of our IEP Graduation, where some of our entrepreneurs celebrated a major milestone. It was great having them join us and share in this special moment. #RLabs #MakingHOPEContagious #ActivSpaces #AfriLabs #IDEARIOBRS #SouthAfrica #Mozambique #Cameroon #IEPGraduation2024 #Westridge #MitchellsPlain #FF2024 #RLabs2024

Christine Nicola Taphel, CEO of RLabs SA, will proudly represent our organization at the 10th Africa Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Conference 2024. This year’s conference will center on advancing career pathways to drive employment and self-employment opportunities for youth, with a particular focus on empowering women. #RLabs #MakingHOPEContagious #RLabsCEO #AWIEF2024 #WomenInBusiness #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #FF2024 #RLabs2024

We are proud to celebrate our Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IEP) graduates on their graduation day today as they reach this remarkable milestone in their journeys. As we honor their hard work, dedication, and achievements, we extend our gratitude to our partner, Nedbank, for their invaluable support and contributions, empowering our entrepreneurs and shaping a brighter future. #RLabs #MakingHOPEContagious #IEPGraduation #IEP #InnovIA #Entrepreneurship #Graduates #Celebration #Nedbank #Westridge #MitchellsPlain #FF2024 #RLabs2024

We had the pleasure of hosting one of our esteemed partners, Youth Employment Service (YES) South Africa (YES 4 Youth), in our space today. We hope you enjoyed your visit and look forward to continuing our shared commitment to empowering young people! #RLabs #MakingHOPEContagious #YES #YESProgram #Westridge #MitchellsPlain #FF2024 #RLabs2024

As we conclude the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2024, we reflect on an incredible celebration of innovation and collaboration. This milestone event brought together visionaries and changemakers, reaffirming our shared commitment to driving unity and progress across the continent. Read all about it and more in our latest newsletter! #RLabs #MakingHOPEContagious #AfriLabs #AAG2024 #AnnualGathering #AfricanInnovation #Entrepreneurship #AAGSouthAfrica #BurstsofHOPE #TechAfrica #DigitalEconomy #UnitingInnovation #Networking #FF2024 #RLabs2024

We were delighted to host Marina Madale, MTN Group Executive for Sustainability & Shared Value, and Bryan Mbasa, Senior Manager of MTN Foundation in Uganda, at our space. During their visit, we had the opportunity to connect, introduce them to the impactful work we are doing, and offer them a tour of our facilities. Thank you, Marina and Bryan, for a wonderful visit. We look forward to potential collaborations in the future! #RLabs #MakingHOPEContagious #MTN #Network #Westridge #MitchellsPlain #FF2024 #RLabs2024

We are immensely proud to have our CEO, Christine Nicola Taphel, representing RLabs as a speaker at the Makerverse AU-EU Innovation Ecosystem Summit on Investing in the Future. She emphasized the critical importance of investing in people, a core belief at RLabs and shared her inspiring personal journey, highlighting the profound influence of her mother in shaping her path. She said, “When people are dignified, they are unstoppable.” Christine also noted, “We can study for years, but it’s the person who experiences the problem firsthand who truly sees the solution. At RLabs, we help them scale that vision.” She highlighted our various projects and how the organization works to positively impact lives across communities. #RLabs #MakingHOPEContagious #MakerSpace #InnovationEcosystemSummit2024 #CEO #InvestingInTheFuture #WeAreGIG #InnovationCity #FF2024 #RLabs2024

Our RLabs Country Nodes had an insightful session engaging with our project leads! They dove into our core pillars - InnovIA, Innovation Labs, and Academy - alongside key ventures like Zlto and ReCha, better understanding each pillar’s significance and valuable insights into how these initiatives drive change and create lasting impact in our communities. #RLabs #MakingHOPEContagious #RLabsNigeria #RLabsNamibia #RLabsTanzania #FocusForward #Westridge #MitchellsPlain #FF2024 #RLabs2024 #RLabsHubs #RLabsNodes