<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.repurposeschoolbags.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Repurpose Schoolbags</a> is the first green initiative from Rethaka, a South Africa-based social startup founded by childhood friends-turned-business partners Thato Kgatlhanye and Rea Ngwane.
More than just a backpack —
Repurpose Schoolbags is the first green initiative from Rethaka, a South Africa-based social startup founded by childhood friends-turned-business partners Thato Kgatlhanye and Rea Ngwane.
Courtesy Miora Rajaonary for Emerging Innovation
The Repurpose Schoolbags were designed with the end users -- local schoolchildren -- in mind. Made from 100% recycled plastic, the upcycled backpack features a solar panel that charges during the day while the child is walking to school so that it doubles as a light source after dark to allow the student to finish their homework. Additionally strips of reflective material are included in the design for safety reasons so children walking to school are easily visible early in the morning.
More than just a backpack —
The Repurpose Schoolbags were designed with the end users -- local schoolchildren -- in mind. Made from 100% recycled plastic, the upcycled backpack features a solar panel that charges during the day while the child is walking to school so that it doubles as a light source after dark to allow the student to finish their homework. Additionally strips of reflective material are included in the design for safety reasons so children walking to school are easily visible early in the morning.
Courtesy Miora Rajaonary for Emerging Innovation
Reusing upcycled plastic waste to produce backpacks for pupilis was a completely foreign concept to the town and the entrepreneurs have spent a lot of time to ensure their staff are well-trained.
More than just a backpack —
Reusing upcycled plastic waste to produce backpacks for pupilis was a completely foreign concept to the town and the entrepreneurs have spent a lot of time to ensure their staff are well-trained.
Courtesy Miora Rajaonary for Emerging Innovation
The bags are made from local plastic waste gathered at schools or collected at landfill sites. Once it arrives at the factory, it is processed and upcycled into a textile before being sewn into backpacks complete with solar panels and reflective material.
More than just a backpack —
The bags are made from local plastic waste gathered at schools or collected at landfill sites. Once it arrives at the factory, it is processed and upcycled into a textile before being sewn into backpacks complete with solar panels and reflective material.
Courtesy Miora Rajaonary for Emerging Innovation
The duo grew up in Rustenburg, a traditionally mining town in South Africa's North West province. The bright young millennials wanted to develop a culture of entrepreneurship in their hometown while providing employment opportunities and helping their community in a meaningful way.
More than just a backpack —
The duo grew up in Rustenburg, a traditionally mining town in South Africa's North West province. The bright young millennials wanted to develop a culture of entrepreneurship in their hometown while providing employment opportunities and helping their community in a meaningful way.
Courtesy Miora Rajaonary for Emerging Innovation
"We currently have a total of eight full-time staff: six of which are women. It's the kind of culture we've tried to have in our company is that it is very inclusive and a culture of creativity beyond measure," says Kgatlhanye.
More than just a backpack —
"We currently have a total of eight full-time staff: six of which are women. It's the kind of culture we've tried to have in our company is that it is very inclusive and a culture of creativity beyond measure," says Kgatlhanye.
Courtesy Miora Rajaonary for Emerging Innovation
Kgatlhanye says: "We looked around in our community and there was nothing that excited us. So for us it was a challenge to say 'If there's nothing in Rustenburg that we want to be a part of as young people, we can actually do something about it and register our company.' So we did exactly that -- do remarkable work that will involve other young people and make a difference."
More than just a backpack —
Kgatlhanye says: "We looked around in our community and there was nothing that excited us. So for us it was a challenge to say 'If there's nothing in Rustenburg that we want to be a part of as young people, we can actually do something about it and register our company.' So we did exactly that -- do remarkable work that will involve other young people and make a difference."
Courtesy Miora Rajaonary for Emerging Innovation
The pair registered their company at 18. By the time they graduated from college, they had their startup idea and set about making it a reality. But at 21 (Kgathanye) and 22 years old (Ngwane), one of the hardest obstacles was to be taken seriously. Ngwane attributes their success so far to passion the two share for their work. "We didn't just start out as youngsters -- we've overcome every single obstacle that was thrown our way and that says to people lets take these young women seriously."
More than just a backpack —
The pair registered their company at 18. By the time they graduated from college, they had their startup idea and set about making it a reality. But at 21 (Kgathanye) and 22 years old (Ngwane), one of the hardest obstacles was to be taken seriously. Ngwane attributes their success so far to passion the two share for their work. "We didn't just start out as youngsters -- we've overcome every single obstacle that was thrown our way and that says to people lets take these young women seriously."
Courtesy Miora Rajaonary for Emerging Innovation
Due to the success of the startup, the pair are already making plans to enlarge their workforce to 20 people next year. While both are eager to continue growing as a company, Ngwane explains how becoming a leader at such a young age was daunting at first. "Being that leader in the factory space, we are working with women and men that are much older. In our culture, respect is a very important thing," she says. "From the onset they also established the role we played as the owners of the company and to a certain extent, not only should we respect them but they should respect us and our wishes."
More than just a backpack —
Due to the success of the startup, the pair are already making plans to enlarge their workforce to 20 people next year. While both are eager to continue growing as a company, Ngwane explains how becoming a leader at such a young age was daunting at first. "Being that leader in the factory space, we are working with women and men that are much older. In our culture, respect is a very important thing," she says. "From the onset they also established the role we played as the owners of the company and to a certain extent, not only should we respect them but they should respect us and our wishes."
Courtesy Miora Rajaonary for Emerging Innovation