By Entrepreneurship Campus
Thato Kgatlhanye is a young entrepreneur from South Africa whose company creates innovative schoolbags that help children who have to walk miles to go to school. Her company, called Rethaka, has developed a way of providing a solution to increase children’s safety and help them do better in school. The company manufactures repurposed schoolbags fitted with retro-reflective material to increase visibility. Each schoolbag is made of 20 plastic shopping bags that are up-cycled into a textile. All offcuts are used to design a signature pattern on the bags.
These solar-powered bags are also constructed to continue working after dark. “Each bag is fitted with a solar panel that charges as the child is walking to school. When they get back home, they can use it as a light to study”, says Thato. “We are offering dignity, safety and access to light.”
The special schoolbag has 6 important features that make it an innovative invention.
“We’ve got targets for the year, we would like to do 10,000 bags by the end of 2015 which is very audacious but I believe we can do it with the current staff that we have. We are 15 but I hope to at least grow to 20 by the end of the year”, - says Thato.
Photo by Cartier Women Initiative
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eduheal
7/21/2020ReplyFantastic idea for a young person. I am encouraged and only want to forge ahead in the implementation of Eduheal. All the features in this bag are quite necessary for children. I will like to have it.
Thank you campus administrator for sharing this article with campus members. As a young person myslf, I challenged to ensure my idea succeed at all cost
togeda
7/20/2020ReplyGreat project. Wao! special school bag with very important features.
The special schoolbag has 6 important features that make it an innovative invention.
100% RECYCLED PLASTIC BAG TEXTILE –
SOLAR PANEL- It charges during the child’s walk to school and transforms into a solar lantern to study for up to 12 hours.
RETRO-REFLECTIVE MATERIAL – Having a visible bag, makes children safer while walking to the school early in the morning or in the evening.
OFFCUTSMESH™ BAND – Everything and everyone has a purpose and therefore valuable.
THE TRENDY DESIGN – There’s nothing like a schoolbag a child can be proud of and feel good about carrying.
THE QUALITY – Bag’s plastic textile is strong, waterproof and durable as the plastic bags are fused together at a high temperature.
I like this innovation. Thank you campus competition for listing this article on the blog for our learning.
Sabiha Hussaiin
1/23/2020ReplyHi I saw your post a long time ago and I am interested in the school bag you have produced.
I am currently working has a ESOL tutor. Our group will be producing and donating a alphabet book for people in Congo.
I would be grateful if we could get in touch soon.
Sabiha
Ncamsile Matsebula
3/12/2019ReplyThato what a useful innovation,congratulations. how can one order your bags from outside South Africa.
Regards
ncamsile
shuhrakoofi
7/6/2017ReplyReally interesting and awesome. A community with meaningful collaboration can achieve a lot. Women empowerment !!!!!!! way to go girl.
Keep it up.
Good luck
Regards.
Shuhra Koofi
