RLabs hosts community pop-up event for personal and professional growth
The initiative on Wednesday August 13 at Tafelsig Pentecostal Church was designed to make it easier for people to explore new pathways to personal and professional growth while connecting with programmes that can change lives.
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RLabs hosted a community pop-up event bringing opportunities and resources directly to residents.
RLabs is a social innovation organisation that provides skills training, digital education, and entrepreneurial support to empower youth, women, and communities, helping them access jobs, start businesses, and create opportunities.
The initiative, held on Wednesday, August 13, at Tafelsig Pentecostal Church, was designed to make it easier for people to explore new pathways to personal and professional growth while connecting with programs that can change lives, said Connie Adams, a member of Mitchell's Plain United Residents Association (MURA) and the Community Police Forum (CPF).
The event introduced residents to a variety of skills and training opportunities. RLabs highlighted its free RLabs U courses and the RLabs Academy, which aim to equip people with the knowledge needed to find employment or start businesses.
The Skills Accelerator programme offered practical, hands-on learning, while Amazon Web Services (AWS) training opened doors for those interested in cloud computing. AWS, a global cloud computing platform that RLabs introduced to help residents gain digital skills for careers in cloud technology. A major announcement on the day was a partnership with an international university, giving residents access to fully funded online bachelor’s degree scholarships in technology and business.
The event focused on more than just education, with a strong emphasis on jobs and entrepreneurship.
RLabs Connect and YOMA were introduced as platforms linking young people to employment opportunities and digital marketplaces, while small business support programmes offered entrepreneurs tools to grow their ventures and boost the local economy, said Ms Adams.
YOMA is a digital platform co-founded by RLabs and partners that helps young people access skills training, jobs, and digital marketplaces to support their learning and earning.
Community-based initiatives were also highlighted, including the RLabs House, a creative space for local artists, and RLabs Women, which equips women from marginalized communities with digital and business skills. RLabs said the pop-up fostered learning, connection and inspiration.