Page 9 - YMS Africa Magazine 3rd Quarter 2017 Online-1

governance in Rwanda and across Africa to see how we can designed a perfect gift to women that is light, comfortable and ect. However, when people heard about it they were amazed.
also bring our programmess across the continent. as natural as a real breast. Now I realise that people need our product. People see value
What are your hopes for the future and how are you going We started the company because we saw the demand for pros- in our product. I did not achieve this alone. I owe my being to
to make an even bigger impact? theses by cancer survivors, who have lost precious body parts South Africa and to Africa for developing my product.
In terms of scale for Maringa school, we do want to increase due to cancer tumours and we wanted to create something How have you measured the impact of the work that you
the scale for education. We are looking to move across the that could cover up the parts that they have lost. We wanted have done through your Innovation?
continent by working with one of the larger corporate compa- to create something using 3D printing and the purpose was When we started our company, it was just a social project
nies. We need to understand the skills gaps in each country so to create something that could answer the call to the fourth aimed at helping people for free, however, as time went by, I
that we do not make assumptions when we move to a new Industrial Revolution. We wanted digital technology and 3D decided to make it a for-profit business. It was free of charge
country so that when we launch our full-time programme we printing to be the leading technology in addressing problems initially because we wanted to strengthen our foundation and
will be addressing the need. in Africa especially within the healthcare sector. make sure that we go to public hospitals because that’s our
Our plan is to scale across the continent but beyond the scale What are the biggest challenges that you have faced as a target market. We are aiming at growing the number of our
to look at our course offerings which is focused on computer young entrepreneur? patients and having relationships with the Ministry of Health.
programing. We want to look at the other skills that are need- One of the biggest challenges in the health sector is that, We are still working towards having a bigger impact as they
ed in the continent. We are about to use the education tools when you introduce a new technology, many people do not have now welcomed our project. We need to implement it at
to fill the skills gaps so we want to use our education tool easily welcome your idea and they ask you a lot of questions: the Ministry of Health and public hospitals.
employment model. We also plan on taking what works now that can deter you. I received a lot of support from the South What are your hopes for the future and how are you going
and bring it to the continent. African government with my project, in this regard. My to make an even bigger impact?
challenges were largely when I was still in the research stage Since I started in the area where I am based in, which is
back in 2013. I worked on these problems and now the world Bloemfontein, the idea is to go nationally in South Africa.
is welcoming my product and inventions. Africa is also pro- Most importantly, I would like to touch base in Africa because
gressing and now more than ever, it is welcoming to all these this is not just the product for South Africa only. This is a
"We started the company because we innovations created by young people. product for Africa and I am looking at expanding to Rwanda.
saw the demand for prosthesis by can- Can you pinpoint a single breakthrough moment, where I have always wanted to expand to East Africa, so it is my next
cer survivors, who have lost precious you thought this could work? stop.
In 2015, I entered a competition in South Africa, called the
body parts due to cancer tumors and Social Innovation Awards, organized by the South African For more information on the World Economic Forum on Africa
Nneile Nkholise we wanted to create something that can Breweries Foundation. Back then I was doubtful of my proj- visit www.weforum.org
up skill our graduates. In Maringa Def shop we work for cover up the parts that they have lost."
clients around the world so that we can prove that there is
talent in Kenya and across Africa, for people to invest in this - Nneile Nkholise
continent. In the future we want to disrupt the tertiary educa-
tion in Africa.
Take us through the challenges, the pinpoints when you
thought Maringa is going to work.
We did a lot of research before we started the project. I asked Educating the Youth
Educational institutions in Africa are challenging in terms Nneile
a lot of people about Maringa school and people did not
actually like it, but after a while we got positive responses.
of the way parents and students look at diplomas. Generally,
they look at diplomas like they are the Holy Grail. “This is
showing people that getting the skills is more important to Nkholise Brought by Primestars Marketing, Educate is a nationwide
what I need to get to have a successful life”. The stats, howev-
er, show that is not true. We are challenging that notion and
Matric Maths and Science revision programme, presented in
transforming their lives. Getting out of college or university South Africa an educational yet entertaining manner, through Ster kinekor
with that piece of paper does not guarantee a job. Our past cinemas nationally, allowing matric learners to interact with
stats show that our graduates are all getting jobs. At the end Can you please give us a background on your business? subject experts. It is made up of 10 pre-recorded revision
of the day students want jobs. They want employment and to At Neyne Prosthesis, we produce medical prostheses. Every sessions, five in maths and five in science. These sessions
make money. So, it is easy for us to sell our programs. year the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer cover the entire Matric curriculum and are aimed at prepar-
Have you received any help from the government? increases. The statistics of breast cancer cases also branches ing disadvantaged South African youth for the Matric Maths
We were lucky with our business model that in three months into the increasing number of women who lose a breast or and Science examinations. The programme is filmed from a
we could break even. So in terms of financial support from both due to mastectomy. In response to this issue, we produce single venue then simultaneously broadcast to a network of 15
the government we have not raised any money. However, we breast prostheses that replace the natural breast, and offers digitized cinemas across the country.
are in conversations with government about scale and what satisfaction, comfort and functionality. Inspired by women’s DJ Sbu with Primestars representatives and very excited learners at one of the
that looks like for our program. How we could impact more journey from first diagnosis and the strides they take each day Educate sessions.
people with high quality education. We are talking to the to recover, and their immeasurable strength and joy of life, we

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