Thank you Grow

The last 19 weeks has been an amazing experience. It’s been filled with life, hard work, fun times, networking, opportunities and so much more.

This journey has taught me so much about who I am and who I was ordained to be. It has given a new sense of direction and a new passion. Throughout the leadership, entrepreneurship and digital media classes I’ve been amazed by the enthusiasm of each facilitator. Everyday has its own unique check-in… lol. Being exposed to the digital world in such a manner has been fantastic and also made me hungry for new challenges. I can’t wait to try out new ideas.

Where to from here??? Well, after gaining so much knowledge, insight and guidance I cannot go anywhere but up.Thank you so much to Marlon and the entire RLabs crew. You have been amazing. You are a true blessing from God. May He continue to use you to brighten up the futures of so many more that will still pass through the Academy.

My experience within Entrepreneurship has really inspired me to start my own cupcake business! When I started here back in February this year I wasn’t interested in business at all!! But being here has made me interested in coming to class and learning new things to improve my knowledge on being an entrepreneur! What also struck me was how friendly and willing the facilitators are to help you achieve your business ideas! And how they were willing to even help us with our pitches which is really cool.

All the guest speakers that we had there were very interesting to listen to even though at times someone might have spoken too much,  they had given us excellent knowledge for the future!! Being at the Net Prophet was an awesome experience with great speakers giving us advice on how to start our own businesses. They also gave us motivation to go ahead with the idea even if we might be thinking that it’s silly, we should go ahead and plan for the future. We were told that it might even take up to 15 years for you  to have a successful business!! What stayed with me was Andre de Wet’s (whom was awarded best mobile app of the year by blackberry) quote at Net Prophet , he said  if you don’t like where you are going, change it!! You are not a tree!!

That’s my piece of advice to you as an entrepreneur.

I always tell myself that I am not into business because of various reasons. I am not a risk taker and I always thought that you would need money to start a business. I have been asking myself what am I really doing in the entrepreneurship classes, facilitators have tried everything to help me, but I never really enjoyed what I have been doing.

Up until last week when I went to Net prophet where we listened to different entrepreneurs, sharing their experiences (ups and downs & what they had to go through in order to be successful). From that moment on I caught a vision of seeing myself running my own business. I just need to now put my idea into action and cooperate with my partners. It has been a pleasure to be in the space of entrepreneurship, as I now feel that I am ready to use all of the knowledge I have been taught. I am more positive and I really appreciate my facilitators for the support they had given me.Showing me that there is no crazy idea, all one can do is, make it happen.

I have learnt a lot at RLabs, however learning is not enough, if the fruits are not seen. The skills that I had learnt need to be used. In that way it will help the people who took their time to invest in me.

My name is Chantal Nelson from the B1 class.

In this class I’ve learned that the smallest thing that seems impossible as a business idea can be made possible. I didn’t know that I can strive for things that upset me in my community and make it into an idea. To me ‘entrepreneur’ always seemed like a big word, but it’s just about doing things that’s close to my heart and making a business out of it. We were taught about debt and how to make good money decisions. Going to the Net prophet and subcouncil house in Cape Town, has also been an eye opener as I always doubted my abilities in knowing whether I could be an entrepreneur but now I do!

My name is Kuselwa Victoria Ntantiso, (lol) I know it’s a mouth full. I’ve been doing the Getsmarter course since the 7th of February 2013 at RLabs. The entrepreneurship class has really impressed me and pushed me. The conferences we attended like the Net Prophet event has shown me that all my failures.I have recounted are just stepping stones because in life we all have to fail so we  can learn to get back up and start again. When listening to things like I have started my own business eighteen times and out of all those business ideas only three have made it. Starting up your own business is a risk and that in a room of 20 people the fact  is that only 4 of them will take that risk, (fact) is it ain’t easy.

In conclusion I may not have the “Idea” at the moment or it might just be that I’m still thinking it through but what Entrepreneurship has given me is that we thinking of big ideas now. Also that I have the knowledge and the skills, I know I just need to be brave enough to see it through.Our sessions at RLabs may be coming to an end but the GrowZA team will stay with me forever.They are a family I’ve been a part of and will be a part of forever.
Follow me on twitter: @ntantisokr

My time at  Grow Academy, “specifically in Entrepreneurship class.” I experienced so many things and it had a major effect on my life.

Firstly, the facilitators in entrepreneurship were wonderful. It all started within the month of February. I was always wanting to learn and know more about things that involved business. There were times in entrepreneurship class where my mind wasn’t set on a clear business plan and I was not interested in anything at the beginning but as time passed by, I learnt so many things. We were taught that no matter what business idea or goal you may have, you should go after it and never give up. There were so many things that inspired me in an optimistic way. I would come to class, not feeling to do or even think positively, but then there were the videos. For some reason I really enjoyed watching them. It always made me have a different and positive mindset about life.

We attended conferences, one in particular was the Net prophet conference at the Artscape, which I really enjoyed. The guest speakers inspired me so much, because each one of them learnt and experienced things in their own life and were able to share it with us. We attended another conference and I learnt things there as well. The entrepreneurship class really did something in my life. I will not forget all the good times and I’ll always remember to chase my dream even if others think it’s crazy. What I’ll also remember is to always have fun!

I am Kendyll, a 21 year old, from Strandfontein. I was truly inspired by the Grow Academy, as it has  opened my eyes into all I want to achieve in life. RLabs has given me a chance to get a feel of how it would be to like study further, as I didn’t think I would ever experience it, because of money issues and so on.

They gave me hope and inspired me to believe in myself and go after my dreams. I liked the whole vibe of RLabs, as it is a happy place and there is so much upliftment. Every week i look forward to attending class as it let’s me forget about all my troubles. I have learnt so much in digital class, about the web and all those interesting things. In entrepreneurship, I learnt to go after my business idea and I’m going to do so, by having my own daycare centre, which won’t be like all the others, as I am so passionate about children and I would like to change my community and get them off the street and help them with their future. I liked leadership, as I am extremely shy and it has brought me out of my shell a bit. So sad it’s ending though.

In conclusion, my experience at RLabs, Grow Academy has been extremely fun and a good learning experience for me, which I will value and cherish for the rest of my days.

A dream is an aspiration, an unrefined hope, a “what-if”, an imagined thing you might do or experience someday. Dreams are cost-free, you can think about them without making any commitments or taking any steps towards them. Dreams don’t have to seem logical or even feasible in your current situation. Recruits were asked the question “What is it that you would like to achieve BEFORE YOU DIE”: Recruits had to identify the life categories they would like to see a change in and how they would make that change happen. They had to say what it is that is important to them, which gave them insight in learning about themselves.

These are the Life Categories that recruits looked at:

• Marriage/single
• Family and Children
• Work
• Financial Stewardship
• Spiritual Life
• Physical Stewardship
• Personal Development
• Social stewardship

Recreation and Hobbies

Recruits learnt about transformation and being authentic, experimentation and learning from past mistakes and regrets. People are always saying, ‘You should stop daydreaming!’ but here at the Grow Leadership Academy classes they want the recruits to start dreaming big by thinking out of the box and reaching for their dreams. What is it that they dreaming about, is it owning their own businesses one day, traveling or studying in different fields, teaching them that it’s okay not to stick to one dream and continue dreaming and seeing life in a different way . “Why is dreaming so important?”, you may ask yourself. It is a sign of hope and a stepping stone. For many of the greatest ideas were birthed from a dream. Someone having a dream and then acting on it, so why stop daydreaming when it can be the key to unlocking your future.

Rabia Adamson – 2011 Grow Academy Graduate

Greetings wonderful people out there on the world wide web:) It’s so nice to be connected and sharing this space with you. I’d like to introduce you to one of our many dedicated trainers Rabia Adamson, she has currently been with the Grow Academy for a period of 3 years and still feels the same level of excitement in sharing the knowledge as if it was day one.

1. Did you enjoy your first day of training and what are the fundamental takeaway factors of the session?

Rabia: Yes, I always enjoy working with youth.

The 5 Fundamentals:

1. The importance of the internet and the web.
2. How it influences our lives and the impact its growth have on our lives
3. How the internet works
4. History of the development of the internet
5. How does an internet user connect.

2.What do you enjoy about training and facilitating and what are some of the perceived challenges you face for what lies ahead? 

Rabia: I enjoy standing in front of a class and facing the fear I once had when i was last in high school, I was afraid of public speaking. And the best part about facilitating is imparting my skills to someone who had lost hope. My perceived challenge could only be internet failing.

3.Name three most important characteristics you would want people to know about you?

Rabia: My love and interest towards technology/social media. Always having a mind to teach somebody else. And for someone who never gives up in life.

4.Can you share an embarrassing digital moment with us? 

Rabia: When you don’t know how a Web Browser Addon works and you demonstrate it in your lesson to a class of learners.

5.Are there any highlights you are looking forward to for the rest of the year?

Rabia: To see all 120 learners successfully pass the UCT Getsmarter accredited course and of course complete the 18 week GROW Leadership course.

Its the fourth generation recruits Grow Academy group B registration today and I’m overwhelmed by the great turnout of candidates, well done guys!  70% of success is solely based on turning up and the fact that you all committed to growing and learning really shows that your well on your way to fulfilling your wildest dreams. This years academy is different in that it covers three core components, entrepreneurship, leadership and digital training over a period of 17 weeks.

Marlon Parker pioneer extraordinaire’  set the stage to welcoming all the new recruits. I had made the mistake of assuming that it would be the same speech. (looking forward to reminiscing about the memory bliss of the past year where I had sat in the same seat tear jerking my way through orientation). However new seasons render new beginnings and I was happily surprised by what was imparted. Growth being the focal theme, Marlon spoke about the fact that it takes courage to grow up and be the person who you really are and the person that the world needs. He emphasized that all recruits in the room were the chosen ones and that they were chosen out of the fact that Grow believes in them & that they have something to offer the world. Stating that the worst form of robbing is when your not living up to your full potential. In doing that you are doing a disservice to yourself and to the world.

Its about leaving a legacy behind that you would be remembered for & you would stand a better chance building that legacy by making a positive change in the world. RLabs is testament to making that change, currently RLabs is serving three million people around the world, meaning that they have a presence in 80 countries around the world all started from a small room in Bridgetown five years ago. Crazy isn’t it!