On Wednesday, 28 May, we welcomed the team from TechnoServe (TNS) to our RLabs space – a great day filled with knowledge-sharing, and hands-on experience with the work we are doing – to build more sustainable and resilient communities.
We kicked things off with introductions, a few friendly greetings – a great way to set the tone for the day. Director of RLabs Group, Craig Dumont, shared a powerful message:
“As RLabs, we don’t just look at one thing, we look at how we can improve the overall community.” The visit was all about opening up our space and showing how our ReCha project operates – not just as a project, but as a living, breathing part of the community ecosystem.
Teri-Lee Dilgee, Chief of Expansion, led our guests on a full tour of the building, highlighting the everyday work that RLabs does, and our guests were eager to learn more about our hands-on work.
Our visitors then got a glimpse of the creativity that shapes the RH space, as well as taking a walk through our AgriTech Garden – which addresses food insecurity by providing education and tools for community members to grow their own food – right where they live.
Tohierah Van Wyk, Coordinator of the RLabs AgriTech Garden, explained the vision behind the garden:
“We want to teach people about agriculture and show them that they can also do this at home. We welcome everyone!”
We then got down to ReCha business! In our Co-Working Space, Storm Rhoda, founder of African Intelligent Machines (AIM), took the group through an in-depth session on how ReCha uses technology to power impact.
He shared how ReCha tracks data, manages inventory, and supports local ReChas through a custom-built digital platform. With Craig Dumont, they delivered a live demo that showed how this tech is streamlining real-world community work.
After lunch, we hit the road for a ride-along tour – a chance for our visitors to see a ReCha in action.
One stop included a passionate ReCha owner, Levern Jochans, who walked us through her process of collecting cardboard, sorting recyclables, and earning income from her work.
“It makes a difference because we can buy milk or bread. You meet people every day and every day you can be an encouragement to the community.”
From her efficient workspace to her inspiring words, it was clear: ReChas are making a real difference.
Our final stop was at Ncinci Ndiqala in Swartklip – a registered, family-run waste management company and proud partner of the ReCha aggregation system. Caz Johnson, Head of Operations for Ncinci Ndiqala, showed the team around and shared how their operation supports broader recycling efforts in the community.
We are grateful to have had the opportunity to share our work and to continue building partnerships that uplift communities.
If you want to learn more about how you can support or partner with ReCha, get in touch – we would love to connect.
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