Reslocate

The challenge the Reslocate is addressing is “Generate new economic opportunities and buffer against economic shocks for workers, including good job creation, workforce development, and inclusive and attainable asset ownership.”

South Africa’s high school and university students are experiencing difficulty with transitioning from high school to university and from university to employment. As a result 3.6 million young people aged 15-24 years were not in employment, education or training. Additionally, 50% of first year students drop out annually further adding to the 59.4% youth unemployment rate for youth between the ages of 15-35.

Reslocate utilizes AI-powered matchmaking to offers a comprehensive career guidance suite. This suite leverages various tech tools to equip students, including exam and university preparation resources, interview skill development modules, and targeted job listing algorithms. Recognizing the financial constraints students face, the platform integrates with scholarship databases, bursary programs, and even crowd-funding platforms, creating a one-stop financial aid resource.  By targeting high school and tertiary students alongside their guardians, Reslocate caters to a tech-savvy demographic seeking online resources and a supportive virtual network.

Reslocate aims to support a population with vast potential yet encountering significant obstacles, as evidenced by statistics: unequal access to quality education, highlighted by a World Bank study revealing that only 60% of South African high school graduates meet minimum competency levels in mathematics; high youth unemployment, exceeding 60% for individuals aged 15-24 according to Statistics South Africa; and financial constraints, with over 70% of university applicants requiring financial assistance according to a 2021 NSFAS report. By providing a centralized platform with exam prep, scholarship opportunities, and peer-to-peer support, Reslocate directly addresses these challenges, empowering South African students and their guardians to navigate their educational and professional journeys with greater confidence.

Our team consists of a father, brothers, uncles, an aunt and a mother. That’s Lucas, Myself, Zii and Mpho. Before our professional designations, these are our roles on a daily basis and we are often tasked with helping the future captains of industry (youth) navigate the challenges we are addressing with Reslocate. Furthermore, we have family members that are educators in the high school and tertiary education sector who constant inform us of their challenges and how we can develop a product that can indeed make a difference in the lives of their students.

Reslocate is currently in a prototype phase. We began by developing a student housing platform, which provided us with valuable user insights that have informed the new direction we're taking. This shift has led to the development of a more comprehensive suite of features, including those currently available (user registration, login, property listing, search & filtering, secure payment system) and functionalities still under development (messaging, payment processing, stories & image posting, community support & resources, job listings, financial support facility, and AI matchmaker).

Reslocate's transition from prototype to a fully functional platform requires comprehensive support. On the human capital front, we need to source talented individuals to fill key positions. This includes building a strong development team with software engineers and personnel in data science to manage the evolving technology stack. We also need board members with expertise in education technology or social impact ventures would be invaluable.

Legally, ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations like POPIA and navigating any legalities surrounding financial aid resources and student interactions is crucial. To measure our impact and identify areas for improvement, we need to establish a system for collecting and analyzing user data. This data will be vital in gauging the platform's success in areas like job placement rates and scholarship acquisition.

Reslocate's innovation lies in its comprehensive approach, integrating academic prep, career guidance, financial aid resources, and an AI-powered community platform, streamlining the search process for students. AI-powered matching fosters peer support, while data-driven targeting ensures students access the most relevant opportunities. This innovation could foster a more interconnected ecosystem of educational resources, encouraging open data sharing to optimize resource allocation and empowering smaller organizations to develop similar systems. Ultimately, Reslocate has the potential to elevate student support platforms, enhance student outcomes, and promote educational equity by making resources more accessible and affordable.

Reslocate stands out for its holistic approach, seamlessly blending academic preparation, career guidance, financial aid resources, and an AI-powered community platform, sparing students the hassle of scouring scattered resources. With AI-driven matching facilitating peer support and data-driven targeting ensuring access to the most relevant opportunities, this innovation could catalyze a more interconnected educational ecosystem. Open data sharing, inspired by Reslocate's model, could optimize resource allocation, especially given the stark realities: only 60% of South African high school graduates meet minimum competency levels in mathematics, youth unemployment surpasses 60% for ages 15-24, and over 70% of university applicants require financial assistance. Through this, smaller organizations could be empowered to develop similar systems. Ultimately, Reslocate holds promise in elevating student support platforms, lifting student outcomes, and advancing educational equity by enhancing accessibility and affordability of resources.

Goal 1: Improved Academic Performance

Indicator 1: Tracking user engagement with academic prep resources (e.g., time spent on practice tests, downloads of study materials).

Indicator 2: Partnering with educational institutions to monitor university acceptance rates of Reslocate users compared to the national average.

Indicator 3: Conducting surveys to measure student self-reported improvement in academic confidence and preparedness.

Goal 2: Enhanced Career Prospects

Indicator 1: Tracking the number of job applications submitted through Reslocate's platform.

Indicator 2: Monitoring job placement rates of Reslocate users after graduation (through surveys or partnerships with employers).

Indicator 3: Collecting user feedback on the relevance and effectiveness of AI-powered job recommendations.

Goal 3: Increased Access to Financial Aid

Indicator 1: Tracking the number of scholarship applications initiated through Reslocate's platform.

Indicator 2: Partnering with scholarship providers to monitor the success rate of Reslocate users in acquiring scholarships.

Indicator 3: Conducting surveys to measure student awareness and utilization of Reslocate's financial aid resources.

Cloud Computing:  Reslocate's platform will be built on a cloud-based infrastructure. This allows for scalability and flexibility, ensuring the platform can handle a growing user base and integrate with various external resources.

Web Development Technologies:  The user interface and user experience will be powered by  HTML, CSS, and  React. To ensure a user-friendly and responsive platform accessible across various devices.

Machine Learning (ML):  The AI-powered matching and data-driven recommendations rely on machine learning algorithms. These algorithms will analyze user data (academic goals, interests, skills) to connect students with similar profiles and recommend relevant job listings and scholarships.

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs):  We will integrate with external resources like scholarship databases, job boards, and educational content providers through APIs for for a seamless flow of data and ensures students have access to the most up-to-date information.

Data Analytics:  Collecting and analyzing user data is crucial for measuring the platform's impact and improving its functionalities. Data analytics tools will  be used to track user engagement, identify trends, and refine the algorithms powering the AI features.

4-Full time.

1-Part Time.

4 Years.

As the Reslocate team, we understand that true innovation comes from a variety of perspectives. That's why we're committed to building a team that's as diverse and inclusive as the students we aim to empower. We're actively seeking talent through partnerships with organizations focused on underrepresented groups in tech, and we've implemented blind resume reviews to eliminate unconscious bias during selection.

We know finances shouldn't be a barrier to opportunity. We will offer competitive salaries with regular pay audits to ensure fairness, and flexible work arrangements to accommodate diverse needs. Additionally, we believe in continuous learning, so we will reimburse educational expenses and have mentorship programs specifically designed to help new team members from underrepresented backgrounds thrive.

But it's not just about policies. We're fostering a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued. We have zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment, and open communication channels for anyone with concerns. Team-building activities celebrate our differences, and our physical workspace is accessible and inclusive.

By building a team that reflects the richness of South Africa, we're not just creating a better work environment, we're ensuring we have the best team possible to tackle the challenges faced by our student users. A diverse and inclusive Reslocate is a more innovative Reslocate, and that means a brighter future for the students we serve.