Bridget’s Learning Hub, an e-learning hub that provides tutoring and mentoring services to primary and high school students all across South Africa, won its 24-year-old founder the 1st Runner-up prize in the Existing Business: Social Impact category.
As one of 23 finalists – seven in the Social Impact category, Bridget Mtetwa presented her business at the 6th EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2024 national finals held in Johannesburg on November 21. The impressed judges commented on her achievements at such a young age.
The first year Masters of Sciences (Pharmacy) Rhodes University student narrated how the idea came about: “My little sister was in matric and struggling. I wanted to help as she was doing the same subjects that I did in Grade 12. But there were learning gaps she needed to bridge, in order to apply herself in her final exams. I helped her and her friends and thought of sharing this online. Online wouldn’t limit me to do the lessons at a certain location but I also wanted to hire others – university students – to be able to earn an income. That is how Bridget’s Learning Hub was born.”
Ms Bridget Mtetwa, founder of Bridget’s Learning Hub and 1st Runner-up in the Existing Business: Social Impact category.
“Our mission is simple, yet profound: to bridge learning gaps and provide quality education to assist with the accomplishment of SDG 4: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
“Bridget’s Learning Hub is a 100% women, black-youth owned South African company that was established in 2021,” she said.
The Learning hub’s services include:
- One-on-one tutoring
- Group tutoring
She said that feedback from satisfied clients was promising. Her company also provides resources (work sheets, past papers and simplified notes) through their portal.
She described the Hub’s social impact as twofold:
- Students have learning gaps due to Covid that need to be identified and guided with the best resources to address the gaps
- Large numbers of qualified youth are unemployed and could be used as tutors or mentors.
A snippet of Bridget’s Learning Hub dashboard of service offerings.
“We are leveraging on technology to provide automated ways to identify learning gaps while working with experienced tutors, their parents and teachers. We are also creating a virtual platform that allows tutors, university students and graduates to earn an income while sharing their knowledge.
“Our social impact isn’t just from the tutoring company. We also partnered with Inkuleleko (a non-profit organisation in South Africa that provides education and support to young people from underprivileged backgrounds) which gives us an opportunity to give tutoring, career guidance and mentorship services to students who cannot afford it.”
She said the market was huge with 2,4 million students in primary and secondary education.
“What makes us different from our competitor is that we have a strategic approach:
- We work with tutors, mentors, teachers and parents
- We provide career guidance to those between Grade 8 and Grade 12
- We provide resources so students are able to revise and challenge themselves.
- We provide results.
Additional services:
The Hub works with third-party company, Skillspassport, that links the students to the World of Work by testing their verbal / non-verbal / numeracy / personality and interests, aligning them with the career best suited for them.
“We are developing selfless, servant leaders empowered for academic and life success,” Mtetwa said.
She said additional funding would enable them to expand services and get a physical hub that would allow them to give back to our community. “Bridget’s Learning Hub isn’t just an educational service. It aims to have lasting impact.”
Questions and Answers
Judge Martin Matshego, Head of Investment Readiness, Fetola: We will try to get you into a tech incubator because there is a lot you can fix and build on.
Ms Khwezi Fudu Cenenda, Director: Enterprise and Supplier Development, Avocado Vision: What do you charge?
Mtetwa: We’re still focusing on online – we’re still developing an app that allows to go hybrid because we need police clearance to make it safe for our students. We charge R180 an hour for primary school students, and R230 for the high school students.
Judge Zakheni Ngubo (right) – Chief Executive Officer, Blankett Technologies Group: How much do the teachers get?
Mtetwa: The tutors get R100 per hour. If they do a group lesson, they get R120 per hour.
Judge Martin Matshego: Who runs the business? How long has it taken to build this? And how old are you?
Mtetwa: I am the director. But this year I hired an assistant who does more of the running of it. I work more on finance and sales – bringing in more students. We are in our third year going into our 4th year. I am 24-years-old.
Charmain Naidoo is a contract writer for Universities South Africa.