Key Individual:
Schalk Burger & Sicelo Joja


Who can benefit from this study?
Policy/decision-makers
Practitioners/professionals
Technical people
Funders


Organisation responsible for case study:
Name: Xhuma

Org. type: For-Profit/business

[icon name=”envelope-square” prefix=”fas”]admin@xhuma.io
[icon name=”external-link-square-alt” prefix=”fas”] http://www.xhuma.io


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Xhuma: Connecting you with opportunities

Post Status: Not applicable
Main Project Location: Johannesburg
Project country/countries: South Africa
Project dates:  –
Last updated: 23 March 2022


Brief overview of the Case Study   

Xhuma, a digital technology company specialising in education, aims to encourage grade 12 pupils to further their education, by connecting pupils to companies with bursaries available.The education platform Xhuma helps disadvantage students choose a career path, compile a CV and helps them apply for bursaries via WhatsApp.

The challenge or problem

Millions of families in South Africa cannot afford aptitude tests nor do they have access to a career guidance counsellor, but Xhuma allows pupils to do an aptitude test for free. Burger, Co-Founder of Xhuma says participants are encouraged to write aptitude tests before they submit their bursary applications.

The solution that was implemented

The education platform Xhuma helps disadvantaged students choose a career path, compile a CV, and helps them apply for bursaries via WhatsApp. Grade 12 learners will also be able to take aptitude tests via the service – but will have to pay between R599 and R999 to obtain results. Matric pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds can also identify courses to study, apply for 40 bursaries, and create a CV in 15 minutes thanks to Xhuma’ s WhatsApp chatbot.
Bursaries from FNB and Investec, as well as Pick n Pay, Pioneer Foods, Nampak, HP, Tourvest and many others are on offer via the WhatsApp service.

Here’s how the bursary application:
After accessing the Xhuma website, pupils can click on 'How the bursary chatbot works' for a quick summary of the process, including a list of the documents required.
The 'Take me to WhatsApp' option will direct learners to Xhuma’s WhatsApp page where they will be required to provide personal information required for the application.
Once these steps are completed, Xhuma provides candidates with a list of relevant courses that they can apply for at universities.
Based on the course students will be studying, a list of appropriate bursaries will then be sent via WhatsApp, allowing learners to choose their top two prospective options. Their details will also be shared with all the other companies in the network. The learner's application will be sent to up to 40 companies.

What results were achieved?

“We created Xhuma to connect aspiring talent with opportunities. Whether you need funding to further your studies or still need to unpack what future opportunity you should pursue - we’ve got you covered. By using the latest technology, Xhuma is pushing the envelope to give all aspiring talent a shot at success”. (extracted from Xhuma)
Pupils from rural Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces have applied using the Xhuma chatbot.

Successes
Africa Tech Week 2020 Finalists
Startup School Winner 2020
GES Awards Finalist 2021
Appsafrica Innovation Awards Winner 2020

Case study images

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