PENNY MKHIZE'S ENERGY SOLUTIONS SET TO PUT AFRICA ON

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What if there was a viable alternative to solar power, especially in a country like South Africa, where unemployment is rife and the majority of the employed population is barely surviving?

Solution driven entrepreneur Penelope Mkhize and her team are on their way to becoming South Africa’s darlings and saving grace with plans to install hydro power stations.

In layman’s terms, hydro power stations are the use of rivers or damn water to generate electricity These power stations can be generally classified under one of three groups, impoundment, diversion, and pumped storage.

In South Africa particularly, the introduction of hydropower stations is guaranteed to have a direct positive impact on our ongoing fight against unemployment as the installation of these power stations is bound to create hundreds of job opportunities across all of our 9 provinces

The company PenCT may sound like an answer to South Africans’ prayers against load shedding but the birth of this entity is actually an answer to the prayers of a divorced single mother of three who is a domestic violence and gender-based violence survivor Penny Mkhize’s response to the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband is the epitome of what South Africans mean by Mbokodo

In the thick of abuse and her children’s lives being turned upside down to the point of being removed from school,

“We want to address the needs of society under #1Africa,1Civilization so that rural communities do not get left behind but are also beneficiaries of development The Department of Education is interested in partnering with us as we feel it is important to introduce technology as early as primary school level. The value of Pen CT is that we want the community to see renewable energy as a business and groom them to actually embark on their own entrepreneurial journey in this sector” instead of succumbing to a victim mentality, she dusted herself, picked herself up, and embarked on an entrepreneurial journey that would lead to her setting up PenCT which evolved from her previous establishment Pencil Enterprize Penny’s hard work has not gone unnoticed as she has been recognized in the Top 10 Females in ICT twice

In addition to this, Empower Her also recognized her as a finalist in entrepreneurship The government of South Africa has also opened up an extremely significant door by recommending Pen CT to the European Development Fund. I say extremely significant because this fund is very exclusive and in order to be recommended to them, one has to be a major key player in their industry

The success of hydropower stations has been proven worldwide, with major countries such as China, Brazil, and Canada being among many nations that continue to enjoy its reliability.

If all goes according to plan, these hydropower stations could very well be the answer that the entire African continent has been praying for, and as we speak Nigeria and Lesotho have both expressed their interest in collaborating with Mkhize’s brainchild PenCT to introduce this innovation in their respective countries.

The Nigerian government seems to have a clear picture of how far they want to take this as they are eyeing PenCT for a presentation around a smart city project. Research studies have proven that small as it is, Lesotho has the potential to supply 60% of the water required in the entire SADC Region; which translates to that country having all the necessary Hydro PowerStation elements. Not only is this an initiative that will bring hope against the decade-long energy crisis in the continent but the greater goal is to combat poverty, and climate change and boost the economy. Before the end of this month (July 2023) PenCT is hoping to jump on a tender in the land of the beautiful Rainbow Nation, South Africa.

“Gender based violence is within the policies of Pen CT; and Pen CT at its core has what I call the heart of a woman” says Penny who has her heart set on not just giving abused women a voice but is determined to help them claim their power back with her plans to create employment for other gender based violence survivors.

By: Mbali Mbatha

There’s been a lot of talk around quiet quitting. This is the trend where employees put in a minimal amount of effort just to get through the workday Although this trend is disturbing, we need to take a look at some underlying factors that contribute.

Nothing has been the same since Covid. Lives have changed, working situations have changed, and we all interact differently. I understand this as a husband, father, and CEO As a result, we need to approach things differently. We’ll get into the reasons why quiet quitting is worse than just quitting. I believe that it means people are struggling to find meaning in their work

The power of purpose

We’re at a point where work has lost meaning People are tired of being someone at work they’re not This trend is not only hurting the workplace, it’s making all of us more aware of why the “traditional” workplace has never worked. All of us want to be passionate and engaged in what we do each day to earn a living For me, this has been my entrepreneurship, my kids, and my work on Instagram my passions. But for many, they aren’t passionate about what they do in the workplace

Quiet quitting means that workers are lacking in enthusiasm, which points to the silver lining of the pandemic: people are starting to choose what they want to do

Quiet quitting didn’t become a movement in the workplace until after Covid hit What is important about the quiet quitting trend is that it’s waking all of us up to an economic situation in which many are forced to take jobs just to make ends meet, and to an economic climate that makes it more challenging than ever for people make a living doing what they love To break the pattern of quiet quitting, this is the time to follow your passion so that you’re not just showing up somewhere to make a buck

We choose how we withdraw

You’ve probably had an experience where you’re done with a job or relationship. You step out of that situation in your own way. There’s nothing wrong with that! But know that if you see yourself checking out of your job or a relationship, that’s a sign for you Something must be done, and if you can’t do it right now, begin to make a plan. If your day-to-day is not engaging you, you’re not valuing what is engaging you And if you’re a leader who sees your employees checking out, this is a great opportunity for you to step back and reframe.

If you’re an employer, you may be more willing to hire a quiet quitter I get it The labor market has not been kind. But for employers, that means we need to step up our game by focusing on two things:

It’s not easy, but those who are hiring are looking for character Those who are being hired based on character are looking for a culture that nurtures who they are.

We choose how we withdraw

It’s not easy, but those who are hiring are looking for character Those who are being hired based on character are looking for a culture that nurtures who they are Quiet quitting isn’t just appearing in the working environment, it’s also showing up in relationships. People can quietly check out any kind of relationship, whether personal or business And to put this trend fully into context, quiet firing is also occurring When a situation is unrewarding, “checking out” can go both ways.

In any working environment, some are super engaged, others are detached, and the rest are quiet quitters They’re sticking around because they need to but aren’t all in. Although this trend might seem strange, you likely understand because you’ve felt this way or know someone else who does It’s not strange; in fact, it’s sadly normal

Breaking the cycle by finding meaning

As an entrepreneur, I hold a leadership position I have realized that those who work for me need to feel the passion that I feel in order to stay engaged The last few years have led us all to disconnect. The job market may be uncertain, but the solution to quiet quitting is to feel involved and passionate about what we do Our professional lives need to meet our personal lives to be sustainable. We may have to work, but we should work where our hearts are. This may seem like a luxury for many, but it is worth the time to see where your heart is and follow it to a place where you can make money.

To end the cycle of quiet quitting, find that thing that fills you with passion Don’t show up and do the minimum. Find what you love and pour your whole heart into it.