Just for a Change

What’s your favourite song? And do you remember the first book you read that you could personally relate to? Stories are powerful and are how we’ve connected with each other for millennia. The forms of storytelling may vary, but the impact doesn’t change. Our guest for this episode, award-winning author Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni, knows the power of storytelling firsthand. With a Master's in Politics, she discovered children’s stories as a way to reach the younger generation with important messages of affirmation and inclusivity. Her most well-known children’s book, Wanda, is about a young girl learning to love her natural hair and embrace who she is. We also hear from Sivuyile Mtwetwe, a young entrepreneur who participated in the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and UCT’s Solution Space Changemaker Programme, a social entrepreneur who shares why he decided to create a prototype hair product made from local African ingredients. The Bertha Centre is the first specialised centre in Africa dedicated to advancing social innovation and entrepreneurship and focuses on researching, educating, convening, catalysing and advocating for social, environmental and economic justice. Find out more at https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/. This podcast is produced by 2stories in collaboration with the Bertha Centre, UCT Graduate School of Business, and the Bertha Foundation. Philippi Music Project Website [https://philippimusicproject.mystrikingly.com/] · 200 Young South Africans: Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni [https://200youngsouthafricans.co.za/sihle-isipho-nontshokweni-32-2022/] · Nal'ibali: Bongani Godide encourages mother tongue reading [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyxnAls_pF0] · Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/officialceehl/?hl=en] · TEDx: Jennifer Turnbull speaks on how art is the changemaker YouTube Clip [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMa_9x6aaFU] · IOL.co.za: Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni launches book about hair and consent [https://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/family/parenting/sihle-isipho-nontshokweni-launches-book-about-hair-and-consent-0db5b801-6d15-46ef-8bf0-992c33e3be53] · Wanda World Website [https://www.wandaworld.co.za/] · gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za : Philippi Village Changemakers Program [https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/catalysing/philippi-village-changemakers-programm/] · Nal'ibali Website [https://nalibali.org/who-we-are] · fullview.co.za: Meet award-winning writer Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni, author of Wanda the Brave. [https://fullview.co.za/lifestlye/item/14240-meet-award-winning-writer-sihle-isipho-nontshokweni-author-of-wanda-the-brave] · The 2021 Skipping Stones Honor Awards [https://www.skippingstones.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SkippingStones-BookAwards.pdf] · Bertha Centre [https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/] · Subscribe to the Bertha Centre newsletter [https://uct.everlytic.net/public/forms/h/E4v0Cg7HjY2q506O/ZjEzZTExMTNmMGNhMDNhNjhhMjYxOGEzZjVkZWRiOTBjZjQ0MDRjMw==] · JFAC S4 Ep.10_ What do children’s stories have to do with social justice_ Transcript.pdf — PDF (134.2 KB) [https://static.iono.fm/files/p1840/att_1459649_20240711_154013_src.pdf]

Did you know that in 2021 about 2.1 million, or 11,6%, of South African households reported experiencing hunger? Food insecurity remains a major social justice issue in South Africa due to the country’s history of inequality. What if vulnerable communities could relearn the lost art of cultivating and growing their own food again? Our guest for this episode, Renschia Manuel, founder of GrowBox Nursery, is showing local communities how to do just that, even in small spaces. Renschia has her own story of food insecurity and shares how she went from being unemployed to running a successful social enterprise which helps others gain food sovereignty. We also hear from Nicole Paganini, Programme Lead at Urban Food Futures, whose work in the area of food security has a special focus on women and children. She shares her thoughts on transforming food systems. The Bertha Centre is the first specialised centre in Africa dedicated to advancing social innovation and entrepreneurship and focuses on researching, educating, convening, catalysing and advocating for social, environmental and economic justice. Find out more at https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/. This podcast is produced by 2stories in collaboration with the Bertha Centre, UCT Graduate School of Business, and the Bertha Foundation. thinktank.com team Nicole Paganini/ [https://www.tmg-thinktank.com/team/nicole-paganini/] · Philippi Village Food Dialogue on Mandela Day 2022 YouTube Clip [https://youtu.be/KmRZQlFOmA8?t=135] · GrowBox Nursery Website [https://growboxnursery.co.za/who-we-are/] · TABLE What is food sovereignty? YouTube Clip [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgoiGhbUsrg] · Bhekisisa.org Floods, food and families: Why climate change makes eating well harder [https://bhekisisa.org/article/2024-02-19-floods-food-and-families-why-climate-change-makes-eating-well-harder/?utm_source=Bhekisisa+in+your+inbox&utm_campaign=303054fb30-Bhekisisa_Newsletter_19_February_2024_&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd2e6e958b-303054fb30-366371361&mc_cid=303054fb30&mc_eid=f2185e9e9d] · What is food sovereignty? (TABLE explainer video series) YouTube Clip [https://youtu.be/KgoiGhbUsrg?t=46] · fao.org: The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2023 [https://www.fao.org/3/cc3017en/online/state-food-security-and-nutrition-2023/policies-and-investments.html#note-5_73] · bu.edu What Is Food Justice? [https://www.bu.edu/csc/edref-2/what-is-food-justice/#:~:text=The%20Food%20Justice%20Movement%20works,in%20the%20food%20production%20process] · StatsSA: Focus on food inadequacy and hunger in South Africa in 2021 [https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=16235] · sahrc.org: Right To Food Fact Sheet [https://www.sahrc.org.za/home/21/files/brochure_A3_English.pdf] · Bertha Centre [https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/] · Subscribe to the Bertha Centre newsletter [https://uct.everlytic.net/public/forms/h/E4v0Cg7HjY2q506O/ZjEzZTExMTNmMGNhMDNhNjhhMjYxOGEzZjVkZWRiOTBjZjQ0MDRjMw==] · JFAC S4 Ep.9_ What do balconies have to do with food security_ Transcript.pdf — PDF (157.0 KB) [https://static.iono.fm/files/p1840/att_1459646_20240711_153337_src.pdf]

In South Africa in 2023, only 55% of the learners who had started school in 2012 finished grade 12. Let that sink in. That’s only just more than half. What kind of future are early school leavers facing in a country where the unemployment rate is already at 32.9%? Could there be a solution? With more support and another go at writing their matric exams, are young people given a better opportunity to succeed? Our guest on this episode, Sandiswa Gwele, seems to think so. She would know – she didn’t get her matric the first time either. Sandiswa is an entrepreneur and founder of Ukhanyo Foundation, an NPO that offers learners a second chance at finishing grade 12. The Ukhanyo Foundation offers academic support in the form of classes at Philippi Village, as well as personal development sessions and parenting dialogues. It really does take a village to help a learner pass matric. We also hear from Ntsiki Sackey, Marketing and Communications Officer at the Solution Space at UCT’s Graduate School of Business, who highlights the importance of innovative and entrepreneurial development programmes. The Bertha Centre is the first specialised centre in Africa dedicated to advancing social innovation and entrepreneurship and focuses on researching, educating, convening, catalysing and advocating for social, environmental and economic justice. Find out more at https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/. This podcast is produced by 2stories in collaboration with the Bertha Centre, UCT Graduate School of Business, and the Bertha Foundation. Ukhanyo Foundation Website [https://www.ukhanyofoundation.org/about-us] · Nonsikelelo Sackey LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nonsikeleloamandasackey/?originalSubdomain=za] · UCT GSB Solution Space LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/uctgsbsolutions/] · L&S Shuttle Services Website [https://lsshuttle.co.za/about/] · Business Tech: South Africa’s ‘real’ matric pass rate is only 55%/ [https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/743573/south-africas-real-matric-pass-rate-is-only-55] · StatsSA Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) – Q4: 2023 [https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0211/Media%20release%20QLFS%20Q4%202023.pdf] · eNCA: Youth unemployment still rife in South Africa YouTube Clip [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58Ikh6-dJPM] · Changing Her Life for the Better – Siphosethu's Story – Ukhanyo Foundation YouTube Clip [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0x2tjY0wj0] · Bertha Centre [https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/] · Subscribe to the Bertha Centre newsletter [https://uct.everlytic.net/public/forms/h/E4v0Cg7HjY2q506O/ZjEzZTExMTNmMGNhMDNhNjhhMjYxOGEzZjVkZWRiOTBjZjQ0MDRjMw==] · JFAC S4 Ep.8_ What does owning a minibus have to do with the matric pass rate_ Transcript .pdf — PDF (161.6 KB) [https://static.iono.fm/files/p1840/att_1459641_20240711_152841_src.pdf]

Most of us have heard the words Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Depending on what you think of these advances in technology, these words could strike fear or delight in your heart. Or perhaps you’re still on the fence about this one. But what if these advances in technology could do more than write a paragraph for you or create a fake photo? In this episode, Tebogo Mokwele, an alumnus of the e-Track Programme for high-impact entrepreneurs launched by the UCT Graduate School of Business’s Solution Space, is a social entrepreneur who has identified some incredible opportunities in this field for closing the gap in the area of on-the-job training and skills development. Someone else who is interested in Virtual Reality is Dr Jason Van Staden, Project Manager of Research and Training in the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Innovative Finance portfolio. Jason comments on how Virtual Reality technology is being used in innovative finance to lower the barriers to entry for the underbanked in Africa. The Bertha Centre is the first specialised centre in Africa dedicated to advancing social innovation and entrepreneurship and focuses on researching, educating, convening, catalysing and advocating for social, environmental and economic justice. Find out more at https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/. This podcast is produced by 2stories in collaboration with the Bertha Centre, UCT Graduate School of Business, and the Bertha Foundation. MonoByte Group LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/monobyte-group/about/] · MonoByte Group Website [https://www.monobyte.co.za/] · Exceed Safety Immersive Training in the Metaverse YouTube Clip [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35LSwwVuhnA] · Tebogo Mokwele LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tebogo-mokwele-9506278/recent-activity/all/] · SA Forestry Magazine Chainsaw Training in VR - Forestry South Africa YouTube Clip [https://youtu.be/K42Q1GmrieA?t=31] · Pwc.com: PwC 2022 US Metaverse Survey [https://www.pwc.com/us/en/tech-effect/emerging-tech/metaverse-survey.html] · UCT GSB Solution Space Website [https://gsbsolutionspace.uct.ac.za/] · Bertha Centre [https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/] · Subscribe to the Bertha Centre newsletter [https://uct.everlytic.net/public/forms/h/E4v0Cg7HjY2q506O/ZjEzZTExMTNmMGNhMDNhNjhhMjYxOGEzZjVkZWRiOTBjZjQ0MDRjMw==] · JFAC S4 Ep.7_ What VR has to do with fighting fires_. Transcript .pdf — PDF (169.8 KB) [https://static.iono.fm/files/p1840/att_1459638_20240711_152420_src.pdf]

According to the World Economic Forum, 35% of global crop production happens because of bees. Without these insects, you wouldn't have some of your favourite foods. Unfortunately, bees are at risk of extinction because of harmful pesticides and behaviours such as smoking them out because they are still thought of as pests. So, how can we all live harmoniously with bees and make sure we preserve them for our ecosystems and food security? And can we harness bees as an economic growth opportunity in underserved communities? A social entrepreneur and co-founder of Local Village Africa, Mmabatho Portia Morudi, has some great ideas on this front. She has developed several successful projects that not only preserve bee colonies but are also transforming local communities. Another agricultural project bringing economic and social benefits to an “under-resourced” community in Cape Town is the Amaqanda Learning Garden in Philippi. We spoke to Esethu Mbooi, who has some insights on how we can take care of the land so that it takes care of us in return, one garden at a time. The Bertha Centre is the first specialised centre in Africa dedicated to advancing social innovation and entrepreneurship and focuses on researching, educating, convening, catalysing and advocating for social, environmental and economic justice. Find out more at https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/. This podcast is produced by 2stories in collaboration with the Bertha Centre, UCT Graduate School of Business, and the Bertha Foundation. Buy the African Harvest Activity Book Mmabatho Portia Morudi LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmabatho-portia-morudi-5110b84a/?originalSubdomain=za] · Dr Sam Motsuenyane Our Team [https://drsammotsuenyane-rdf.org/trustee/mmabatho-portia-morudi/] · Your Positive Imprint.com Saving Africa’s Honey Bees. Sustainable Beekeeper Mmabatho Portia Morudi [https://yourpositiveimprint.com/episodes/saving-africas-honey-bees-beekeeper-mmabatho-portia-morudi/] · The UCT GSB Solution Space Website [https://gsbsolutionspace.uct.ac.za/] · WEF: 75% of crops depend on pollinators - they must be protected [https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/protect-pollinators-food-security-biodiversity-agriculture/] · Be The Earth Foundation: Amaqanda Learning Garden - Regenerative Farming YouTube Clip [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdANI_GBfLw] · Philippi Village Get to know more about the Amaqanda Learning Garden and our Green Gaudian Esethu Mbooi YouTube Clip [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLBlGKYnXH8] · Philippi Village Website [https://philippivillage.co.za/] · Bertha Centre [https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/] · Subscribe to the Bertha Centre newsletter [https://uct.everlytic.net/public/forms/h/E4v0Cg7HjY2q506O/ZjEzZTExMTNmMGNhMDNhNjhhMjYxOGEzZjVkZWRiOTBjZjQ0MDRjMw==] · JFAC S4 Ep.6_ What do bees have to do with empowering communities_ Transcript .docx.pdf — PDF (161.8 KB) [https://static.iono.fm/files/p1840/att_1459637_20240711_151949_src.pdf]