The Social Innovation Hub is run by the Rhodes University Community Engagement division. We are a nexus for stakeholders of social innovation in Grahamstown, connecting innovators, funders, educators and community leaders to share ideas and build projects that uplift the community from the ground. Our approach involves making computer equipment accessible as part of a public library, running digital storytelling and literacy training programs. Our community-driven and workshop based approach to digital storytelling encourages community members to self-represent, reflect on their lives and learn valuable life skills.
What skills and resources were you able to draw from the community for this project?
We have had support from local organisations - Joza Youth Hub, Awarenet and Assumption Development Centre - who are partners of RUCE and the Social Innovation Hub. We are also supported by the Common Good First project who supplied equipment for our library and the Winds of Change, (a local company). We have also employed three young people born and raised in the Eastern Cape to run the daily operations of the Hub. We have co-facilitated workshops with our community partners and continue to engage in mutually-beneficial partnerships.
The challenges
Marginalised communities are institutionally encouraged to rely on others for help rather than being given access to life opportunities to empower themselves. Digital skills help organisations market their work, connect to their communities, participate in the economy, upskill themselves and self-represent but access to technologies and internet is difficult to come by.
Addressing the challenges
To counter the disempowerment of communities, the SIH supports social innovators by offering digital skills and establishing networks for emotional and financial support. The SIH has a computer equipment borrowing library for innovators to borrow the tools they need. We also run training programs and workshops and support other ICT initiatives in the city.
The achievements
formed partnership with Vul'Indlela programme (RUCE) to train parents in digital literacy, held 12 Digital Storytelling workshops with community development practitioners, researchers, students, residents and teachers. We've had over 190 participants; formed collaboration with mobile partners, Awarenet, who use our workshop as a change of environment (and fast internet) for their learners; opened a semi-fixed lab in the Joza Youth Hub to assist Early Childhood Development practitioners learn digital skills and to teach Google CS First to younger learners; launched an online Digital Storytelling for Social Innovation course to keep our momentum going during the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions; launched YouTube story channel.
Token Project / Move One Million
Johannesburg, South Africa