Three years ago the Indigo Trust came in as sole funder of Kenyan farming SMS service, iCow. The trust ended up awarding £87 782 in total, but the company now has 150 000 users and a signed deal with the country’s largest mobile operator Safaricom. Founder of iCow, Su Kahumbu, tells us more… “We provide […]
Success story: How iCow scaled and scaled
By Loren Treisman
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Inside | Loren Treisman
She has a PhD from Cambridge and expertise in international development, governance, health and the use of technology to spur social change. She’s the Executive of Indigo Trust, a grant-making foundation that supports tech-driven projects in Africa, particularly those involving innovation, transparency and citizen empowerment. Loren regularly presents at conferences and writes for the international press, including The Guardian, CNN and the BBC. She was named one of the 20 Powerful Women to Watch in 2014 in The Huffington Post. She also likes to go camping just about every weekend.
Solving local problems with local solutions (#1)
By Moses Wasamu
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Drones. Grain silos. Biogas. These Kenyan innovations are having great impact both on the ground and in the air. They work because they find answers to local challenges from inside the sectors and communities they serve. Community slaughterhouse turns waste into portable biogas Michael Njau laments the fact that Kenya’s economic growth strategy does not […]
Inside | Moses Wasamu
Moses is a Kenyan communication specialist who writes on media, health, education, youth affairs, religion and new technology. He’s based in Nairobi, but writes for various international publications including The Star in Kenya, the New Internationalist (UK), World Magazine (US), Christianity Today (US), and Christian Times (Juba). He was a Joel Belz Media Fellow in 2012 and a Citizen News Service Health Fellow in 2013. When he’s not writing for work, Moses reads, writes and blogs for leisure… or watches soccer.
Solving local problems with local solutions (#2)
By Moses Wasamu
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Community silos benefit farmers and food security The East African Grain Council recently announced that post-harvest losses in the region are estimated at Ksh 134.4 billion (or US $1.6 million) a year. That’s almost equivalent to the total food aid received in East Africa annually! Poor transportation, drying and storage, pest infestation, disease and market […]
Inside | Moses Wasamu
Moses is a Kenyan communication specialist who writes on media, health, education, youth affairs, religion and new technology. He’s based in Nairobi, but writes for various international publications including The Star in Kenya, the New Internationalist (UK), World Magazine (US), Christianity Today (US), and Christian Times (Juba). He was a Joel Belz Media Fellow in 2012 and a Citizen News Service Health Fellow in 2013. When he’s not writing for work, Moses reads, writes and blogs for leisure… or watches soccer.
Solving local problems with local solutions (#3)
By Moses Wasamu
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Local journalists use drones to elevate African news Some call them Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), others prefer Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), but we’ll just call them drones. The technology is a touch controversial because of its military origin. But drones are also useful for civilian purposes – one of which is improving journalism and reporting, […]
Inside | Moses Wasamu
Moses is a Kenyan communication specialist who writes on media, health, education, youth affairs, religion and new technology. He’s based in Nairobi, but writes for various international publications including The Star in Kenya, the New Internationalist (UK), World Magazine (US), Christianity Today (US), and Christian Times (Juba). He was a Joel Belz Media Fellow in 2012 and a Citizen News Service Health Fellow in 2013. When he’s not writing for work, Moses reads, writes and blogs for leisure… or watches soccer.
Reformed gangsters transform a community
By Khethiwe Cele
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The CeaseFire concept was imported from the US to clean up crime in Cape Town’s notorious suburb, Hanover Park. But local context and community involvement is making the project especially successful in this locale. And so is an approach that treats it like a brand… and like a gang. The problem of gangsterism is a […]
Inside | Khethiwe Cele
After dabbling in chemistry and teaching English in South Korea, Khethiwe has found her place and purpose in the social sector. She has an MBA from the UCT Graduate School of Business – her research focussed on Social Impact Bonds and prisoner reinsertion. She now manages the Social Franchising Accelerator at the Bertha Centre, a project that helps organisations to scale their work. In addition to spreading social impact, Khethiwe is passionate about community safety and helping formerly incarcerated people reintegrate into society. “I believe incredible potential can be found in some of the most overlooked places and people – especially prisoners,” she says. “One day, I’ll start a venture that will show this to the world.”
Winner 1.1: Operation Sakuma Sakhe
By Gus Silber
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The health innovator KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier and BroadReach Healthcare. The innovation Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) is a united front against poverty and illness, bringing Government, municipalities, NGOs and communities together to fight poverty in one of South Africa’s poorest provinces. Winner of the Collaboratively Reimagining Care Award at the 2014 Inclusive Healthcare Innovation Summit The […]
Inside | Gus Silber
Gus Silber is a journalist, author, editor and scriptwriter based in Johannesburg. His books include The Phelophepa Health Care Train, Ten lessons From the Future and Radical Innovation, co-authored with Wolfgang Grulke. “Healthcare and innovation happen to be two of my abiding interests as a journalist,” he says. “Too often, we focus on the gloom and doom surrounding social services in our country. The iHI Review was an opportunity to shine a light on the good and the great.” Memeburn considers Gus one of the 50+ prominent South African journalists on Twitter. Find out why: @gussilber.
Winner 1.2: Electronic Continuity Of Care Record
By Gus Silber
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The health innovator Western Cape Department of Health The innovation The eCCR (Electronic Continuity of Care Record) is a software application designed to integrate and digitise medical records for patients being discharged from public health facilities. Winner of the Collaboratively Reimagining Care Award at the 2014 Inclusive Healthcare Innovation Summit The action Groote Schuur Hospital […]
Inside | Gus Silber
Gus Silber is a journalist, author, editor and scriptwriter based in Johannesburg. His books include The Phelophepa Health Care Train, Ten lessons From the Future and Radical Innovation, co-authored with Wolfgang Grulke. “Healthcare and innovation happen to be two of my abiding interests as a journalist,” he says. “Too often, we focus on the gloom and doom surrounding social services in our country. The iHI Review was an opportunity to shine a light on the good and the great.” Memeburn considers Gus one of the 50+ prominent South African journalists on Twitter. Find out why: @gussilber.
Winner 2.1: Parents Guidance Centre Reakgona
By Gus Silber
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The health innovator Undine ‘Mmatumelo’ Rauter, Gelukspan, North West Province The innovation The Parents Guidance Centre (PGC) at the Gelukspan District Hospital is a “University of Life”, set up in one of the poorest rural areas of the country. The aim is to challenge misperceptions around disability, and empower youth and adults through counselling, therapy, and […]
Inside | Gus Silber
Gus Silber is a journalist, author, editor and scriptwriter based in Johannesburg. His books include The Phelophepa Health Care Train, Ten lessons From the Future and Radical Innovation, co-authored with Wolfgang Grulke. “Healthcare and innovation happen to be two of my abiding interests as a journalist,” he says. “Too often, we focus on the gloom and doom surrounding social services in our country. The iHI Review was an opportunity to shine a light on the good and the great.” Memeburn considers Gus one of the 50+ prominent South African journalists on Twitter. Find out why: @gussilber.
AfriTox: Winner 2.2
By Gus Silber
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The health innovator Clare Roberts, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Cape Town The innovation AfriTox is a digital and online database of toxins and toxic substances, providing easy access to potentially life-saving knowledge in emergencies. Winner of the Transforming the System From the Inside Out Award at the 2014 Inclusive Healthcare Innovation Summit […]
Inside | Gus Silber
Gus Silber is a journalist, author, editor and scriptwriter based in Johannesburg. His books include The Phelophepa Health Care Train, Ten lessons From the Future and Radical Innovation, co-authored with Wolfgang Grulke. “Healthcare and innovation happen to be two of my abiding interests as a journalist,” he says. “Too often, we focus on the gloom and doom surrounding social services in our country. The iHI Review was an opportunity to shine a light on the good and the great.” Memeburn considers Gus one of the 50+ prominent South African journalists on Twitter. Find out why: @gussilber.
Winner 3: Umthombo Youth Development Foundation
By Gus Silber
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The health innovator: Dr Andrew Ross, Umthombo Youth Development Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal The Innovation The Umthombo Youth Development Foundation addresses skills shortages in rural healthcare, by providing scholarships for promising youngsters who can then return to their communities as qualified healthcare professionals. Winner of the Minding the Gap Award at the 2014 Inclusive Healthcare Innovation Summit […]
Inside | Gus Silber
Gus Silber is a journalist, author, editor and scriptwriter based in Johannesburg. His books include The Phelophepa Health Care Train, Ten lessons From the Future and Radical Innovation, co-authored with Wolfgang Grulke. “Healthcare and innovation happen to be two of my abiding interests as a journalist,” he says. “Too often, we focus on the gloom and doom surrounding social services in our country. The iHI Review was an opportunity to shine a light on the good and the great.” Memeburn considers Gus one of the 50+ prominent South African journalists on Twitter. Find out why: @gussilber.
Winner 4: Praekelt Foundation
By Gus Silber
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The health innovator Gustav Praekelt, Founder and CEO, Praekelt Group, South Africa The innovation The Praekelt Foundation is a non-profit organisation that turns mobile phones into health tools. It focuses on using mobile services, portals, social networks and applications to fight poverty and improve health and wellbeing. Winner of the Inclusive Technology Award at the […]
Inside | Gus Silber
Gus Silber is a journalist, author, editor and scriptwriter based in Johannesburg. His books include The Phelophepa Health Care Train, Ten lessons From the Future and Radical Innovation, co-authored with Wolfgang Grulke. “Healthcare and innovation happen to be two of my abiding interests as a journalist,” he says. “Too often, we focus on the gloom and doom surrounding social services in our country. The iHI Review was an opportunity to shine a light on the good and the great.” Memeburn considers Gus one of the 50+ prominent South African journalists on Twitter. Find out why: @gussilber.
Winner 5: Kheth’Impilo
By Mark van Dijk
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The health innovator Dr Ashraf Grimwood, Kheth’Impilo CEO The innovation Kheth’Impilo means “Choose Life” in the Nguni languages. This not-for- profit organisation is questing for an AIDS-free generation in our time. How? By using a unique model of patient advocacy with training and mentoring for community healthcare workers. Winner of the Pioneering Approaches Award at […]
Inside | Mark van Dijk
He’s an award-winning health and wellness writer, and deputy editor of Men’s Health magazine. “It’s been inspiring and hugely encouraging to hear the questions being asked by the healthcare industry’s most innovative minds,” says Mark of his experience working on the Health Innovator’s Review. “Questions like: What are the barriers to progress? How ready is your organisation for innovation? What are the most pressing needs?” As a journalist, Mark knows the most interesting answers come from asking the right questions. He lives in Cape Town with his wife, two daughters and their comic books.
Why social change is Altino’s business
By Carol Williams
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He was born and grew up in Belhar, Cape Town, in a community characterised by gangsterism and drugs. He’s faced various personal, social and financial challenges, but always had a positive attitude and innovative spark. Altino Louw stoked that spark in the 2013 RAA class and in a business that manufactures quality products from household […]
Inside | Carol Williams
She’s a qualified music therapist (one of only 47 in South Africa) and also the personal development facilitator at the Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurial Development. She’s passionate about social justice, social development and working with fellow South Africans to create a more just society. This is why she loves her job. She also loves music, the beach, a good laugh and a good book. And writing, too, which is great for Inside|Out.
Education Innovation #1: LEAP Science and Maths Schools
By Inside | Out
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Programme description LEAP is a chain of no-fee, independent high schools that provide academic and life skills to the kind of skills they require to become future leaders. The schools require only a nominal fee from students, and are otherwise funded primarily by private donors. Mathematics, Physical Science and English are mandatory subjects. School days […]
Education Innovation #2: SAILI Scholarship Programme
By Inside | Out
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Programme description South African Innovative Learning Intervention (SAILI) identifies highperforming, low-income students and high-performing, low-cost schools with strong Maths and Science programmes. It then uses scholarships to support these academically talented students in attending these low-cost, high-quality schools. The aim is to produce graduates who continue into Maths and Science fields. Since the programme began in 1996, over 500 graduates have […]
Education Innovation #3: IkamvaYouth
By Inside | Out
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Programme description IkamvaYouth is a support, tutoring and mentorship initiative that works to equip learners from townships and other disadvantaged communities with the knowledge, skills, networks and resources to access tertiary education or employment. The aim is to address common obstacles to academic achievement. How? By providing supplementary support to secondary school students after school, on Saturday mornings and […]
The data that counts
By Will Sinclair
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One of the great challenges of development work is that you can never really tell whether or not it’s making a difference in the lives of its beneficiaries. Except… you can. Here’s how to find the data you need to quantify the return on social investment – and why you need to do it now. […]
eKasi Entrepreneurs
By Joonji Mdyogolo
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The company eKasi Entrepreneurs emerged with the launch of the eKasi Entrepreneurship Conference in September 2012. In November 2013, the now annual event included a broad programme and a keynote speech by Richard Branson. It was a huge success, says Sekhaolelo, in attendance numbers and the ideas that emerged on how to develop townships as business hubs. “When urban people look at townships, it’s like how Americans look at […]
Inside | Joonji Mdyogolo
Joonji Mdyogolo is a Cape Town-based writer and editor who spent a (wonderful, interesting and exhausting) year in the US as a Fulbright fellow in journalism. She’s a former deputy editor of O, The Oprah Magazine, SA. She also taught for New York organisation The Op-Ed Project and was a mentor editor at youth magazine, LiveMagSA. Now she contributes to various local and international publications. She also hosts a late-night show on Talk Radio 702.
Social franchise in a box
By Heather Parker
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In a world with no landline phones, mobile phones are a big part of life. But if there’s also no national power grid, finding ways to charge those phones can become an even bigger part of life. Another case study Among the consequences are the fact that people choose phones according to battery life, passing […]
Inside | Heather Parker
Heather Parker is a journalist, editor, UCT MBA-graduate and lover of her home city, Cape Town. She’s also the Legacy Officer in the World Design Capital 2014 team at the City of Cape Town. The team is working with the City to identify and further develop design-thinking culture within City structures. Heather clearly loves her job.
A social franchise case study
By Heather Parker
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HIPPY SA, or Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-school Youngsters in South Africa, is an interesting illustration of the process around social benefit and scalability. The organisation started in Israel in 1969 and focuses on three to five-year-old children, their parents and the broader home environment. The core philosophy is that parents need to be […]
Inside | Heather Parker
Heather Parker is a journalist, editor, UCT MBA-graduate and lover of her home city, Cape Town. She’s also the Legacy Officer in the World Design Capital 2014 team at the City of Cape Town. The team is working with the City to identify and further develop design-thinking culture within City structures. Heather clearly loves her job.
Inside | Out is published by The Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, hosted at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
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