Just for a Change

Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
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  • MONTHLY
Just for a Change

The Just for a Change podcast is back with a brand new season to provoke and inspire! Presenting Season 4 of the Just for a Change podcast powered by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship which explores the theme “The Power of Connections”. The pursuit of social justice requires the effort of many, and in the work that the Bertha Centre does we have seen powerful intersections driving society towards positive change. In this new season, discussions with social entrepreneurs, innovators, thought leaders and activists spotlight the unexpected connections, surprising overlaps, and unusual alignments in the work being done locally and globally to uplift and empower our society. Topics range from getting a second chance at finishing high school, to research into recycling waste for agriculture, and the role representation plays in empowering communities. Among our guests are social entrepreneurs, researchers, academics, grassroots organisations, NPOs, impact investors, start-up founders with real stories of personal triumph and innovative problem-solving. Our podcast host Ntombini Marrengane, Bertha Centre’s Senior Manager, is an urban researcher and international development specialist. 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. Be inspired by stories of people driving our world forward towards social justice. If you’re curious about a better world for all and the solutions being put forward to combat today’s biggest challenges, then this podcast is for you!

  1. 11 SEPT

    S4, Ep.10 What do children’s stories have to do with social justice?

    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.

    36 min

  2. 4 SEPT

    S4, Ep.9 What do balconies have to do with food security?

    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.

    33 min

  3. 28 AUG

    S4, Ep.8 What does owning a minibus have to do with the matric pass rate?

    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.

    33 min

  4. 21 AUG

    S4, Ep.7 What does VR have to do with fighting fires?

    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.

    36 min

  5. 14 AUG

    S4, Ep.6 What do bees have to do with empowering communities?

    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

    34 min

  6. 7 AUG

    S4, Ep.5 What does a helicopter have to do with emergency heart surgery?

    Imagine a world where quality healthcare services are available to all, and where technology enables and enhances access. Where those living in rural areas can access the same healthcare services as those in urban areas. SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service Trust (AMS), a non-profit aero-medical rescue organisation working in partnership with the Provincial Departments of Health in South Africa, is playing its part to make this a reality. This episode explores bringing healthcare to those most affected by geographic and economic disparities with the CEO of AMS, Farhaad Haffajee. Amongst other things, AMS runs a project called Outreach Healthcare to remote rural communities, taking health expertise to rural areas so that those seeking healthcare are diagnosed earlier and receive proper healthcare sooner. We also hear from Francesca Lanzarotti of the Reach Alliance research team that is investigating maternal healthcare and access for women with disabilities in Nepal. These everyday heroes are changing the landscape of healthcare and access for some of the most vulnerable communities both locally and globally. 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.

    35 min

  7. 31 JUL

    S4, Ep.4 What do rising temperatures have to do with taxi ranks?

    Research shows that women in the Global South depend on public transport more than men and are more likely to travel with children or the elderly - but what is the impact of rising temperatures on these commuters? Climate change and increasingly hot days can expose commuters to unpleasant, uncomfortable and potentially dangerous conditions. So what can be done to mitigate these climate-related health risks? And how do the various role players get involved? Well, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is leading the charge when it comes to understanding the impacts of climate change on commuters. In this episode of the Just For A Change podcast, Dr Thandi Kapwata from the SAMRC unpacks their findings with podcast host Ntombini Marrengane. The Bertha Centre's Gillian Vedan also shares how innovation is needed to combat the health risks of climate change, such as food insecurity and disease vectors – another unexpected connection between transport, public health and climate justice. 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.

    29 min

  8. 24 JUL

    S4, Ep.3 What does sustainable finance have to do with a bag of NikNaks?

    Did you know that the informal business sector in South Africa is valued at about 6 Billion Rand? Even so, the financial sector struggles to gain insight into this part of the economy. Financial inclusion for small businesses is still a struggle. Something as seemingly simple as having full access to the banking system is still a challenge for many in the informal business sector. Imagine trying to run a business without access to capital. How would you manage cash flow if you aren’t able to access funds when you most need them? Access to finance is essential, if we are ever going to be a society that strives for inclusion and economic equality. In this episode, we hear from Phumza Matwele, founder of Eunimike Trading, an over-the-counter pharmacy and healthcare centre in Khayelitsha, on how her business has benefited from seed capital, as well as from serial entrepreneur and finance innovator, Prince Nwadeyi. This insightful conversation shows how new approaches to financing, especially in the informal business sector, open doors to economic opportunities and growth in the most mind-blowing ways. 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.

    32 min
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About

The Just for a Change podcast is back with a brand new season to provoke and inspire! Presenting Season 4 of the Just for a Change podcast powered by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship which explores the theme “The Power of Connections”. The pursuit of social justice requires the effort of many, and in the work that the Bertha Centre does we have seen powerful intersections driving society towards positive change. In this new season, discussions with social entrepreneurs, innovators, thought leaders and activists spotlight the unexpected connections, surprising overlaps, and unusual alignments in the work being done locally and globally to uplift and empower our society. Topics range from getting a second chance at finishing high school, to research into recycling waste for agriculture, and the role representation plays in empowering communities. Among our guests are social entrepreneurs, researchers, academics, grassroots organisations, NPOs, impact investors, start-up founders with real stories of personal triumph and innovative problem-solving. Our podcast host Ntombini Marrengane, Bertha Centre’s Senior Manager, is an urban researcher and international development specialist. 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. Be inspired by stories of people driving our world forward towards social justice. If you’re curious about a better world for all and the solutions being put forward to combat today’s biggest challenges, then this podcast is for you!

Information

  • Creator
    Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • Show Website
    Just for a Change

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