“… in a way, South Africa is also a microcosm of the challenges the world is facing, whether it’s climate change, youth unemployment, obesity and malnutrition, or chronic diseases… how do we use the amazing resources we have? How do we bridge digital divides? All of that is playing out as a very local and national ways in South Africa, yet we have this incredible resource of talent and physical resources in the country… so it’s a really special learning environment relevant for the world. “
– Dr. François Bonnici, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
Whether in mega cities or rural communities, people worldwide have demonstrated their power to create lasting change. Across the globe, people are coming together to tackle societal challenges, finding innovative solutions together to advance the needs of their own communities. It is the resilience, strength and collective power of citizens, deeply attuned to their local contexts, that enable communities and places to thrive.
In the lead up to the first global Social Innovation Indaba in Bloemfontein, South Africa this fall, we invited esteemed speakers Vice-Chancellor and Principal Francis Petersen from the University of the Free State (UFS) and Dr. François Bonnici from the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, for a dialogue exploring people power change in South Africa.
As the nation marks 30 years of democracy amidst looming elections and a burgeoning youth population, the conversation delved into the rich tapestry of South Africa’s past, present, and future stories of social innovation from both local and global perspectives.
It was a truly insightful discussion - from unpacking why ‘now’ is a pivotal moment for the global community to learn from South Africa’s experience, the role of institutions in fostering people-powered change, and the future of South Africa and beyond.
You can dive deeper into their conversation by watching the full recording below.
If you are interested in joining us at the Social Innovation Indaba, please get in touch at events@socialinnovationexchange.org.
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