Rural DigiSpace Learning Hubs

During the apartheid era of South Africa at least before 1994, the system of education especially in primary and secondary schools was very fragmented with high levels of segregation. Those gaps in the education system continue to be experienced in our schooling regime even in spite of the fact that our constitution is considered to be one of the best in the world over to a large extent.

In total, South Africa has 11 252 schools in rural areas across the country and of these, 3 060 are secondary schools and 8 192 , primary schools. The majority of these schools were in the Western & Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.

For the large majority of the population living in rural areas, education is highly dependent on government-run or aided schools and non-governmental/non-profit organizations. But rural areas still face various barriers that directly impact the country's literacy rate.

The burden of unemployment is also concentrated amongst the youth as they account for 59,5% of the total number of unemployed persons. The unemployment rate among the youth is high irrespective of education level. The graduate unemployment rate was 40,3% for those aged 15–24 and 15,5% among those aged 25–34 years, while the rate among adults (aged 35–64 years) was 5,4%. Some of these young people have become discouraged from participating in the labor market and they are also not building on their skills base through education and training – they are not in employment, education, or training (NEET).

This stark reality calls for change in our education system. We aim to
create space for innovation, cultivating our future pioneers and
allowing them to be their own employers and change-makers rather than
waiting for change and following the traditional education route.

By giving more than 2700 rural children the skill of chess, creative arts and better literacy techniques since its inception, we are bridging that gap for better outcomes in historically deprived rural areas of South Africa.

Lack of design techniques in our schooling system coupled with studies in innovation at an early stage of learning has sought to see a memorized driven system that does not help to build a holistic child in South Africa.

This has inspired our solution of re-engaging learners through Rural DigiSpace Learning Hubs. This is a digital platform that allows our students to put their practical & innovative skills to practice in the digital space. DigiSpace Learning Hubs are a great way of providing unique learning to students at the palm of their hands. Our DigiSPACE Learning Hub comprises the following aspects of development.

• Chess training and development - tech-based practice and learning.
• Empowerment programs that link rural students to finding opportunities that match their talents & skills- through skills development.
• Arts/Design DigiSpace is aimed at creative-minded students that might have otherwise not been able to broaden their horizons, by crafting their practical ideas in the digital world.
• Literacy Movement - aimed at bridging the educational inequalities that continue to exist in underrepresented communities, by providing a space for storytelling and youth development.

Chess assists children in becoming disciplined by way of understanding the various techniques followed thereof which is an attribute necessary for development. To enter the innovation space, our students acquire cognitive thinking and analytical skills through our programs. This effectively is the most fundamental aspect of driving innovation.

With the lack of resources in rural areas, the Literacy movement promotes reading and access to a world of literature & social issues in the technology space. We believe that even though a child would be a good Mathematics learner, elements of innovation at an early age would help him/she develop new machines, in say, Agricultural Engineering at University.

Essentially Rural DigiSpace Learning Hubs are a way of unlocking opportunities in tech-based innovation for children and youth from underprivileged backgrounds.

Having witnessed the many disparities that existed in our South African educational system pre-1994, many children in predominantly black communities, particularly the girl-child have been left out of inclusive education trends and that is the target market we expect to emulate, in an effort to bring parity.

The indoctrinated educational system has sought to see some teachers leaving college with a lack of competence and understanding, leading to a widened gap of educational inequality. This has called for radical change and has been the contributing factor to the establishment of our solution.

Our solution is to provide learning resources that will provide children and youth with modern age systems for advanced learning, through technology. With the provision of DigiSpace Learning Hubs, we will not only be implementing a new concept in rural areas, but also driving innovation in underprivileged societies. These DigiSpace Learning hubs will provide opportunities for children and youth across South African communities to connect with technology and reducing the digital divide.

The implementation of our chess programmes on online spaces, art designing and cultural expressions & innovation, literacy development and storytelling on DigiSpace form part of our mandate - which is fostering holistic development amongst children & youth. This solution is one that provides a fully diverse learning strategy that will positively impact   Ultimately, through this solution, we ensure no one gets left behind.

More than 30,000 children in about 30 schools with an average of 1000 pupils in rural parts of Western Cape can benefit from our flagship programme. These students have been deprived of many opportunities to educational resources for many years. DigiSpace Learning aims to target design/innovation as we progress.

Currently we cater for 560 pupils in 7 rural schools from Grade R to Grade 12 most of whom constitute primary schools.

In the similar vein, we have seen more children showing keen interest in recent times to participate in our programmes owing to the quest and desire for improvement in their mathematical abilities through chess participation.

In their future tertiary involvement upon qualifying in grade 12, they will be able to pursue studies more independently and not depend too much on their lecturer or tutors.

This trend of independent knowledge acquisition is that which we see being exercised in higher institutions of learning abroad owing to personalized and tailor made educational systems they have harnessed from an early stage.

The South African educational system is unfortunately not designed to provide dedicated and individualized teaching to learners.

A lack of skills in some areas of Technology and Innovation has prompted South Africa to look elsewhere in the world for these rare skills in an effort to solve the economic bottlenecks of our country. Our students that experience various disabilities will be able to hone their skills to the extent that they can be hired in industries that are design oriented.

Sbulele Inga Mfundisi, a young female individual, leading the organization is an advocate for Youth Development and Social Justice. She has been closely linked with the youth of various communities, who have shown great interest in her advocacy. In addition, she has impacted the lives of many through her empowerment programs, where her fellow youth were a part of. Given her expertise and knowledge, Inga has broken barriers which have allowed vulnerable youth to to find hope and meaning in the Rural DigiSpace Learning Hub, rather than succumb to drug violence & substance abuse.

The way DigiSpace is created has brought positive ideas to making a radical change in the community. Both Community members and leaders, have demonstrated keen interest in guiding the development & implementation for Rural DigiSpace Learning. They have demonstrated that in order for this solution to drive radical change, there needs to be a vision that aligns with our 5-year plan. Conversations and meetings regarding the development, challenges and progress shown need to be 

The Rural DigiSpace Learning Hub, is a platform rooted in sparking innovative change amongst underprivileged communities. Through the opportunities that MIT presents, we are able to gain exposure to further develop our solution in an in depth manner ie.networking with innovative minds across the globe. As an organization that believes in the power of the girl and boy-child, through the incorporation of DigiSpace Learning, we have striven to narrowing the digital divide across the education sector;in the Western Cape.

A staggering 63.2% of the South African population does not have access to internet. Furthermore,rural communities constitute the bulk of the percentage. Through MIT's financial and evaluation support, we not only bridge the gap to the digital divide, but also provide a platform to opening doors in tech-based learning. Our Art & Design program nurture learners to understand the techniques of 3-D Art, development and ultimately enhance their creative and cognitive thinking process.

The current global catastrophe of Covid-19, has exacerbated the inequalities that continue to exist in our country. This has widely affected organizations, particularly ones situated in rural areas. Financial sustainability has been highly compromised. We believe the financial support and mentorship will pave a way to a positive trajectory.

Being situated in an impoverished community with minimal resources, many structures and processes have been done by hand in the past. This has been an influencing factor to our development, through which we aim to solve through the implementation of market automation. With the assistance of managing market processes and multi-functional campaigns, across multiple channels through tech , we are able to scale our work.

Through MIT's mission to radical change, such as strategy building, mentorship and evaluation support, our organization will be able to further develop our solution in a sustainable way.

Our solution is based on targeting vulnerable children and youth from all walks of life. The introduction of DigiSpace Learning through rural communities ensures that no child is left behind. The essence of our program is one that promotes holistic development, by allowing learners that aren't academically inclined to also thrive in creative and innovative spaces. DigiSpace Learning Hub creates room for critical thinkers, in preparation of their life path beyond the schooling environment, through chess training, DigiArt and Literacy development.

Ultimately, our solution is not limited to an institution, learners academic ability nor race/gender. We as DigiSpace Learning, aim to bridge those inequalities, narrow the digital divide and break the stereotypes to drive radical change.The growth of members and stakeholder development has yet again proven the impact that this solution has and how holistic development contributes as a catalyst for change in and around rural communities.

YEAR 1:

We aim to develop learner performance in innovation and reach over
10 000 individuals. In addition, we strive to center our Digi-Space Learning Hub within rural communities across the entire Western Cape Region and Eastern Cape region. We will achieve this through licensing partnerships with the Department of Social Development and local Non-profit organizations.

WITHIN 5 YEARS

Our goal is to further develop learner performance in innovation and reach over 250 000 children and youth from disadvantaged communities. We will achieve this through licensing partnerships with 25 NPOs and the Department of Social Development, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and Sports. We want to ensure that no child gets left behind and effectively narrow the digital divide by 75%, in South Africa. Through our Digi-Space Hub, we hope to have structured financial and tech systems that will allow us to provide measurable impact across 7 Provinces in South Africa, that would ultimately serve vulnerable children and youth.

Our solution makes use of specific Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) that have shown concrete results of measuring outcomes towards our impact goals. DigiSpace Learning Hub, mainly targets SDG1 (No poverty) ,2(Zero hunger) ,4(Quality Education) ,5 (Gender Equality) ,and SDG10 (Reduced Inequalities).

With these sustainable development goals being closely linked to our ultimate mission of bringing hope, through the stimulation of innovation and technology in an effort to drive change amongst the lives of the underprivileged.

Our solution embraces quarterly evaluations of all our programs ( Education, Digi-Art, Chess Training and Storytelling) through which we assess progress in all aspects with the support of stakeholders. In addition, Community Youth Desk Surveys have proven as effective in Gathering of Data on cycle participation throughout our learning platform.

Stakeholder involvement coupled with Membership growth through annual registry form part of our Key Performance Indicators. Membership has grown by  2600+ an increase of 46% from 2021, through our Data Collection.

THEORY OF CHANGE

DIGI-SPACE ACTIVITIES: We provide Tech-based, Digi-educational programs for rural children and youth to learn based on innovative projects that promote cognitive thinking. These learners are involved in a fully immersive program that allows them to thrive in their respective learning areas.

OUTPUTS: Digi-Space learners develop soft skills (such as analytical thinking, creativity, discipline, and communication) and practical skills in areas of accessible technologies such as 3D modeling, Digi-Art, Literacy Development to name a few. This has proven to provide our learners with the necessary tools to perform beyond the average benchmark.

SHORT TERM OUTCOMES: Learners enrolled in our Digi-Space programs, show improvement in school outcomes, especially in Mathematics and Science. Furthermore the, they are able to communicate freely and affluently with other learners.

MEDIUM TERM OUTCOMES: Skills development is a pivotal part of our learning program, and many of our students, show considerable outcomes in strategy application and design. This helps students to effectively connect with the digital world, and provide solutions to social problems.

LONG TERM OUTCOMES: Overall, our student's holistic development encompasses, strategies implemented in the earlier stages of learning. Innovation plays a huge role in the development of ideas in the learning environment. Through our programs they are able to inter-link, literacy, art/design, and many aspects that will allow them to blossom in Digi-Space.

ULTIMATE GOAL: Cultivate rural learners into Digi-Space Learning in order to reduce the inequalities that exist in our learning environments. This includes narrowing the digital-divide, in marginalized communities, for our learners to thrive.

Given the unequal nature of our country, most children in our historically disadvantaged rural communities in South Africa, usage of computers is a    far-fetched phenomenon in areas that we target. We make use of ancestral technology systems combined with modern technology practices in terms of innovation.

With the use of the few desktop computers at our disposal and the use of handsets, we have been able to expose our chess participants to online chess competitions which are very exciting.  This Digi-Space learning approach has encouraged more children in our communities to compete against the best world over.

The other important technological tool we have implemented, at least in recent times, is the usage of software programs that help children to apply the 3-D and symmetrical theories on computers to produce attractive designs that are saleable.

An example I would give among others is the welding of metal frames for molding of an indoor cement pot plant using measurements and symmetrical applications.

Children that are school going and yet with special needs and youth that we train tend to be fascinated with such technological techniques we have introduced.

In order to make these children understand how to go about this technique in an effective manner, we would allow them to draw simple sketches before the main task is undertaken.

Our non-profit organization prides itself in the promotion of inclusivity, diversity, and equity.

To accelerate DEI(Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), we conduct an audit, scrutinizing the Digi-Space environment and the organization’s leadership. We evaluate aspects such as staff and board volunteers' advancement, the accountability of leadership in DEI initiatives. Digi-Space Learning creates opportunities for recruitment and retention strategies that promote impartiality, fairness, and justice, therefore enriching our organization with a wide range of traits.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are in our DNA and therefore
omnipresent in all program work. As a non-profit organization, we enact internal changes on DEI, where we infuse these perspectives in every aspect of our program, design, and implementation. As an education nonprofit, we are aware that a failure to embrace DEI in our children’s books, for example, would be a failure against our mission.

Most importantly our organization cultivates the spirit of unity, by allowing full participation and freedom of speech throughout our programs. Our focus on working in rural communities, not only aims to narrow the gaps of inequality that exist in our society, but also ensures that no child is left behind.

BUSINESS MODEL – EKUPHUMLENI EMPOWERMENT SOLUTIONS NPO (201-907) RURAL DIGI-SPACE LEARNING HUBS

Preamble

The Ekuphumleni Empowerment Solution brand was registered back in 2018 with work in Chess development and championing of the reading agenda having already started in 2014 under Inga Sbulele Mfundisi.

Through her sound and charismatic leadership, we have improved the lives of more than 2700 children since the organizations’ inception in Digi-Space Learning, by providing skills in cognitive and logical thinking through online chess and literacy development. In late 2021, we introduced the skills innovation and design component owing to the scarcity of these disciplines in our country.

In 1994 when Nelson Mandela was released from Montevister prison, South Africa saw the dawn of democracy with the signing of one of the best constitutions in the world that took place in a place called Sharpeville.

Before his release, we saw two educational systems that were based on racial lines the Bantu Education which traditionally took place in what was known as Homelands versus the Educational system reserved for the minority groups at the time.

Even though that inhumane system of segregation according to race was abolished after the Nelsons’ release and also enshrined in the new constitution. “Every child has a right to fair education’’, we still see serious problems in the education system today whereby most schools that are traditionally in townships experience overcrowding. This has made it hard for a Teacher to give his / her attention as compared to a ‘Model C’ Teacher that has smaller numbers of children to cater to at a given time.

Our organization situated in a township known as Zwelihle near the town of Hermanus saw a gap and decided to bridge it by allowing children to perform to their fullest potential, in Digi-Space such as Chess Training, Design, Innovation, Literacy through reading and assisting with homework including impartment of some creative skills.

Most parents of these children have little or no education and therefore cannot assist their children in their educational journey and aspirations.

Our objective is to ultimately cover all rural schools in the Overberg district of 66 schools comprising 43,685 children that need our help.

We do not doubt in our mind that this can be achieved with the financial support and mentorship from MIT Solve.

Business Strategy.

Our key strategy is to focus our effort and energies on children in the education system that are not educationally inclined but not exclude those that are.

We are fortunate in that we not experiencing school closures in the Overberg region as in the Eastern Cape since these children have parents that work in various Sheep, Grape, and Wheat farms that are permanent by nature in the region.

Owing to the background given in our preamble, I bring the attention of the reader that because of insurmountable class numbers, we are bound to see more children falling into the cracks of non-performance in education generally.

Secondly, we will invest most of our time in bridging gaps in schools, where the emphasis will be placed on rural schools across the Overberg district.

Forging partnerships with local businesses and surrounding towns to place our trainees who have completed their course is crucial.

Mission

We will always strive to bring hope through the stimulation of sustainable projects to uplift the underprivileged sectors of society, particularly children and child-headed homes irrespective of gender, color, religious affiliation, and race.

Vision

To have an educated generation of children, who will be competent and employable by 2030 through the implementation of consistent, robust, innovative, and realistic programs.

Objectives

The organization’s main objectives are to:

• Chess training and development - tech-based practice and learning.
• Empowerment programs that link rural students to finding opportunities that match their talents & skills- through skills development.
• Arts/Design Digi-Space is aimed at creative-minded students that might have otherwise not been able to broaden their horizons, by crafting their practical ideas in the digital world.
• Literacy Movement - aimed at bridging the educational inequalities that continue to exist in underrepresented communities, by providing a space for storytelling and youth development.

Marketing

We have two types of markets namely the very children who participate in our flagship programs and are willing to fine-tune their skills by making the best products (Pot plants) on the one hand, and the broader Hermanus affluent client base that is always looking for individualized items for their home decorative needs.

Bringing together these two segment components is vitally crucial because the economic theories of demand and supply are met in an equilibrium.

Our sales market is divided into two categories according to earning potential.

We have the retired affluent and business captains that would not mind paying a little bit more given that some of the proceeds will go into the development of the organization.

The middle class and low wage earners would traditionally be placed in one bracket implying that their pricing is tailor-made to suit their pockets.

Business Design Choices

Our information technology choices have been guided by the new trends in the design fraternity with particular attention to the usage of symmetrical application and 3-dimensional techniques which are now prevalent in the 4th industrial revolution taking the world by storm.

We have drifted away from conventional old methods of designing products to get quality products.

Marketing Plan Elements

Broadly speaking our marketing plan elements have pointed to the trajectory of modernized production of Plant pots, usage of recycled material, and other media I have listed below:

• Careful observance of both seller and buying trends in the industry.
• Provision of an excellent after-sales regime.
• Discounts arrangements on bulk purchases for our client base.
• Paying particular attention to clients who would like to have tailored/personalized-made products.

Strategy and Plan

Our core strategy is to ensure that our buying trends are monitored carefully but with particular emphasis on ensuring sound human resource policies. For us, paying trainees a decent wage after they have completed their skills program and have decided to remain with our organization is key.

This will be matched with good fringe benefits as a driving force to our anticipated growth.

Risk Assessment

Sample production is ideal before we get to mass production to minimize wastage by trying to sell unwanted products.

Marketing Mix

• Product:  our products are produced with great care with inspections undertaken at all times infusing appealing packaging systems.
• Place: Our organization is centrally located and has easy proximity to our target market.
• Price: Pegging the prices for Pot plants and other decorative artworks are according to market trends
• Promotion: Our promotional strategies are multifaceted.
• People being the 5th P- Interpersonal development and networking is crucial to our organization's growth.

SWOT Analysis.

Strengths: Our ability to easily mobilize children that are not academically inclined, already in the schooling environment, to better their lives in the future through our flagship programs.

Easy to get the children owing to proximity as it does not involve money.                                                  

Weaknesses: Do not have control over foreign donors due to their strict criteria of selection.

Unable to eradicate, education inequality, criminality, and drug abuse in our society. 

Although the points alluded to above seem complex, these weaknesses will not affect our non-profit organization knowing that board members are innovative.                                                

Opportunities: The parents and broader society are keen to give their children the best education that is inclusive to improve educational outcomes.

Threats: Changing economical systems will exacerbate the re-direction of resources by funders towards programs that are targeted at projects such as ours.

Competition for constrained funding in the NPO sector in South Africa.

Marketing Budget

In the main, our marketing budget will be guided by the high levels of unemployment in South Africa and the need to create new streams of income for our prospective trainees.

This situation is evident in the social grant system of South Africa which has seen 49% of the total population reliant on the government social payment system mainly due to the loss of jobs caused by the unfortunate recent Covid catastrophe.

These grant categories range from old age grants, disability grants, grants paid to economically active individuals that cannot access work, grants for children that are orphans, etc.

This situation is not sustainable under the tight fiscal system of South Africa and our organization can make a small contribution in terms of bridging that gap.

Our budget request upon receiving the funding is expected to cover a wide spectrum of activities and we have attempted to list them below

• Tech-based materials for the expansion of Digi-Space Learning Hub

• Purchase of materials our programs such as Clay, Cement, Waterproof sealant, wire mesh, paint, brushes, and many more for Tech-based Design/Crafts.
• Purchase canvas material with the relevant paints and brushes.

• Stipends for volunteers before the project becomes self-sustaining.
• Cost to cover accounting services for our books.

• Payment towards utility and electricity.
• Refreshments for our participants in the Chess and Literacy programs
• Transport costs for Chess tournaments and reading competitions.
• Certification cost.

• Payment of registration fees towards Digi-Chess events and tournaments.
• Purchase of attire such as tracksuits and associated items.
• Purchase of books for our literacy program.
• Financing of our T-Shirts and Cap project that depicts our Kasi Splash image.                                                     

Operation Strategy

Notwithstanding other decorative products we already manufacture, the Kasi Splash Visual arts project will be at the helm of all our operations where contemporary Art has seen significant growth the world over.

This entails teaching our participants how to use the print media through splash art on T-shirts or any other media we deem fit.

Programs and Responsible person

• Chess Development:                         Inga Sbulele Mfundisi
• Design and 3-D Programme:              Godleck Baleni
• Literacy Programme:                        Ruth Mfundisi
• Kasi Splash T-Shirt Project:                Inga Sbulele Mfundisi / Godleck                                                         Baleni   

Conclusion

Even despite Covid-19 and other future unpredictable pandemics, young people will still have to be prepared for the peculiar future, and as such the assimilation of Digi-Learning becomes an important feature not to be ignored.

Our organization started from humble beginnings with only six (6) children in the Chess program and yet we have seen phenomenal growth over the years.

This growth has to be augmented by robust financing that has an element of a sustainability module we will be harnessing.

In closing, I would like to mention the fact that the dynamics of livelihoods in our society have become very complex and therefore need more innovative ways of doing things.

Diversifying our funding sources.

The current global catastrophe of Covid-19 has shown the uncertainty of finances, where face-to-face events and physical fundraising activities had to stop essentially overnight. As a rural non-profit organization, we have learned to not be too reliant on single funding streams, especially highly competitive ones.

Digi-Space Learning Hub promotes the creative thinking process of our students. Through their digital designs, they will be able to craft their art on products for selling purposes.
Notwithstanding other decorative products we already manufacture, the Kasi Splash Visual arts project will be at the helm of all our operations where contemporary art and skills development has seen significant growth the world over.

This entails teaching our participants how to use the print media through splash art from Digital art to T-shirts and similar items. This aspect is one that will financially sustain the solution, without fully depending on funding.

Ekuphumleni Empowerment Solution's strategy for striving for financial sustainability has mostly been through funding prospects.

In 2021, the organization applied for a small grant to fund equipment, branding, and running costs throughout the past year. The organization was awarded a small grant fund of R 75,000.

This has provided our organization with relief and an opportunity to scale our programs to a wider community. Given the effects that the global catastrophe had presented, we were able to incorporate innovative solutions such as DigiLEARNING across underprivileged communities in the Overberg region.

We have also generated revenue through our ArtExhibit platforms, through which art learners under the supervision of our Art Director, create handcrafted pieces such as ceramic pot plants, splash art, and fabric art, to name a few. This platform has provided immense support to the development of DigiSpace Learning. Effectively allowing room for creativity and innovation while pushing financial sustainability on the agenda.

Although our solution may be in the pilot phase, the holistic approach to learning that we have adopted has given the program a social presence, which has translated to receiving donations and widespread recognition.