Civil society organisations are a catalyst for innovation and positive social change in communities – filling gaps in service delivery. To be effective, these organisations must be agile and able to adjust their programmes and products to meet the needs of their communities.Sometimes this means going back to the drawing board, rethinking programme delivery, and iterating to achieve desired outcomes. But in pressure-cooker environments, many organisations don’t have the time, financial resources or capacity to stop, rethink and start again. After all, they rely on grants, donations and fundraising to keep their operations going. So, when a project is not going according to plan, the pathway to achieving the organisation’s objectives can become less clear and staff morale takes a dip. How do some organisations find their way while others struggle to get back on course? In this podcast, we talk to Nomfundo Calana, the project lead of JobStarter – a tech-based initiative that supports young people to get ready for the world of work. The latest version of the JobStarter website and app launched in 2023 after years of refinement. Although this is not unusual for a tech-based product, JobStarter is a non-profit facing similar challenges that others in civil society face, such as capacity constraints and keeping donors onside.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/when-projects-dont-go-according-to-plan to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Imagine a world where every child is loved, nourished, and protected—where they are read to, and encouraged to be curious. In this world, children don't just learn well, but they thrive, and so does the entire country. Nobel Prize Winner for Economic Sciences, James Heckman said: "Early childhood development is the most powerful investment in human capital that a country can make."  This is because early childhood development lays the foundation for a lifetime of success. But countries require synergy and accelerated delivery of services to ensure every child’s development needs are met, especially when poverty and inequality are high. In South Africa, essential services for young children are scattered across various state departments. They lack effective synergy and accelerated delivery. We are not the first country to recognise that collaboration and coordination are hurdles to overcome. In their effort to promote early childhood development and break cycles of poverty, a number of countries have established autonomous agencies specifically designed to manage key functions of early childhood development. Others have integrated ECD service delivery under a single government ministry. There are pros and cons to any approach.In this podcast, we ask the question: What are other countries doing to put children first and what can South Africa learn from them? We speak to Kentse Radebe (Innovation Director in the All Children on Track by Grade 4 portfolio and incoming Deputy CEO), Senzo Hlophe (Director of Partnerships & Impact) and Shazly Savahl (Department of Psychology at the University of the Western Cape and Board Member of the International Society for Child Indicators).Visit  www.dgmt.co.za/putting-children-first to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Community-based organisations (CBOs) are non-profits operating at the local level, albeit with limited resources at their disposal. They tend to be reliant on volunteers, responsive to the unique needs of their community and best placed to diagnose problems and identify solutions with residents. Many are financially excluded from donor funding because they operate in rural and far-flung areas with limited visibility and recognition; they don’t have established track records; and they don’t have the administrative capacity or know-how to provide the financial, monitoring and compliance documents that donors expect. But despite these constraints, they play a crucial role in grassroots development, community empowerment, and social change. To help CBOs overcome these funding challenges, DGMT is exploring a trust-based grant-making model that improves access to cash streams while also placing more decision-making power in the hands of the grantees themselves and the communities they serve. The trust-based funding model acknowledges that communities and organisations often have the best understanding of their needs and are better positioned to determine how resources can be most effectively utilised to achieve positive outcomes. This is why DGMT, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project have partnered to launch the Sukuthula! Unmute & Act initiative supporting community-based organisations that respond to gender-based violence in four districts in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. Ultimately, this initiative aims to demonstrate that South Africa needs a coordinated funding approach at the community level to adequately respond to gender-based violence.  In this podcast, we talk to Zandile Mqwathi, the project manager for gender-based violence initiatives at DGMT.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/trust-based-funding-for-ngos to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

If you work in civil society or the socioeconomic development sector, you have probably heard, or used, the term “community ownership” because it aligns with broader goals of promoting social equity, empowering local communities and sustainable development.Community ownership goes beyond passive involvement or consultation and aims to empower communities to actively participate in decision-making and take responsibility for outcomes. In principle, civil society organisations and development experts use this term to describe communities with a significant degree of control and influence over projects, initiatives, or resources that directly affect them.The principle underpinning “community ownership” is that people from within a community are more adept at articulating the barriers and enablers to their own development than technical experts from outside.In this Nourish & Flourish podcast, we talk about barriers and enablers of community ownership. We speak to Sinazo Nkwelo, Director of DGMT’s Place-based Synergies portfolio.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/community-ownership-is-not-a-means-to-an-end to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Civil society organisations, in their form and function, are distinct from corporations and the state. But this doesn’t preclude them from using programmes and strategies that are also used by governments and businesses to shape societal outcomes. Running a fellowship programme is an example of this. Generally speaking, fellowships are funded, short-term opportunities, focused on professional, academic or personal development. Fellowships facilitate interpersonal connections and provide individuals with the opportunity for self-reflection, experiential learning, cultural immersion and community-building. These experiences can lead to the development of mutual understanding, trust, and shared values.Through fellowships, civil society organisations can build energetic communities or networks that have a creative life of their own. However, the scaling properties of fellowships are notoriously difficult to define and measure.In this Deep Dive podcast, we speak to Carol-Ann Foulis from DGMT’s Innovation Fellowship; Rumbi Görgens from the Mamandla Fellowship, and Andisiwe Hlungwane from Teachers Can about how they are using fellowships for social change.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/fellowships-for-social-change to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Many civil society organisations (CSOs) have placed promoting active citizenry at the core of their strategies. Generally speaking, active citizenry refers to individuals participating in the social and political affairs of their communities to promote equity and inclusion, improve living conditions and hold elected officials accountable.The role of civil society organisations in building an engaged citizenry should not be understated. They play a crucial role by creating platforms, providing resources, and fostering an enabling environment for individuals to engage in civic and social activities. By harnessing the power of communications tools, active citizenry can be promoted effectively by increasing awareness, facilitating dialogue, mobilising individuals, and fostering a sense of collective responsibility and participation.In this Best Bites podcast, we are talking about communications tools for promoting active citizenry. We speak to two people who are involved in digital advocacy and network building in civil society: Zamayirha Peter, Communications Manager atACTIVATE! Change Drivers, and Emma O’Shaughnessy, Project Lead of Amplify, Mobilise, Change.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/communications-tools-active-citizenry to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Gender norms are shared beliefs, ideas and expectations about how men and women are supposed to be and act, according to a classification system that categorises people as either male or female, known as a gender binary. These social principles are internalised from a young age and can shape people’s livelihoods and life chances by giving boys and men the advantage over girls, women and other genders. Gender norms are not static; they vary according to culture and can change over time. But harmful norms that perpetuate inequality and discrimination persist, impacting people’s access to healthcare, education, employment and other economic opportunities. Harmful gender norms also perpetuate power asymmetries between men and women, manifesting in different forms of gender-based violence (GBV). In South Africa, and the rest of the world, harmful gender norms and discrimination are considered to be key drivers of gender-based violence. This is why comprehensive strategies aimed at preventing GBV also seek to reshape gender norms in a positive way. Disrupting harmful gender norms requires strategies and programmes that challenge inequalities. It involves rethinking gender hierarchies, roles and binaries while questioning the root causes of inequality and systems of oppression. It must start early in homes, schools and communities. Although parents play a big role in enforcing or disrupting gender norms, adolescents are also heavily influenced by their peers. This is why we need to embed positive norms early in a child’s life in educational spaces. Outside the home, schools are spaces for socialisation and personal growth where young people are exposed to role models. In this Deep Dive podcast, we look at ways to entrench positive norms from a young age, starting from children attending creches to young adolescents in school. We speak to Lindokuhle Msele, Project Lead at Bumb’Ingomso; Kwanda Ndoda, innovation manager at DGMT, AND Wessel Van Der Berg, MenCare Officer at Equimundo.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/disrupting-harmful-gender-norms-with-role-models to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Civil society organisations and innovators are rightly concerned with scaling their interventions to reach more people. In the socioeconomic development sector, terms like scaling up, out and deep are commonplace. But depending on who you speak to you may get a nuanced interpretation of each term. For instance, ‘scaling up’ typically refers to output, but it could also mean impacting laws and policies. ‘Scaling out’ generally refers to replicating projects in different settings, in so doing impacting a greater number of people. And, the term ‘scaling deep’ refers to the quality of the intervention or its rootedness in culture and practices. Clearly, experts have varying opinions on the topic. Lately, researchers supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) are questioning our inherent assumptions about scaling, and are forcing us to think about whether ‘bigger is always better’. Their approach known as ‘Scaling Science’ is understood as a justified and coordinated focus on impact at optimal scale, and it may already be part of your work in one way or another. There are different ways to think about scale and it’s useful to think about the topic with a specific real-world challenge in mind. The food system is an ideal example. We all need nutritious food to live healthy lives so it stands to reason that the topic of scale and food are inextricably linked. But the global network of diverse businesses, growers and suppliers has scaled in such a way that it’s had negative consequences for people and the environment. More than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to the way we produce, process and package foods, according to a study backed by the United Nations.In this Best Bites podcast, we explore different ways to scale by looking at interventions to promote sustainable food systems. We speak to Scott Drimie who has been part of the leadership collective of the Southern Africa Food Lab since its inception and is also an adjunct professor at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Global Health.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/what-does-it-mean-to-scale to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Mobile technology has the potential to transcend structural divides and enhance access to services that could accelerate socioeconomic development. However, apps and digital offerings that could link marginalised groups to much-needed resources are not being used effectively because prepaid data is unaffordable to most South Africans. Yet, if they had access to the information and services offered online by public benefit organisations, it would improve their quality of life and grow our economy. Amid persistent lobbying from organisations like DGMT for zero-rating, new regulations began to take effect in 2020. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic made zero-rating all the more urgent. The forced closure of schools and early learning centres across the country meant that teaching and learning had to move online.The National State of Disaster and provisional spectrum regulations forced mobile operators to zero-rate a wide range of websites. Although these obligations ended in April 2022, there have been positive developments since. The biggest breakthrough coincided with a multibillion-rand broadband auction. One of the conditions of new spectrum licences is that all mobile content provided by registered public benefit organisations (PBOs) must be zero-rated, with the operational costs borne by the network operators.However, the mechanism to facilitate this is not yet in place. So, DGMT has offered to set up and maintain a single registry for PBOs (to register PBOs and monitor digital content) or to provide funding for ICASA to do so.In this Nourish & Flourish podcast, we talk about why mobile network operators have a legal obligation to zero-rate the content of public benefit organisations, and how civil society can make sure this obligation is met. We speak to Mignon Hardie, Managing Director at Life Choices and the former executive director of FunDza Literacy Trust – an organisation that offers free reading resources to young people online; and David Harrison, CEO of the DG Murray Trust, which has long been lobbying for zero-rating.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/zero-rating-a-bridge-across-the-digital-divide to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, social employment emerged as one of the levers that could stimulate the country’s economic recovery. As part of a host of publicly funded interventions, the South African government sought to centre and support the work already being done by civil society organisations to enable community-driven solutions to local problems through a Social Employment Fund (SEF). This kind of work includes health and caregiving work, food security and nutrition, youth support and recreation, community safety and interventions to stem gender-based violence, among others. Typically, these are activities that contribute to the “common good” rather than private goods and services.In November 2021, civil society organisations applied to be part of the SEF. By 2022, 28 ‘Strategic Implementing Partners’ (also known as SIPs) were chosen from various parts of the country. In its pilot phase, the Social Employment Fund sought to create 50 000 jobs in a range of sectors as diverse as education support and infrastructure development. The jobs created by the stimulus package must contribute to work for the common good and should be accessible to unemployed people without formal education or prior work experience.In this podcast, we explore the concept of social employment, what civil society organisations have learned about driving social employment, and what it will take for greater public investment in social employment initiatives. We are joined by Katie Huston, Head of Research, Innovation and Impact at Nal’ibali, Sibongile Khumalo Executive Director of the Learning Trust and Andrew Boraine, CEO of the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/scaling-up-with-social-employment to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Young people make up a third of South Africa’s population and are a key demographic for social, economic and political change. According to South Africa’s National Youth Policy, as well as its National Youth Commission Act (1996), the demographic of ‘youth’ is anybody between the ages of 14 and 35 years. As a category of analysis, this demographic is far from homogenous, yet young people are often perceived in the public imagination as an idle, unruly, and terrifying group of people who threaten the stability of the country.It’s not surprising that many young people are distrustful of the government, because of a breakdown in service delivery, corruption at different levels of government, and the scarcity of opportunities for upward income and social mobility for young people in low-resource communities.When the government is considered to be out of touch and untrustworthy, young people aren’t likely to respond favourably to state-sponsored information, even if it’s in the public interest and for the common good. Instead, they tend to rely on information from their peers and professionals or influencers their own age. However, too often, older people, or those far removed from the reality of young people, are the ones making decisions on their behalf.So, what does this mean for civil society organisations trying to motivate healthcare-seeking behaviour, active citizenry and agency among the youth?The #keready campaign was confronted with this question when it launched in February 2022 with the objective of encouraging youth participation in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations. Initially, #keready positioned itself as a ‘youth COVID-19 vaccination movement’ with its #keready2flex Challenge, but it has since evolved into a movement that seeks to enhance healthcare-seeking behaviour among young people.#keready aimed to put young people in control of the message, creating incentives for their participation in vaccination programmes and public health activities, as well as offering unfiltered health information.No jargon and no judgement – these are some of the #keready principles for communication and mobilisation. The creative minds running #keready are part of DGMT’s Demand Acceleration Task Team, who were tasked with driving public communication and awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine programme. These creatives worked with the National Department of Health, but they were determined to make sure that #keready was branded as an initiative for young people, by young people – not a government-branded project. The initiative’s frank, unfiltered approach of providing health information from young doctors for young people, bolstered its credibility. The initiative’s use of ‘kasi’ lingo made the communication palatable and relatable to its target audience.In this Best Bites podcast, we hear from Lebo Motshegoa, youth mobiliser and content lead for the Demand Acceleration Task Team about #keready's strategy for driving positive behaviour change among young people. We also talk to Dr Saira Carim, a young doctor who is part of the #keready team.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/keeping-it-real-with-keready to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Inequality of opportunity means that every child does not start their life with the same chances. Inherited circumstances such as race, gender, socioeconomic status and place of birth affect their likelihood for upward income and social mobility. A growing body of research is telling us that people’s social connections predict mobility. Harvard researchers have mapped the childhood roots of upward social mobility, demonstrating how neighbourhood factors shape human capital development. Pathways to social mobility are weakest in fractured communities with high levels of poverty. In South Africa where 10% of the population owns 80% of the wealth, the bottom half of the population is socially and economic disconnected from the rest, setting them up for life-long underachievement and exclusion.The economic value of social connections is not a new concept; but two new studies out of the United States are reigniting public interest in the topic. Building on their previous work, Harvard economist Raj Chetty and a team of researchers found that cross-class social connections are among the strongest predictors of upward income mobility. They call this economic connectedness.For many people, exclusion from influential and powerful social circles are shaped by factors outside their control, including their race, gender, level of education, class and geography. However, connecting to people you would not otherwise interact with has the potential to spark innovation and create new economic value.Social connections have economic value but they also have the potential to shape the political and social fabric of the country. Experience has shown us that social networks of unlikely people have the potential to spark positive change. The bigger the network, the more energy they have – because they draw on a growing diversity of ideas and expertise.In this podcast, we explore strategies to promote social and economic connectedness in all its forms with Rejane Woodroffe – Director at Bulungla Incubator, Adam Cooper – Senior Researcher at Human Sciences Research Council and Lihle Mbikwana, programme manager at the Vibrant Village initiative.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/social-connections to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Doing voluntary work carries several benefits for the volunteers themselves, for the organisation hosting them, and for prospective employers. Volunteer work can help young people to gain work experience and explore their passions and strengths. If they volunteer in civil society, they learn about some of the country’s most pressing social issues. There is also a business case to be made for companies to support youth volunteerism.With more than 250 thousand non-profit organisations registered with the Department of Social Development (DSD), these organisations have the national footprint to upskill young people by making them central to the delivery of programmes. Volunteers working in civil society participate in programme delivery, marketing and even fundraising. So, to meet the social service needs of beneficiaries, it’s important for civil society organisations to understand the needs and motivations of their volunteers to allow for effective knowledge sharing, transfer of skills, and of course, retention of their volunteer complement.However, keeping volunteers committed and engaged can be a challenge for capacity-strapped NPOs. If they are not paid, what makes volunteers sustain their work? What keeps them motivated?Researchers have attempted to understand the factors that influence motivation, with most organisational theories beginning with the idea that the key to continued volunteer involvement lies in matching individuals with organisations that can make it possible for them to meet their goals.In this podcast, we speak to Tiffany Schouw, Programmes Assistant at Action Volunteers Africa (AVA). We also hear from Romy Heldsinger CEO at forgood.co.za – an online platform that connects people to causes. Lastly, we hear from Bulelani Futshane, Programmes National Coordinator at Nal’ibali. We also speak to volunteers about their personal experiences. Each contributor brings a valuable angle to the discussion.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/keeping-volunteers-motivated-and-engaged to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Civil society is made up of thousands of different actors with varying degrees of formality. These actors play different roles in society; some look long term at broader structural issues, others are focused on short-term goals, such as ensuring access to food relief.These organisations have different strategies for engaging with government depending on their objective. Some focus on holding government accountable and transforming the state by rattling the status quo. Others play more of a collaborative role to boost government’s capacity.Given the composition and size of the sector, civil society can be relatively quick in responding in times of crisis with a nuanced understanding of community needs. Whereas governments are large and slow bureaucratic entities with onerous legal and administrative obligations. The ongoing challenge in the working relationship between government and civil society is that too often government prefers to treat civil society exclusively as a service provider instead of a partner for innovation.In this podcast, we explore whether there is a ‘sweet spot’ to working with government, particularly for those organisations supporting government’s capacity. Our guests, DGMT’s Senzo Hlophe and Professor Shafika Isaacs, Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, talk about their experiences of dealing with government during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/is-there-a-sweet-spot-to-working-with-government to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

In South Africa, young people continue to be disadvantaged in a labour market where the youth unemployment rate is higher than the national average. In increasingly tough times, unemployment statistics paint a bleak picture. Unfortunately, and counter-productively, young people are often blamed for their own predicament. There is a prevailing perception of them as lacking drive, optimism and motivation. But this could not be further from the truth.Many organisations in the youth development sector are working to change these perceptions and unlock opportunities for young people. The sector is no short of innovation, but it lacks a unifying strategy to get behind. It needs a high-level plan of action modelling the key levers that will unlock possibility for young people from the individual level to systemic change.This is where Youth Capital is making a difference by seizing an opportunity to build momentum around an ‘Action Plan’ for the sector. Youth Capital is a campaign that advocates for youth-centred and evidence-based responses to youth unemployment.The ‘Action Plan’ combines data with young people’s lived experiences, and identifies the 10 key levers that have the potential to shift gears on youth unemployment. Youth Capital has the objective of framing youth unemployment from the perspective of young people, elevating their voices and experiences to shift gears on policies that can have large-scale impact.In this podcast, we speak to Kristal Duncan-Williams, Project Lead for Youth Capital about their work to address youth unemployment through building coalitions in the sector. We will also hear from Sharmi Surianarain, Chief Impact Officer for Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, and Sandiswa Gwele from the Ukhanyo Foundation. Both Harambee and Ukhanyo have signed the Action Plan.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/stronger-together-building-strategic-coalitions-in-civil-society to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

How can we explore and create new approaches for achieving a more equal society that tackles both social and environmental challenges? How can we reimagine social systems and institutions to bring about positive change? We need to start at the very beginning, by challenging the premises on which existing social structures are based.Systems thinking is about investigating what set of factors and interactions are contributing to or could contribute to a possible outcome. The world is complex, so our thinking should be complex as well. By making it a habit to consider and reconsider how our own role might be connected to others, we can mitigate impact and work together to create better solutions.Systems thinking is a great tool to remind us to always consider the bigger picture. While it's easy to see how to take things apart, it can be much more challenging to understand how the individual parts interact to make up the big picture. Before sitting down on your own or with a team to devise a project, make a change, or solve a problem, consider the different systems your ideas could impact.In this podcast, we share the most helpful lessons on systems thinking for social innovation from the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The Bertha Centre is an academic centre that works with leaders who are catalysts for social and economic change and human rights. The centre educates students, entrepreneurs and leaders in social innovation, social entrepreneurship, impact investing and systems change.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/systems-thinking-for-social-innovation to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, or the Arch as he is fondly referred to, once said on hope: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness” and on being a wise leader: “Wisdom is when you are able to use your experience for not repeating the mistakes that you have made or others have made. Wisdom is being able to affirm others and knowing that you are not a one-man band. Wisdom is recognising that others are wiser than you.”Amidst trials both past and present for civil society, and with the Covid-19 pandemic amplifying these trials, this podcast seeks to reinstill hope. We focus on the wise leadership values of Archbishop Demond Tutu by speaking to those who worked closely with him in civil society. We examine how he handled moments of pressure and conflict from the opposition and within, and how he continued to be a beacon of light, mobilising groups and encouraging them forward even in the darkest moments in South African history.In this podcast, we will be speaking to two of the Arch’s colleagues, Edwin Arrison, who is the Arch’s long-time friend and Development Manager at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, as well as Phumi Nhlapho, who is the Chief Operating Officer at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. They talk about how it was to work with him and for him, what responsibilities come with being a servant leader, how organisations can remain consistent with practising good values and how to handle conflicting relationships between government, civil society and its beneficiaries.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/leadership-lessons-from-the-arch to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Storytelling can be used in the non-profit sector as a means of listening and sharing, gaining trust within your network and shaping how you move forward with your work. In this podcast, Embrace Movement for Mothers shares their unique best practices when it comes to storytelling and making the mother a powerful ally in their activism - not only in relation to the child but as a key player socially, economically and politically in South Africa.Embrace promotes a connected and thriving start to motherhood for every new mother in South Africa. They have adopted a people-driven approach to supporting mothers as the primary ‘simple, loving connection’ in their children’s life. A key part of this people-driven approach has been to instil a storytelling methodology that sheds light on the stories of willing mothers to build solidarity with the movement. A good example of this: In 2018, during Women’s Month, Embrace decided to tell the stories of 31 mothers over 31 days.Rumbi Goredema Görgens, Embrace Operations Manager writes, “In an effort to reclaim the public space of Women’s Month, littered as it is with pink-hued marketing ploys, we decided to find 31 women doing the always extraordinary and often mundane work of motherhood… When we began planning this campaign, we had a picture of the kinds of stories we wanted to find. We were looking for stories that are often on the margins. We were also looking to disrupt assumptions, for example, by telling the story of a teenage mom who is focused and is raising her child successfully, without state assistance. Some wise people in our network pointed out that by doing this, we were reducing participants to only some parts of their motherhood journeys. We would be narrowly framing stories that were not ours to frame. So we ditched our expectations, and we sought out existing circles of women and asked if we could bring them together for an honest conversation about motherhood. We found these circles in workplaces, leisure groups, support groups and other existing women-centred spaces… Within the stories, you will see the many faces and phases of motherhood in South Africa. You see women sharing the spectrum of their experiences, and, through their stories, fulfilling our collective yearning for connection with and support from other mothers.”This is just one example of how Embrace was able to listen to the mothers in their network and rethink how they had initially conceptualised this campaign. There is power in the organisation’s willingness to self-correct and be lifetime learners, and this is one of the things that leads them to have such open, honest, vulnerable and trusting relationships with the mothers in their organisation.In this podcast Rumbi Goredema Görgens, Embrace’s Operations Manager and Nonkululeko Mbuli their Communications and Advocacy Strategist, shares their best practices for ethical storytelling that takes others into the heart of other’s experiences and they give advice for making mothers powerful allies in activism.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/exceptional-story-telling-with-embrace to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Many NGOs work with children and young people – and mostly with children and young people who grow up in exceptionally difficult circumstances. Poverty and inequality often form the backdrop to a difficult and painful childhood marred by toxic environments of violence and abuse that leave children and young people traumatised. Waves for Change is an NPO with a very specific approach to dealing with trauma in children. Waves for Change shares practical advice for all of us who might work with children or young people who are traumatised – whether that is the core focus of our work or not.Often our core work as an NPO is not necessarily to deal with the trauma of children, we might try to teach them reading, or we might provide school tutoring, but in the process, we discover how traumatised they are. We also may discover that, depending on the severity of their situation, we are often required to take specific action or at least to act in a very sensitive way, keeping in mind what they have been through and how it impacts their lives and their ability to do the work that we would like to do with them.Waves for Change (W4C) has been operating since 2011 and introduces surf therapy to underprivileged children.Founder Apish Tshetsha, who leads the Waves for Change programme in Masiphumelele township, will explain how W4C approaches their work with young people, and Sinda Thakathani, who started as one of the children participating in the W4C programme but is now a W4C instructor and the first black South African to represent South Africa in an international surfing competition, will talk about his personal experience being supported through W4C and together Apish and Sinda will provide helpful advice to all of us who find ourselves in a position where we need to provide support to traumatised children and young people.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/keeping-young-people-afloat to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Where lies our hope at the moment? The last two years have been challenging for civil society. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the inequalities of South Africa and NPOs, as always, stepped in to offer a helping hand on the ground amidst a series of corruption reports and violent eruptions in KwaZulu-Natal. Individuals came together to do this while dealing with their own challenges within their organisations and their personal lives. To keep themselves going activists need to keep in touch with their vision for the wellbeing and prosperity of South Africans. However, in the context of South Africa at the moment, it feels as though the vision is becoming more and more out of reach.There has been an overwhelming sense of exhaustion this second year of the pandemic (2021), within civil society and within the general public. While we have been trying to keep going, we have been dealing with feelings of disappointment with our government, guilt and pressure because we are not able to meet all the needs of our beneficiaries and hopelessness in our state overall.This podcast does not seek to provide solutions to the challenges that NPOs may have faced during the pandemic, but it seeks to reflect and acknowledge. We hope that this episode will help create some space for people to share honestly. We want to let civil society know that we see and value their hard work and that we understand that it has been difficult.In this episode Mam Ruby Motaung, Executive Director of TREE (Training and Resources in Early Education), who experienced a whirlwind of challenges in the last two years shares her story and what helped her to have hope and to keep going forward.Dr David Harrison is the CEO of DGMT and in 2020 he wrote a book entitled Harnessing the Thunder which he dedicated to those who work in civil society organisations, who mobilised to protect and support families in distress during the COVID-19 crisis.In the chapter Human Spirits, David says: “The next few years will be tough. There will be new storms and thunderous rumblings of discontent. But if we listen carefully, we will discern them as millions of voices asking to be heard, looking for opportunity, and seeking to be part of our common future. And no matter how dire the present, we always stand on the cusp of new opportunity for ourselves and for our nation. We should not feel threatened by the rumblings, but find ways to channel them into a more inclusive and innovative society. The problems may loom large, but they can be overcome if we are willing to think simply and radically. And at its most radical, a caring and creative spirit is all that is required to harness the thunder.”In conversation with Mam Ruby, David shares his observations and insights to inspire us and give us hope in this Learning Lunch session.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/harnessing-thunder to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za