SHIFT: Social Design Challenge - Cape Town, April 2013

Small Change, a World of Difference

In April 2013, a unusual mix of individuals came together to participate in a social design intervention, hosted by Shift in collaboration with a local (Cape Town) high school. The design teams comprised of young South African designers (selected through the Fresh Talent Sustainable Design Competition), a group of youth from Delft, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town and a team of Design Ambassadors from Malmö, Sweden. All of the participants were motivated to collaborate in delivering meaningful solutions to address the needs of the young learners at Masibambisane Secondary School.

The three impact priorities were identified as Motivation, Maintenance & Knowledge, pinpointed following a comprehensive investigation process leading up to (and during) the Challenge process.

The designed solutions aim at establishing and facilitating ongoing programs that offer the learners constructive and productive extra mural activities that embed sustainability awareness, self-confidence and practical skills to meet their own needs.

The sustainable design solutions generated during the recent Shift: Challenge:

• A ‘how & why’ guidebook was compiled by the teams and handed over to Masibambisane, which includes instructions, directions, tips and tools for the school to easily continue the programs and implementation.
• A functioning library system, that includes a book drive to fill the shelves, a basic management system, a Shift-volunteer from the local community to step in as library manager to support keeping the library open during school hours.
• Re-imagined use of the school's Hall Space: event planning including a Market Day, Talent Show that involves learners through linking their curriculum (consumer studies, accounting, maths) to productive, creative activities. Shift’s Handover to Masibambisane on the 26th of April, was Masibambisane’s first pilot Market Day, that kicked off with a ‘trash for treats’ drive to clean up litter on the school grounds and included music and drama performances as well as the involvement of past learners as role models.
• Value of Waste Workshop: designed and constructed a stage; a foldaway table; seating and teacher storage solutions made almost entirely from ‘waste’ material. Instructions for how to continue making these solutions (and others) are included in the Guidebook
• A motivational game/competition to reward classes for good behaviour, punctuality and cleanliness; that can be developed by the educators to incentivise learners to various achievements
• The Express Space: a framed blackboard painted onto the back of the library for learners and teachers to contribute positive remarks.

Shift's human-centered approach that actively involves beneficiaries in each stage of the process, is what makes its approach to sustainable design so significant: at the heart of the process, people are empowered as agents of change in their own lives.

Shift would like to thank all participants for their dedicated involvement in the April Challenge. With special thanks to sponsors: the Swedish Institute, the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, the DG Murray Trust, Builders' Warehouse and Scheckter's Organic Energy and project partners, Form/Design Center, Sweden and Masibambisane Secondary School.