We are GIG
Written by Theresa Fend
This month GIG member Field Ready announced the launch of a brand-new makerspace in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq! Field Ready: Erbil Makerspace will form part of a growing network of innovation and co-working spaces across Iraq. Supported by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, … Continue reading “Field Ready launches a new makerspace in Iraq!”
Written by Theresa Fend
When I first entered a makerspace in Nairobi in 2016, I was surprised that most people were sitting in front of their computers. My imagination of a messy makerspace where everyone tinkers with 3D printers and materials to build clumsy prototypes was disenchanted. A makerspace is a collaborative workshop equipped with tools and machines to … Continue reading “Calculative Making: The Fear of Failure in Kenya’s Makerspaces”
Written by Theresa Fend
Last April Procomum Institute launched the new edition of the A Colaboradora (The Collaborator) programme. The Collaborator is a collaborative platform that brings together a collective work environment and a free school. Created by the Procomum Institute, it is inspired by the project “La Colaboradora”, a program of the social innovation ecosystem Zaragoza Activa, in … Continue reading “A Colaboradora: Fostering creativity and collaboration through the principles of self-management, care and social currency”
Written by Theresa Fend
‘Education is the most powerful tool that can be used to change the world’ — Nelson Mandela The Bridge the Gap training program is an ongoing initiative that was started by Kumasi Hive in partnership with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), Innovation Factory and e- skills for Girls. The Bridge the Gap program addresses the issue of the gender gap in … Continue reading “Edukits: Merging 3D Printing and Education”
Written by Theresa Fend
Part of my work is with the Gary Kirsten Foundation, a non-profit Sports Foundation which works in Khayelitsha, the largest township in Cape Town and one of its poorest areas. We build Cricket ecosystems with infrastructure and coaching for young players who have no other sport programmes to take part in. Starting in 2014, and … Continue reading “Visiting the Cricket World Cup with 13 young cricketers from Khayelitsha,Cape Town”
Written by Fadia Elgharib
Ampion and Plutos Ventures launch new venture for Africa-focused start-ups Focus of the new venture – on site development of digital business models Call for Applications from founders and start-ups with an Africa focus start now! Nairobi & Berlin, 12.03.19 – Africa-focused Ampion and Berlin-based Plutos Ventures Holding today announced the founding of Ampion Ventures. … Continue reading “African Digital Economy”
Written by Theresa Fend
An outdated self-understanding prevents Europe from working with developing countries towards a common digital future. Europe, the fortress that everyone wants to storm. A Europe whose values and economy must be protected against immigrants from Africa and other parts of the world. This is the rhetoric that the leading development politicians are applying in Germany … Continue reading “Digital, transparent and self-determined: development cooperation can do more”
Written by Fadia Elgharib
On January 26, Youssouf Simbo Diakite, founder and CEO at African Diaspora Youth Forum in Europe (ADYFE) was awarded the Mali Entrepreneurship and Engagement Award in the category Malian in Diaspora of the Year 2018 – Best Achievement. Read more at maliactu.net/mali-4eme-edition-de-la-nuit-de-lentrepreneuriat-promouvoir-la-creation-demploi/ (French). In December 2018, Youssouf and his team at ADYFE organized the high-level … Continue reading “Malian in Diaspora of the Year 2018”
Written by Fadia Elgharib
Over the past four years #defyhatenow and its partners has strengthened the voices of civil society actors and helped building capacities to mitigate hate speech amongst South Sudanese civil society organisations. The project pursues and encourages collaboration with local civil society actors including diaspora groups, international organisations such as the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Uganda and … Continue reading “4 years #defyhatenow”
Written by Fadia Elgharib
Instituto Procomum launches a magazine with reports and reflections about the role of citizen innovation labs for peace, based on concrete experiences in post-conflict Colombia. Between February 13th and 25th of 2018, the Laboratory of Citizen Innovation for Peace in Colombia #LABICxlaPAZ prototyped ten citizenship projects (chosen by a public call, with proponents and collaborators … Continue reading “Is Peace a Commons?”
