During the week of 2nd – 4th March 2015, SOCIONEXT AFRICA collaborated with BeBold Trust and Etafeni Trust’s Fit for Life, Fit for Work Programme to deliver an in-depth idea generation and rapid prototying (through experiential learning) program. The idea generation workshop started with 32 programme participants on Tuesday 17 February 2015, with the final week of the program completed by 5 participants. This final group of previously unemployed youth came together to work on developing a community-based kids club, Eyethu Kids Club (scheduled for public launch in June 2015). Eyethu Kids Club is now working with Langunya Internet Cafes, the local council and Nyanga Library.

Socionext’s unique training program (built on the Lean Start-up methodology) provided the entrepreneurs with an intense, hands-on learning experience rooted in proven, validated and successful business models. This allowed the final group to complete clear prototype, a roadmap to market and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in less than a week, test their assumptions with real customers, and redesign their product/service offering as necessary, thereby saving time, money and resources, and shortening the development cycle. Due to the high drop out rate, the partners have agreed to put together a new pilot program and to implement mitigating measures that will curb dropouts (such as better selection criteria and consistency in program schedule).

SOCIONEXT offers world class training in social innovation, entrepreneurship skills development and rapid prototyping. Through its 5 to 8 day social innovation and entrepreneurship training program, it takes participants through a step-by-step process from idea-generation through prototype design, testing, development of a minimum viable product (MVP) and validation of a business case. In addition, SOCIONEXT helps participants to understand co-creation strategies and project planning based on the principles of game plans and dynamic steering for team management 

CONTACT:Tjaart Theron t.theron@socionext.org

www.socionext.org

Testimonials “Wow! It’s so amazing to have such progress from FFL participants. Thank you Vuyisa for having patience with them”

– Brenda Nkondlwana, Program Manager: Fit for Life “This started as a little product, now I know its going to be big. Thank you for making this possible”

– Lindiwe Qaba

“This program has changed my life”

– Dimpho Phelane “This is great”

- Justin Farnell, Lagunya Internet Cafes

AFRICA