Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Just for a Change

Just for a Change

The Just for a Change podcast is back with a brand new season to provoke and inspire!

Presenting Season 4 of the Just for a Change podcast powered by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship which explores the theme “The Power of Connections”.

The pursuit of social justice requires the effort of many, and in the work that the Bertha Centre does we have seen powerful intersections driving society towards positive change.

In this new season, discussions with social entrepreneurs, innovators, thought leaders and activists spotlight the unexpected connections, surprising overlaps, and unusual alignments in the work being done locally and globally to uplift and empower our society. Topics range from getting a second chance at finishing high school, to research into recycling waste for agriculture, and the role representation plays in empowering communities.

Among our guests are social entrepreneurs, researchers, academics, grassroots organisations, NPOs, impact investors, start-up founders with real stories of personal triumph and innovative problem-solving.

Our podcast host Ntombini Marrengane, Bertha Centre’s Senior Manager, is an urban researcher and international development specialist passionate about better understanding how governance and innovation shapes the trajectory of African cities.

The Bertha Centre is the first specialised centre in Africa dedicated to advancing social innovation and entrepreneurship and focuses on researching, educating, convening, catalysing and advocating for social, environmental and economic justice. Find out more at https://gsbberthacentre.uct.ac.za/. This podcast is produced by 2Stories in collaboration with the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Be inspired by stories of people driving our world forward towards social justice. If you’re curious about a better world for all and the solutions being put forward to combat today’s biggest challenges, then this podcast is for you!
Weekly English South Africa Business · Non-Profit
69 Episodes
1 – 20

S4, Ep.3 What does sustainable finance have to do with a bag of NikNaks?

Did you know that the informal business sector in South Africa is valued at about 6 Billion Rand? Even so, the financial sector struggles to gain insight into this part of the economy. Financial inclusion for small businesses is still a struggle. Something as seemingly simple as having full access…
24 Jul 31 min

S4, Ep.2 What does peecycling have to do with agriculture?

Did you know that human waste can be used as fertiliser for farming? That’s right. Your body waste consists of nutrients that can help grow food. Urine contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus – all found in fertilisers. How we get rid of human waste today can be harmful to the…
17 Jul 30 min

S4, Ep.1 What does a mosquito have to do with climate change?

Climate change is undoubtedly affecting us all, from excessive heat to below-normal winter temperatures. Studies show that climate change is increasingly impacting human health, with marginalised and “under” resourced communities the most at risk for negative climate change impacts. The World Bank data states that a warmer climate could lead…
17 Jul 30 min

S3, Ep. 12: Is it possible to end world hunger?

What’s the difference between hunger and malnutrition and is the secret to ending world hunger hidden in the answer to this question? Professor Gisela Solymos is a change maker who has dedicated her life’s work to alleviating hunger and malnutrition. With a background in psychology, her work also focuses on…
2 Aug 2023 37 min
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S3, Ep. 12 Teaser: Is it possible to end world hunger?

With world hunger being such an overwhelming problem, how do we even begin to solve it? In episode 12 of the Just for a Change podcast we hear from a change-maker and innovator, who is dealing with hunger, undernutrition and malnutrition in ingenious new ways. Her name is Professor Gisela…
28 Jul 2023 1 min

S3, Ep.11: Waves for Change

Why are child-friendly mental health services in under-resourced communities so important and what impact can they have? Building protective relationships, identifying emotions, learning how to self soothe and have a positive future vision are some of the main things Waves for Change teaches kids through surf therapy. Waves For Change…
29 Jun 2023 37 min
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S3, Ep.11 Teaser: Waves for Change

How important is psychosocial support for the young people of South Africa? Are there ways to make it more accessible, dynamic and innovative? In this inspiring episode of the ‘Just for a change’ podcast powered by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, our host Ntombini Marrengane chats to…
22 Jun 2023 1 min

S3, Ep.10: By Africa for Africa: How can Africa invest in itself?

Can profit and purpose co-exist in the world of funding and finance? What is the future of impact investing in Africa? Guest hosts, Shiluba Mawela & Daniel Steenkamp have a thought-provoking conversation on this complex topic with panelists, Andia Chakava, Ndumiso Hadebe & Mandy Jayakody ahead of The Africa Impact…
31 May 2023 39 min
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S3, Ep.10 Teaser: By Africa for Africa: How can Africa invest in itself?

What does impact investing look like in Africa? It’s not just a buzz word in the world of innovative finance but a multi-layered solution for sustainable economic development across the continent. In this episode of the Just for a change podcast powered by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and…
25 May 2023 2 min

S3, Ep.9: Power Cuts: Shining a light on energy inequality vs opportunity

In light of the energy crisis, how can South Africa ‘go green’ without leaving the vulnerable members of society behind? Our ‘power problem’ promises to only get worse if big changes aren’t made soon. The change-maker Ntombini speaks to in this episode is no stranger to energy transition, green economy,…
5 May 2023 39 min

S3, Ep.8: Change Making with a systems lens

Did you know that many problems facing the world today are interconnected - and the solutions to these problems are therefore interconnected as well? This is where the lens of systems change becomes very important in creating shifts that last. A systems change advocate, our current podcast host and senior…
6 Apr 2023 34 min
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S3, Ep.8 Teaser: Change making with a systems lens

How does adopting a systems lens lead to better, more sustained and systemic change? The answer is complex but getting more important in the world we live in today. In this episode of season 3 of the Just for a Change podcast powered by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation…
3 Apr 2023 2 min

S3, Ep. 7: How do we build more just cities?

How do we begin to rectify our failing public infrastructure? Loadshedding, potholes, public safety and public transport issues are just the tip of the iceberg. This conversation between our host, Ntombini Marrengane and Jodi Allemeier, urban development specialist and activist, couldn’t come at a better time. With a predicted 70%…
15 Mar 2023 39 min
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S3, Ep.7: Teaser: How do we build more just cities?

Did you know that the number of people living in urban areas in South Africa has grown by 21% between 1960 and 2021 according to the World Bank Urban Population statistics? With that percentage steadily rising despite the public infrastructure failing to support it, city planning is a matter of…
10 Mar 2023 2 min

S3. Ep. 6: Innovating towards gender equality and land rights

How do you implement and educate on land ownership and equality for women in a disempowering patriarchal society? This is the big problem that innovator, activist and advocate, Dr Monica Magoke-Mhoja faces in Tanzania. Land ownership laws changed in 2014 but disempowering and unjust practices to do with land ownership…
25 Jan 2023 39 min
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S3 Ep. 6: Teaser_ Innovating towards gender equality and land rights

Did you know that 70% of the food in Tanzania is produced by women in the agricultural sector? 90% of active women work in agriculture in Tanzania and yet very few of these women own the land they work on. Equal rights to land ownership only came into law in…
19 Jan 2023 1 min

S3. Ep 5: Climate justice: there’s no plan(et) B

How has climate change impacted different groups of people and why is this a justice issue? “Humanity is on a highway to climate hell,” according to UN secretary-general, António Guterres. This means that climate justice is one of the most important conversations to have and that’s why in this episode…
13 Dec 2022 40 min
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S3, Ep. 5: Teaser: Climate justice: there’s no plan(et) B

How climate change is a justice issue at its core and why should we care? We explore the side of the green economy that isn’t spoken about enough in this episode of the Just For A Change podcast powered by The Bertha Centre for Innovation and Change. Our host, Ntombini…
8 Dec 2022 1 min

S3. Ep. 4: Water justice for all - but how?

Can you imagine life without water? What lengths would you go to get it? The people of Somalia are faced with these real questions as they experience droughts, famine and water scarcity right now. In this episode of the Just for a Change podcast, Abdikhayr Mohamed Hussein joins our host,…
23 Nov 2022 36 min
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