Research

A new form of education to support earning, learning and growing a future through a green circular economy

A social enterprise project in South Africa (set up as a community engagement project in 2021), is supported by a team of academics at the University of South Africa (Unisa) linking with an organisation called Dzomo La Mupo in Venda (an organisation founded by Mphatheleni Makaulule). The entire project is linked with a wider community of practice (COP). The COP includes colleagues in Indonesia (from the Universitas Padjadjaran) and the University of Adelaide which connects with a local community. This learning approach supports social inclusion and green, re-generative entrepreneurship. The Tshidzivhe Project and Bamboo co-operative (Venda) has been set up  as part of an action research  project  and supported by training on an ecological calendar in the project.

Photos 1-2 supplied by Patricia Lethole  and Mphatheleni Makaulule show. 1.  community education, 2. the products grown and made by the members of their team

The aim is to learn from Indigenous leaders to raise awareness and capabilities for co-operative social enterprise in line with Indigenous local knowledge systems and to assess whether an online community of practice (supported also by in-person focus group participation) enables participants to learn more about community co-operatives in terms of potentials and pitfalls, bearing in mind the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs identified by the participants as particularly relevant are: Goal 1 (No poverty); Goal 2 (Zero hunger); Goal 5 (Gender equality); Goal 8 (Decent work); Goal 12 (Responsible production and consumption) and Goal 17 (Partnerships).

Overall, the intention is to explore the extent to which social enterprise can help to re-generate social, economic and environmental wellbeing. We also aim to consider with participants how we can build on the group approach (Ubuntu: “I am because we are) combined with The Indonesian model called “One Village One Product”  and the adapted model “One village many enterprises” and Vandana Shiva’s  concept of Ecovillages which are aimed at activating Sustainable Development.

We use a gender mainstreaming lens which means that the focus is on ensuring that gender diversity is central to wellbeing. The involvement of  women and  young people is important to this project.

The community-engaged with us in order to foster collaboration and learning with Indigenous leaders to:

  • Advocate for  and  support social and environmental justice through creating jobs in a circular green economy.
  • Explore ways to support multiple species relationships through  many ways of knowing spanning the arts and sciences to inspire creativity with nature.
  • Contribute to theory and practice by making suggestions as to how to re-frame the content, structure and process of education for transformation.

Publications based on our joint research to date

  • Lethole, P. Makaulule, M. McIntyre-Mills,JJ. and Wirawan,R. “Aa!!Venda women and social enterprise: Stepwise progress to regenerative and  sustainable living by, Chapter 18 in  McIntyre-Mills, J and Corcoran-Nantes, Y. Transformative Education for Re-generative Development: Pathways to Sustainable Environments, Springer , in production. 
  • McIntyre-Mills, J.J.  Lethole, P.V, Romm, NRA,  Makaulule, M and Wirawan, R. (2021) 'Re-designing education for regeneration and wellbeing: Exploring the potential of digital engagement' in  Alain L. Fymat (Editor)  The COVID context Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa, proceedings from 2020, 7th annual conference:COVID-19: Perspectives across Africa . https://www.wirasoftfoundation.org/en_GB/web/ecovillage/venda1
  • McIntyre-Mills, J.J, Makaulule M, Lethole, P., Pitsoane, E., Arko-Achemfuor, A, and Wirawan, R, and Widianingsih, I. Ecocentric living : a way forward towards zero carbon . A conversation about Indigenous law and leadership based on custodianship and praxis. Submitted to Systemic Praxis and Action Research

Last modified: Mon Aug 07 17:24:44 SAST 2023