A multistakeholder operation that consists of academia, industry, government and marginalized communities to facilitate user-driven innovation in the ICTD domain.
This not only empowers the rural communities but also integrates the innovative potential in the rural marginalized areas within the general national system of innovation.
The Siyakhula Living Lab project is undertaken in the two villages of Dwesa and Nkwalini. In many ways these communities are representative of the rural realities in South Africa, where a large part of the South African population live.
Dwesa is traditionally a subsistence farming community, and as such depend on their land for their livelihood. The region features a coastal nature reserve and it was the site of the first restitution projects in post-apartheid South Africa. The region has a high potential for both eco and cultural tourism due to the rich cultural heritage and the marine conservation project undertaken at the nature reserve.
The nature reserve is a catalyst for tourism, which together with government subsidies, is the main source of money for the local community. Tourism is seasonal (almost exclusively during school holidays) and visitors are mostly South Africans. At the moment, the revenues are redirected to the administrative government offices in Bisho and do not benefit the community directly. The only way tourism benefits the community is by promoting local arts and crafts. There are a number of activities ranging from basket-making to wood-carving. Moreover, Transkei is the site of conservation of the traditional culture of the Xhosa people, and Dwesa has much to offer to tourists and to the outside world in terms of preservation of traditional customs and ceremonies, dances and, especially, music.
Unfortunately, like many rural areas, Dwesa is characterised by lack of infrastructure in terms of road and electricity, widespread poverty, lack of services and isolation. Isolation is probably the main reason for young people leaving Dwesa for the cities, a typical phenomenon in rural areas. This deprives the community of fresh energies and of the primary force for change and innovation. Even worse than the physical isolation is isolation in terms of knowledge and information.
The size of the community involved comprises about 20000 rural persons in a cluster of villages with very low density housing. The currently contacted and active user base is of less than 200 community members (excluding the approximate 4500 school pupils at the 8 schools).
The research is situated directly in the community and progressively builds on ICT knowledge of participants; adapting and developing software to provide new tailor-made services for them. It works as follows:
