A reflective Engagement: 2010 - 2018 1TO1 - AGENCY OF ENGAGEMENT
Image: Left & Image: Cover Left: 1to1, WeAmbush & Mai Mai Leadership discussing the nature of Public Space in Inner City Johannesburg (2014) Cover: Slovo Park Visit with UP Students (2012)
TABLE OF CONTENTS a critical reflection?
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WHAT WE ARE
6
WHAT WE TRIED TO DO
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How we aimed to address it
12
1TO1 THEORY OF CHANGE
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WHERE IT began
16
WHO we ARE
20
WHAT WE OFFER
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How we tried to do it
28
What we did
32
LOOKING BACK AT THE WORK
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WHAT it added up to
52
WHAT WORKED & WHAT DIDN'T
56
WHAT's next
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Can we do it differently?
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ISBN: 978-0-620-82888-8 Title: A Reflective Engagement: 2010 - 2018 Editor: Jhono Bennett Compiled: December 2018 Version 1.0 -2019/04/01 For queries and additional information: info@1to1.org.za Special thanks to Claire De Trevou, Jacqueline Cuyler, Suzette Van Der Walt and Bulbul Vyas for supporting the completion of this document. This publication is dedicated to the memory of Mohau Melani and Naledi Ntoane, who were instrumental to the inception of 1to1, and our friends.
A CRITICAL REFLECTION? The operational journey covered since 2010 gives us a better view on many challenges, as well as opportunities, that face organizations such as 1to1 in the radically shifting political, social and urban landscape of contemporary South Africa. A TIME TO REFLECT
This document is intended to serve as a tool for collecting, processing and sharing what 1to1 and our members have done since the inception of the organisation on November 20, 2010 in Johannesburg's Slovo Park. The document was conceptualized at an important time for the organization. This was brought on by several factors that will be unpacked subsequently. The most notable being the passing of 1to1's co-founder Mohau Melani in November, 2017. These variables have sparked a series of reflective actions, and is met with the change in the operational leadership between the two remaining co-founders and a new co-director. LOOKING BACK
The organiastional leaders of 1to1 have been guiding the development of the organisation as both a platform and a protagonist for engagement between various city-making actors since 2010 with a focus on informal settlements or informal neighborhoods in Johannesburg. This focus largely took the form of a Support and Advisory role to the leadership of Slovo Park Community Development Forum (SPCDF) that has continued since the completion of Slovo Hall and the incorporation of Mohau Melani (the form leader of the SPCDF) to the time of writing this report. During the initial iterations of the operational and social model, 1to1 was closely linked to Gauteng universities (primarily the University of Johannesburg and the University of Pretoria) and worked symbiotically with both institutions in it's initial drive to offer students of architecture an 'additional mode of spatial practice'. As the organization's values, tools and understanding
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Image: Left
Street Summary by 1to1 & Urbanists for Equity (2015)
of the issues facing urban South Africa evolved, so did the focus of 1to1 - aiming to work more closely with elements of government and the private sector as a means of scaling up the impact and the scope of spatial design in addressing the complexity of post-Apartheid South African cities. Over the last few years the leadership of 1to1 has begun applying a more focused approach to both operating across various scales of engagement in city-making as well as running the organisation as a sustainable and resilient social-enterprise (a for impact/for income model) in South Africa. The journey to this moment of reflection has seen many internal and external challenges to the organization. The most difficult of these has been the internalized systemic legacy of power privilege that haunts our nation (and ourselves) more than 25 years since our democratic freedom. The operational journey covered since 2010 gives us a better view on many challenges (as well as opportunities) that face organizations such as 1to1 in the radically shifting political, social and urban landscape of contemporary South Africa. We hope this report will hold this reflection as a means of sharing our story with similar organizations, individuals and governmental entities who are grappling with the challenges of addressing spatial inequality, empathetic design practice and inclusive city-making in South Africa.
1TO1 – AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS 1TO1 – A G E NC Y OF E NG A G E M E NT I S A S EC T I O N 2 1 N PC C I PC REGI S T ERED EN T I T Y: 2 0 1 2 /1 3 8 2 3 5 /0 8 , SARS PBO REG ISTERED : 9 3 0 0 4 3 4 0 9 & R S A DE PA R T M E NT OF S O C I A L D EVELO PMEN T REGI S T ERED N PO : 1 3 4 - 5 3 6 & L EVEL 1 BEE CONTR IB UTOR .
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Photo: Right
Images of 1to1 in action over the years (2010-2018)
WHAT WE ARE
1TO1 IN SUMMARY
1to1 - Agency of Engagement is a non-profit social enterprise that seeks to positively and systematically shape the way that Southern African cities are seen, made & managed towards a spatially equitable Southern African future. 1to1 refers to a scale of approach toward design; a scale of exercising contemporary theory through active building, a scale of an engagement that reflects human centred values in its approach and its output. The organisation embraces critical, disruptive and societally reflexive methods and ethos to our approach to design in South Africa. This includes proactive engagement on societal factors related to gender, race, age and nationality in the Southern African context.
and other civil society members as well as the private sector in support of inclsuive urban upgrade development. The organisation has worked towards this goal through a focus on the systemic development of human-centered and tactical practices of design, thinking and making that hold the potential to fundamentally address spatial inequality in our cites: one of the most tangible, yet under addressed legacies of post-Apartheid and post colonial Southern Africa. 1to1's leadership has developed the entity to support processes towards :
SPATIAL JUSTICE as the understanding that inequality/ injustice manifests most clearly into space and the efforts to address this unbalance aim to achieve 1to1 has existed as a facilitator of engagement spatial equity by re-distributing/adjusting the towards development between informal settlement causes of the unjustness. communities, spatial academics and professionals; classifying its role as ‘spatial design tactician’. To address the missing areas of addressing: 1to1 was originally developed to extend the role of students in architecture to be more effective in addressing issues of spatial inequality in the built environment and has grown to be a support for Grass-roots groups, government bodies, NGOs
SPATIAL INEQUALITY as the unequal amounts of qualities or resources and services depending on the area or location, such as access to adequate transport opportunities, medical facilitates, economic opportunities, public space or other important societal resources.
WHAT WE TRIED TO DO To develop a systemic and paradigm shifting model of spatial practice that pro-actively addresses socio-spatial inequality in South Africa, while supporting positive change in how our cities and towns in South Africa are seen, made and managed. THE CONTEXT OF SPATIAL INEQUALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
The South African city we experience today did not simply manifest in a vacuum outside of the socio-spatial injustice of the last centuries of colonial and Apartheid ‘development’. The 4 hour commute (combined with 40% of income spent on transport) that the average Johannesburg city user experiences (South African Cities Network, 2016), the sense of fractured and racist locality across the metropolitan and the intact socio-economic segregation of ‘townships’ of Soweto and Alexandra (Malaza, Nqobile, 2014) are all the tangible legacies of the ‘Apartheid City’ design that we as South Africans, accept on a daily basis. The contemporary city in South Africa struggles to engage equally and justly with its users and a result the most economically and spatially vulnerable are often the last to be included in the development conversation (Ballard, 2008), if at all. While technical skills and competencies are vital to addressing the spatial inequalities of post-apartheid South Africa, the immediate challenge as spatial practitioners can be seen in the lack of skill or willingness of professionals and city officials to engage with the complexity the city through its users – specifically the informal rural and urban neighbourhoods that currently sit at around 1.8 million households (NUSP, 2013) nationwide. The challenge of inequality in access to the city by rural South African communities, is seen tacitly in the national government’s policy-based system of housing delivery that carries a backlog larger today than when it began in 1994. While urban inequality in South Africa is most often discussed through the issue of ‘housing’, the challenge is recognized by contemporary scholars as not being a question of technical delivery of infrastructure (Charlton, 2009), but rather the development and making of place at scale. The national government has several policies and 8
Image: Left & Image: Next Page Left: 1to1 Ultimate Goal & Outputs Next Page: Summary of issues and conditions 1to1 aims to address or support
foci in the National Development Plan (National Planning Commission, 2010) in place to include both urban and rural communities in their own spatial development but have failed to do so due to issues of governance, a lack of sociotechnical skills in the municipality and the built environment private sector at large (Marjam Van Donk & Edgar Pieterse, 2014) as well as a missing framework for meaningfully engaging with residents of marginalized neighbourhoods. Johannesburg exemplifies both the immensity of the challenge as well the many latent opportunities to address the massive scale of spatial inequality in both urban and rural South Africa. The opportunity is present to not only inclusively develop our cities at a large-scale, but to assist in nationwide job creation, built environment sector up-skilling and an opportunity to include the voices of grass-root civil groups and residents of informal neighborhoods into the redevelopment processes of South Africa. Ballard, R. (2008). Between the Community Hall and the City Hall: Five Research Questions on Participation. Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa, 66(1), 168–188.Bremner, L. & Law-Viljoen, B. (2010). Writing the City into Being: Essays on Johannesburg, 1998-2008. Johannesburg: Fourthwall Books. Charlton, S. (2009). Housing for the Nation, the City and the Household: Competing Rationalities as a Constraint to Reform? Development Southern Africa, 26(2), 301–315. Malaza, Nqobile. (2014). Black Urban, Black Research: Why Understanding Space and Identity in South Africa Still Matters, in: Harrison, P., Götz, G., Todes, A., And Wray, C. (Eds.), Changing space, changing city: Johannesburg after apartheid, (p. 555,557). Johannesburg: Wits University Press. Marjam Van Donk & Edgar Pieterse. (2014). Citizenship, Design Activism and Institutionalising Informal Settlement Upgrading, in: From housing to human settlements: evolving perspectives, (p. 149). South Africa: South African Cities Network. National Planning Commission. (2010). National Development Plan: Vision for 2030: Chapter 4 & Chapter 14. NUSP. (2013). Sustainable Housing Policy & Practice. Retrieved from http://upgradingsupport. org/uploads/files/sustainable_housing_policy_and_practice.pdf.Pieterse, E. & Simone, A. M. (2013). Rogue Urbanism: Emergent African Cities. Jacana Media. Cape Town: Jacana Media. South African Cities Network. (2016). State of South African Cities Report, ’16 (K. Davidson and G. Karuri-Sebina, Eds.). Johannesburg, South Africa: e South African Cities Network. UN Habitat. (2017). Global Public Space Programme Annual Report 2017 – UN-Habitat. Retrieved May 29, 2018, from https://unhabitat.org/global-public-space-programme-annual-report-2017/
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THINGS WE WANT TO ADDRESS
IMAGE: Uneven Spaces - GCRO
POORLY CONNECTED NEIGHBOURHOODS & URBAN SPRAWL
THE LEGACY OF APARTHEID & COLONIAL PLANNING
IMAGE: Uneven Spaces - GCRO
NEGATIVE STIGMAS OF PUBLIC SPACE
IMAGE: Uneven Spaces - GCRO
UNEQUAL NEIGHBOURHOODS
IMAGE: Uneven Spaces - GCRO
UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES AND SPATIAL OPPORTUNITIES 10
THINGS WE WANT TO SUPPORT
INCLUSIVE FORMS OF NEIGHBORHOOD MAKING
IMAGE: https://www.unlabelledmagazine.com (Obakeng Molepe)
NEW FORMS OF SPATIAL MANAGEMENT
NEW SOUTH AFRICAN URBAN IDENTITIES
INCLUSIVE FORMS OF URBAN GROWTH
EMPOWERING METHODS OF CITY MAKING
IMAGE: Wake Up this is Joburg: Tanya Zack
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS OF CITY USE
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Image: Right 1to1 Approach to addressing Spatial Inequality
Image: Next Page 1to1 Theory of Change
HOW WE AIMED TO DO IT
ADDRESSING SPATIAL INEQUALITY
1to1's leadership designed the organisation's approach to operationally address systemic spatial inequality in South Africa, while managing ourselves as a sustainable social enterprise through a careful structuring of the organization’s approach and structure in the THEORY OF CHANGE.
through a series of PROGRAMMES that addressed the major-issues of spatial inequality (see diagram on the right) that we see were contributing to endemic spatial inequality in South Africa. By framing our approach through each programme (which are categorised under the three Initiatives) we aimed to address Spatial Inequality through a grass-roots The drive of the organization is captured in our Neighbourhood level that would address large ULTIMATE GOAL of addressing Spatial Inequality in scale change in South African Cities. South Africa, which are framed in more detail by the OUTCOMES- the intangible and systemic process These projects are further organized to allow for elements of explaining the Ultimate Goal, which are flexibility and sharing of the projects and social further articulated into the organization’s OUTPUTS aims with a host of collaborators. - which are the more tangible and measurable indicators of the Outcomes. 1to1 believes that by flooding the built environment with a large scale force of socio-technically skilled The organization’s ACTIVITIES/OFFERING, which explain grass roots neighborhood makers who can work the activities that 1to1 employs to achieve its OUTPUTS between different levels of city making, armed with (and specifically the SUB-OUTPUTS). The Activities/ tactical systems of spatial design practice, we can Offerings are framed under the three INITIATIVES to systemically address spatial inequality by changing assist in articulating the organization’s Activities the way cities in Southern Africa are made. through 1to1's Projects that make up the day to day work of the organization towards the Ultimate Goal As a country we hold a latent social capital waiting while providing income, delivering social impact to be activated in every neighbourhood that, when and providing the space to test and develop the unleashed, could re-build our cities inclusively organization’s innovation and learning. from within while providing a system of income and enterprise in a country that faces high levels of unemployment - specifically in the youth sector. DESIGNING THE APPROACH Our approach has been carefully designed to work
SPATIAL UNJUST & UNEQUAL SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES
UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES AND SPATIAL OPPORTUNITIES
NEGATIVE STIGMAS OF PUBLIC SPACE
INCLUSIVE FORMS OF NEIGHBOURHOOD MAKING
UNEQUAL NEIGHBOURHOODS
APARTHEID & COLONIAL PLANNING
EMPOWERING METHODS OF CITY MAKING
SPATIAL JUST & EQUITABLE SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES
NEW FORMS OF SPATIAL MANAGEMENT
NEW SOUTH AFRICAN URBAN IDENTITIES
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS OF CITY USE
1TO1 THEORY
ULTIMATE TO POSITIVELY A FFEC T HO W C ITIES A ND TO WNS IN SO UTH AF RI CA ARE S E E N,
OUTCOMES - less tang Support Ultim A South African appreciation of
practice of just/equitable South
for equitable neighborhoods,
MADE
SEEN
A recognized appreciation for the
urbanity, density, transport &
African City making
public space. The Tangible Result
The Tangible Process
Examples of socio-technical Human Centered processes The Tangible Process
Secondary
PRIMARY
OUTPUTS - MORE TANGI Support Outcome A Network of Neighborhood Makers
A Knowledge Sharing System
1to1 aims to create a network of critical & human
1to1 aims to a system of knowledge sharing that captures
centered designers that connect & learn together in South
and disseminates the crucial learnings and shared
Africa towards addressing Spatial Inequality.
experiences of our work and practice.
Spatial Practice Recognition
Tertiary Educatio
1to1 aims to make the private, civil and government sector recognize the value of
1to1 aims to make universities accredit an
this way of working.
of teach
Activitie frame the w Working to create networks, partnerships and support
sharing these learnings and findings.
emerging people, practices and voices in the work against
PRIMARY
Facilitation & Engagement
Creating precedent for such a type of organization and
Secondary
Research & DEVELOPMENT
Advocacy
Network Support & Building
Lobbying, supporting or speaking on critical topics
Engaging with tactical research questions, topics and
towards spatial equality in South Africa.
learning in order to further the knowledge and practice
spatial inequality.
around socio-spatial design in South Africa.
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Y OF CHANGE
E GOAL MAD E A ND O P E R ATE TO WARD S A SPATIAL LY JU ST SO UTH A FR IC A N FUTUR E .
Examples of equitable/just neighborhoods
managed
gible &BROAD GOALS mate Goal Standards for equitable/just
Standards for
City management
Equitable/just city spaces
The Tangible Process
Tangible r The Tangible Result result
The Tangible Result
IBLE EXAMPLES OF GOALS es (see Sub-Outputs) Training, Teaching & Practice Systems
A Sustainable Social Enterprise Model
1to1 aims to develop a series of initiatives that actively
1to1 aims to create a business model that demonstrates
train and spread the learnings and practice of 1to1.
this type of practice can work and is sustainable in South Africa.
on Recognition
Just Urban Awareness
nd recognize the value of the 1to1 way
1to1 aims to make the value and need for good urban living in South African
hing.
known and valued.
es/Offering work 1to1 does Teaching & Training
Socio-Technical Design
Actively training, side-skilling or teaching that supports
Engaging with tactical research questions, topics and
further knowledge and understanding towards addressing
learning in order to further the knowledge and practice
socio-spatial inequality.
around socio-spatial design in South Africa.
Knowledge Sharing
Design, Making & Production
Documenting, publishing and sharing of alternative and
Building, designing or making interventions, structures
key knowledge within addressing Spatial Inequality.
and strategies that actively affect and shape the built environment in South Africa.
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Photo: Right 1to1 Student beginnings (2010-2013)
Photo: Next Page 1to1 Student beginnings (2010-2013)
WHERE IT BEGAN
1TO1 IN SUMMARY
1to1 began in 2010 when a group of students from the University of Pretoria's Architecture Department: were given an opportunity to work with a highly organised group of informal settlement dwellers and leaders, the Slovo Park Development Forum, as part of the Architectureal Honours programme by Dr. Carin Combrinck. During the initial project of co-designing and building a small tactical intervention in Slovo Park the group were exposed to another way of working and city-making, as people first then as professionals - they sought to grow this additional mode of practice into something that could support similar projects while creating a platform for engagement with other stakeholders and students. Based on the enthusiastic and driven work of the 2012 University of Pretoria Honours programme students, this time led by Bennett, 1to1 was born through the upgrade of the Slovo Hall in 2012. This student group designed the logo, completed the Hall in 2012 and effectively started 1to1 as an organised student based movement. 1TO1 - AGENCY OF ENGAGEMENT This initial student group went on to develop the 1to1 Student Movement and with the guidance of the original 2010 founders, launch 1to1 - Agency of Engagement and register the organisation in 2012 as legal entity. The organisation has
changed and adapted as the original founders and collaborators have grown to understand and learn how to tactically and systemically address the issues of socio-spatial ineqaulity in South African cities. 1TO1 - ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE VALUES The values that emerged in the formation of 1to1: CRITICALITY: a scale of reflection and care for our role in each project and in the country. EMPATHY: a scale of action that reflected human centered values in its Approach and output. CONSTRUCTIVITY: a scale of engagement that pro actively exercise theoretical ideas through active engagement and co-production. INNOVATION & STRATEGY: a approach to challenges and opportunities that works both strategically and innovatively. 1TO1 - ONWARDS 1to1 continues to grow and shape its offering to address the initial goal of the student movement while encompassing innovative and disruptive elements into the organization’s practice. The underpinning focus that 1to1 now carries is addressing System Spatial Inequality and working Spatial Justice.
Photo: Right
Image:Next Page
All members of 1to1 since 2010
1to1 network of collaborators, partners and clients
WHO WE ARE
Director
Director & Co-Founder
SUZETTE VAN DER WALT JHONO BENNETT
Director
Director & Co-Founder
Ex-director & Co-Founder
MAMODIKE MAKGOBA
JACQUI CUYLER
MOHAU MELANI â€
THE TEAM
1to1 was co-founded by a small group of architecture students in 2010 (Fillipe, Makgabutlane, Hattingh,Van Wyk, Bennett, Casson). That group included the leader of the Slovo Park Community Development Forum, Mohau Melani, who passed away in November 2017. Since it's inception 1to1 has seen support and collaboration from an amazingly wide range of members in various forms. Many of these members have now gone on to start their own organizations, companies or projects working in similar thematics as their time at 1to1 supported. The directorship has evolved over the years, but has yet to be conducted full time.
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This includes many* residents, students and city users who have been part of many projects over the years. 1to1 is supported by a board of advisors who are chosen based on sector expertise and meet bi-annually to support the organisation 1to1 has never had ful time staff working at 100% capacity, but has allowed members to work across other positions and jobs. 1to1 has struggled over the years to operate in a traditional organization fashion, and has accepted many strategic and mutually beneficial arrangements with volunteers, interns, key collaborators and operational leaders.
The comprehensive list of volunteers and supporters recorded is available at the end of this document.
AMY LEIBRANDT - VOLUNTEER
BLANCA CALVO - INTERN
CLAUDIA FILLIPE - CO-FOUNDER
MILISWA NDZIBA - KEY COLLABORATOR
STEVE HOFFE - KEY COLLABORATOR
REA THIPE - VOLUNTEER
DUMISANI MATHEBULA- KEY
SAMEERA KHURANA - INTERN
SANDEEP NICHA - INTERN
AFUA WILCOX - KEY COLLABORATOR
SHARNE VERMULAN - VOLUNTEER
SUMAYYA VALLEY - INTERN
TAYLOR HOLLOWAY - PROGRAMME LEADER
TINASHE DUBE - VOLUNTEER
TULIZA SINDI - INTERN
WARWICK VILANTIS - KEY
XIAO WANG - INTERN
SANJAY JEEVAN - VOLUNTEER
OLWETHU JACK - KEY COLLABORATOR
STEPHANIE RYDER - VOLUNTEER
JOANNA VOLGADE - KEY COLLABATOR
MUHAMMED DAWJEE - VOLUNTEER
TEBOGO RAMATLO - KEY
RICHARD MEADE - VOLUNTEER
EURADICE PAIVA - RESEARCHER
BONOLO MASANGO - RESEARCHER
ROANNE MOODLEY - VOLUNTEER
ORATHILE MOTHOAGO
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PROJECT PARTNER
PEACE FOUNDATION
PROJECT PARTNER
AFORMAL TERRAIN PROJECT PARTNER
UBUNTU GROWING MINDS
PEOPLE'S ENVIRONMENT PLANNING
BUILD A FUTURE
RESILIENCE CIVIC DESIGN COLLECTIVE
PROJECT PARTNER
PROJECT PARTNER + MOU
SHACK DWELLERS INTERNATIONAL PROJECT PARTNER
SOUTH AFRICAN SDI ALLIANCE PROJECT PARTNER
UMUZI
SLOVO PARK EVELOPMENT FORUM
ARUP SUPPORTER/CLIENT
NATIONAL UPGRADE SUPPORT PROGRAMME
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SUPPORTER/CLIENT
BOOM ARCHITECTS
ADVISOR + MOU PROJECT PARTNER + ADVISOR
ARCHITECTURE SANS FRONTIERES - UK
PROJECT PARTNER
DEVELOPMENT ACTION GROUP (DAG)
PROJECT PARTNER
UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG: GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
PROJECT PARTNER
INNER CITY RESOURCE CENTER
URBAN WORKS
PROJECT PARTNER
SUPPORTER & PROJECT PARTNERS
URBANISTS FOR EQUITY
MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY
COUNTERSPACE
LIZ OGBU PROJECT PARTNER
PROJECT PARTNER
DSD DESIS LAB PROJECT PARTNERS
PROJECT PARTNER
SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS INSTITUTE (SERI)
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Photo: Right 1to1 and ARUP working in Vredeorp with Neighborhood Leaders. (2017)
WHAT WE OFFER
1TO1'S SERVICE OFFERING - PRIMARY OFFERING
1to1's leadership has learnt over the years how important it is to be able describe what an organisation 'does' while trying to describe what the organisation can 'do' as a set of offerings. The core offerings of 1to1have made up the bulk of our work over the last few years. These started off being the things we just did in our projects and as we grew as an organisation these offerings became more nuanced and specialised. As a social enterprise the differentiation between the typical description of 'activity' (used by nongovernmental organisations) and 'services' used by for profit enterprise has been an important overlap. 1to1's leadership has described these as 'offerings' as a means of being able to provide support services to our beneficiary base, while still being viable to compete for consultative work from the private and government sector.
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DESIGN & MAKING PRIMARY ACTIVITIES/ OFFERINGS RESEARCH
1to1 offers architectural, spatial and maker services. This offering typica co-design, creation and productio documents and design products su public spaces, sanitation and e agricultural systems e.t.c
This service is tailored to support group development of the benefic often aligned to the Knowledge Pro Learning and Advocacy services offe
The research style that 1to1 employ grounded and aims to not only inter from a situation, but also feed i personal development of the be stakeholders involved.
This work typically takes the form assessments, socio-spatial map research and systems analysis. 1 methods are embedded in Design Design Thinking principle.
d neighbourhood ally involves the on of technical uch as buildings, energy systems,
the personal or ciaries and are oduction, Action ered by 1to1.
ys is self-critical, rpret information into social and eneficiaries and
m of community pping, desktop 1to1’s research n Research and
FACILITATION & ENGAGEMENT
ADVOCACY WORK
Typically this is done around spatial development projects that will result in a physically built or developed output. The service offers managing, translating and leading the processes of engagement. This service also includes Facilitation, which can be offered separately, and links across other service areas such as Research and Design & Making. 1to1’s Facilitation methods follow human centred design principles and employ visual methods of co-production as a way of working across race, class and education backgrounds.
1to1 believes that Spatial Injustice lies at the root of many contemporary South African societal issues and in response focus our work towards addressing the systemic nature of this issue. Our service offerings tie into a broader discourse of spatial literacy, critical self-reflection for practitioners and space-makers and meaningful forms of dialogue that support systemic change against all forms of inequality.
TRAINING & TEACHING
KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION
Depending on the context this service takes different forms but is embedded in action learning, design thinking and supports the growth of the beneficiaries and stakeholders through facilitated and systemic learning. Typically, 1to1 has provide this service to university courses (design studios and course work), government institutes, NGOs and grass roots entities who have requested a tailored learning experience for a complex socio-spatial contexts and diverse learner groups. 1to1 believes that knowledge sharing and learning is not monodirectional.
1to1 provides a service that translates knowledge into accessible and packaged formats, and forms a critical aspect of 1to1’s Advocacy, Socio-Technical Training and Design work. Typically, this service takes the form of reports, info graphics, teaching content, short multimedia outputs and documentaries.
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SOCIOTECHNICAL FACILITATION
TACTICAL ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT
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1to1 provides a facilitated design, research and teaching service that typically curates and facilitates a research experience between grass root entities, academics/government/civil entities and a research area (usually a city or region). 1to1 aims to ensure a mutually beneficial exchange of time, learning and resources through these engagements and uses these experiences to ask critical questions about positionally, privilege and disadvantage and learning.
1to1 has provided support for groups looking to work across complex stakeholder configurations in order to design tactical processes of engagement. These are normally combined with Research and Facilitation Services. This services is typically offered in addition with our primary offering.
SOCI0-SPATIAL MAPPING + RESEARCH
1to1 has developed unique methods for combining field research, action research (studies carried out in the course of an activity or occupation, typically in the field of education, to improve the methods and approach of those involved) and design led research to produce grounded and engaged bodies of data for groups looking to understand complex sociospatial areas.
NEI MOD
This services is typically offered in addition with our primary offering.
SOCIOTECHNICAL SPATIAL DESIGN
1to1has developed an approach to spatial design that is a blend of development practice, spatial design, UserX methods and architectural technicality to the projects it works on.
1to1has a series developing neigh tools and approa urban and rural c
This services is typically offered in addition with our primary offering.
These models inc that 1to1 is curre
Photo: Left 1to1 working on the Back Story Project (2018)
1TO1'S SERVICE OFFERING - UNIQUE OFFERING
As 1to1 completed more projects and the directors developed a deeper understanding of the issues faced by South African City-Makers so did the development of the services offered in projects.
IGHBOURHOOD MAKING DELS, TOOLS & METHODS
of models/prototypical processes of upgrading and hbourhoods in South Africa that employ several 1to1 aches to systemically and critically develop areas of centres.
clude the development of several tools and methods ently developing and testing in the field.
UNIQUE OFFERINGS
We described these 'Unique Offerings' in more technical detail and have been focussing on developing the image of 1to1 around these services in particular. The services described here are used in the costing and design of the project, programmes and initiatives and typically are not described as technically here. Rather in projects the team has been using a variation of local dialect and colloquial terms such as 'Umuzi-tecture' or 'KasiDesign'; these refer to interchangeable terms used by people of Johannesburg The unique offerings are the current focus of the new iteration of 1to1 going forward into 2019 and onwards.
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HOW WE TRIED TO DO IT
DESIGNING 1TO1
In 2017 we organised our work under a series of Initiatives as a way of simplifying our operational description and organising our work to work better towards achieving our ultimate goal. Each Initiative comprised of key programmes that give focus to the projects in order to structure & measure the delivery of 1to1’s social impact & social enterprise outputs. The structuring plays a role in making 1to1 a Sustainable Social Enterprise while still giving space for learning and innovation in the organisation’s operational model. This
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Image: Far Left & Left Far Left: the 1to1 organization model for delivery. Left: The business canvas and output model for 1to1
model has been designed to support the delivery and reception of resources to achieve the organisation’s Ultimate Goal and vision. 1to1 chooses and manages it’s projects and programmes based on 4 criteria of Learning/Innovation, Time Required, Impact and Income. As a social enterprise, 1to1 is aiming to balance Social Impact with Organization Income against Time constraints, while still allowing for Learning and Innovation to take place. 1to1 aims to balance all Initiatives, Programmes and projects against these four criteria towards the organization’s Ultimate Goal and Outcomes. 1to1 has 3 major initiatives that drive and frame the organisation’s operational model. Each initiative supports the other, and all work together to support the delivery of a sustainable social-enterprise model.
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the INITIATIVES 1to1 frames its practice under these three initiatives that speak to the overall Theory of Change and Organisational Structure. Each initiative is managed by an Operational Leader or collaboration between Operational Leaders who is responsible for the programmes and subsequent projects.
This separation allows for tactical and supportive alignment of resources and time to achieve the Outcomes and measure these while managing the organisation’s income as Social-Enterprise.
While these programmes are housed under the Initiatives, in practice they sit across initiatives and can be linked through Projects. The idea behind this being that often projects cross multiple Outputs, Typologies, Activities and Income sources/targets.
CRITICAL PRACTICE PROGRAMME: The Critical Practice Programme seeks to support critical ways in which to reflect on the way that spatial practitioners work in South Africa. This includes visiting researchers and practitioners from abroad.
NEIGHBOURHOOD DESIGNER PROGRAMME: seeks to develop a system for South African cities to be designed and understood at the neighbourhood scale through the development of a form of collaborative practice led These framings are currently in use and under the by local people with local governments. new leadership of 1to1 will see some changes. NEIGHBOURHOOD BUILDER PROGRAMME: seeks to develop a Each Initiative is guided by a Primary Output and is system to support the development of neighbourhood made up of several primary, secondary and tertiary building practice, skills and projects from a grass activities (see Image Right). These initiatives are roots level. further articulated into several programmes that allow 1to1 to share programmes and projects NEIGHBOURHOOD FACILITATOR PROGRAMME : seeks to create across it’s stakeholder and partner network. an institutional system of engagement between residents and local government towards localised THE NEIGHBOURHOOD MAKER INITIATIVE (NMI): is the grass roots led development for South Africa. primary delivery mechanism of the organisation’s theory of change. It provides a platform to test the JUST URBAN TRANSLATION PROGRAMME: aims to actively learnings from the CPI (see paragraph below) and create spaces for dialogue and information sharing the findings from the JUI (see paragraph below). around the topics of spatial inequality, identity and Due to the nature of the initiative it is able to spatial justice for South Africa. Joburg seeks to frame receive social impact grant support. and understand the nature of Spatial Inequality and Spatial Justice in relation to the city. THE CRITICAL PRACTICE INITIATIVE (CPI): hosts the consulting arm of 1to1 and carries smaller projects JUST JOBURG PROGRAMME: seeks to frame and understand to bring income from partners, develop practice the nature of Spatial Inequality and Spatial Justice in methods and uses the NMI network to deliver the relation to the city project. The CPI is also used to shape the current professions that make cities and side skill this SOCIO-SPATIAL RESEARCH PROGRAMME: seeks to test and sector. grow the manner in which we do spatial research in South Africa. This programme also feeds into the THE JUST URBANISM INITIATIVE (JUI): is the vehicle for Socio-Technical Design Programme while assisting in carrying projects and programmes that are trying the training many young people in the practice of to understand and ask research. Disseminate critical research. innovative research on South African urbanism. SOCIO- TECHNICAL SPATIAL DESIGN PROGRAMME: seeks to test Programmes and grow the practice of socio-technical spatial The breakdown of the Initiatives into Programmes design in South Africa: An approach to spatial design allows 1to1 to explain the Ultimate social impact practice that works with existing social networks Goal of the organization in relation to the Projects through a critical and participative design process to and share the ideas and values behind larger goal co-produce an integrated, holistic and contextually with stakeholders, collaborator project clients/ supportive strategy to any issue(s) faced by an beneficiaries -as it is easier to share an idea than individual or group of people living in a vulnerable a project. condition or spatial context.
Image: Right 30
1to1 Programme & Initiative Breakdown
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WHAT WE DID
OPERATIONAL GROWTH
The original aim of 1to1 was to develop an initial mode of spatial practice in South Africa. This drive in the 2012 - 2015 period has the organisation in it's own internal learning, testing and sharing process. This period allowed 1to1 to cover much ground, and in 2016 start focussing on building a better operational model of securing stronger income streams through a clear strategy. The strategy allowed the organisation to prioritise certain Initiatives, Programmes and Projects. This period in addition saw the organisation of the projects into more manageable typologies as a means of accounting to the mission of 1to1 as well as making sure the expectations of our beneficiaries, partners and members could be better managed.
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Image: Left & Far Left Left: the 1to1 organization income strategy Far Left: Original Operational model of 1to1 (2012 - 2015)
BUILDING & MAKING PROJECTS (BMP)
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (RDP)
1to1's members are mainly architects, but as a way of working beyond this title the projects that involved constriction, placemaking, or any form 'creation' were titled as BMP.
Projects that were driven by desktop research, field research or any form of speculative development of an intangible idea towards a tangible process were RDP.
SYSTEM DESIGN PROJECTS (SDP)
TEACHING & TRAINING PROJECTS (TTP)
Projects that included a mixed method approach and were trying to develop new ways of working or implementing that covered different scales were termed SDP.
Projects that focused on learning or teaching (often in Universities) were framed as TTP. These included content development that was linked to delivery of learning method.
NETWORK BUILDING PROJECTS (NBP)
COLLABORATION BUILDING PROJECTS (CBP)
1to1 conducted many projects as a means of building networks or support bases for fledgling ideas. These projects were termed NBP.
Due to the size and nature of 1to1, much of the work was conducted as collaborative work. This involved many projects that were conceived as Collaboration Building CBP.
KNOWLEDGE SHARING PROJECTS (KSP) SUPPORT & ADVISORY PROJECTS (SAP) As a primary delivery of the Teaching and Learning Projects, the KSP projects were led by the sole purpose of sharing knowledge learnt or that was required to be disseminated.
Because 1to1 is not in a position to provide large scale support, the organization framed the nature of it's SAP in carefully designed packages of work and often with tools and methods.
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JUL-10 NOV-10 AUG-12 OCT-12 OCT-12 JUL-12 FEB-12 MAY-13 JUL-13 JUL-13 FEB-13 JUL-14 JUL-14 JUL-14 JUL-14 FEB-14 JUN-14 OCT-15 JAN-16 JAN-16 MAY-16 OCT-16 OCT-16 NOV-16 MAR-17 MAR-17 JUN-17 OCT-17 OCT-17 NOV-17 MAY-17 NOV-17 JAN-17 JUL-17 NOV-17 APR-18 APR-18 MAY-18 DEC-18
NOV-10 ONGOING NOV-12 JUL-15 NOV-12 DEC-14 DEC-12 DEC-13 OCT-13 DEC-13 DEC-13 DEC-14 DEC-14 JUL-14 JUL-14 MAY-14 DEC-15 DEC-15 MAR-16 FEB-16 JUL-16 DEC-16 FEB-18 JUL-18 APR-17 MAY-17 OCT-17 NOV-17 ONGOING DEC-17 NOV-17 DEC-17 NOV-17 ONGOING ONGOING MAY-18 APR-18 ONGOING DEC-18
SLOVO HALL - 2010 THE SLOVO PARK PROJECT SLOVO HALL - 2012 1TO1 STUDENT LEAGUE WATERBORNE - DOCUMENTARY 1TO1 PARTICIPATION TOOL SETS - 2012 IKASI GYM UPGRADE HEART BEAT ORPHAN SUPPORT CENTRE SLOVO PLAYGROUND 2013 IMPACT HUB DESIGN WORK WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN ITS FIXED SENWARABANA - PEACE CENTRE MODULE NUSP MODULE WRITING - SECTION 9 SLOVO PLAYGROUND 2014 MANDELA DAY 2014 PUBLIC ACTS: WHAT DOES MAI MAI MEAN? KWA-MAI MAI FOOD COURT UPGRADE AURET STREET RECYLERS WHERE ARE YOU NOW? DIZ OFFICE SET UP JUTA STREET SOCIO-SPATIAL MAPPING RCDC - LUKHANYO HUB HARVARD GSD RESEARCH FACILITATION THE POINT. MAYFAIR SOCIO-SPATIAL MAPPING ASF - CHANGE BY DESIGN WORKSHOP 2017 LINEAR MARKETS MAPPING GIBS SOCIO-SPATIAL FACILITATION BACK STORY - JOBURG BACK STORY - HACTIVATE SLOVO PLAYS 2017 CODES OF ENGAGEMENT SOUTH AFRICAN NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN NETWORK SOCIO-TECHNICAL SUPPORT TOOLS 2017 - ONGOING PLAY FOR DEVELOPMENT KILLARNEY SOCIO-SPATIAL MAPPING YALE - PURSUIT OF LUXURY WORKSHOP SLOVO HALL 2.0 CHALLENGING PRACTICE @GIFA
CAPE TOWN
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PRETORIA JOHANNESBURG
BLOEMFONTEIN
DURBAN
PORT ELIZABETH Image: Center Geographical location of projects in relation to population density, time-line of projects and date of projects
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Image: Below & Image: Next Page Below: A reflective time line of the projects, events and periods of work for 1to1. Next Page: Short summaries of all 1to1 projects, partners and clients.
2010 - 2013
When the organisation began in 2010, we were largely responding to the student work we had started with the Slovo Park Development Forum (SPCDF). This was made up of the Slovo Hall and the subsequent work to assist the SPCDF in their goals of development from the government. In 2011 all founders were committed to their dissertations and were not able to directly work in Slovo or 1to1. Dr Combrinck managed the relationship with the SPCDF in this period through a series of workshops that was document by Alex Melck (later to inform the documentary produced with Ingmar Buchner: Waterborne) During this time period, the directors were still establishing themselves in their own early careers and most projects were done through in small amounts of time or via the various institutes or organisations they were involved in.
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KEY FINDING
KEY CHALLENGE
There was a critical need to create this platform for young spatial designers and practitioners in the Built Environment of South Africa
The challenges that defined this period were seen in the difficulty of articulating what we were trying to do while simultaneously developing our own approach to the larger challenges.
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Image: Below & Image: Next Page Below: A reflective time line of the projects, events and periods of work for 1to1. Next Page: Short summaries of all 1to1 projects, partners and clients.
2013 - 2016
As the directors settled into their roles both in 1to1 and outside commitments, more teaching and research projects were included in the projects as a way of leveraging these dual positions. Slowly as the organisation became clearer and more developed in it's mission did 1to1 start seeking government work, taking on private commissions and even developing our own projects. The challenge remained in securing more stable, meaningful and ' profitable' work to the organisation while thinking about means of scaling the impact of the work towards the newly emerging Ultimate Goal. This period was highly productive, and gave 1to1 much exposure to the city-making sector in Johannesburg. This time marked the beginning of the support and influence through colloborative work with Architecture Sans Frontieres - United Kingdom and International through the Change by Deisgn and Challenging Practice programes.
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KEY FINDING
KEY CHALLENGE
The value of this work was clear in the sector, and the potential of 1to1 was evident in the reach of what was possible.
The development of a business and impact model was difficult to frame and practice in this early period.
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Image: Below & Image: Next Page Below: A reflective time line of the projects, events and periods of work for 1to1. Next Page: Short summaries of all 1to1 projects, partners and clients.
2016 - 2019 (ONWARDS)
During a period after 1to1's director (and the organization) was inducted into the Ashoka Global Changemaker Fellowship, the offering of 1to1became more focused on developing the unique offerings of the organization. This period saw many private commissions from local governmental and private sector entities who required support on existing projects. During this period, the SPCDF won their court case with City of Johannesburg. This event allowed 1to1 work with other partners in our support to the SPCDF and bring in our experiences developed in the teaching and private sector work to the support of Slovo Park. This period saw the passing of our co-founder and director Mohau Melani only a few weeks before the electrification of Slovo Park. This sad event was followed by the passing of 2 more members of the SPCDF and the Youth Forum in a car accident. These events have greatly effected the SPCDF and 1to1 alike
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KEY FINDING
KEY CHALLENGE
The recognition of the systemic nature of our challenge lying in the spatial inequality of our cities.
Keeping the work sustainable both financially, emotionally and logistically to maintain the organisation.
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Images: Right Key numbers for analysis of 1to1 projects (2010 - 2018)
LOOKING BACK AT THE WORK
UNDERSTANDING THE WORK
1to1 has spent the last period (2016 - 2019), working in a more focused and strategic way towards it's ultimate goal. This focus means choosing, making and turning away selected projects as a means of reaching this goal as well maintaining a sustainable social enterprise.
making in a more advocacerial role (that the Just Urbanism Initiative carries) only emerged in 20132016 period and a result have less projects and less attention given to this Initiative as a result. The lack of Just Urbanism Initiative projects can also be attributed to the strategic focus of the directors to be 'proactive' in our work and demonstrate process A careful retrospective count and categorization of as much as possible. the 1to1 projects has been undertaken. The reflective analysis of the work was done with the intent of trying PROJECT TYPOLOGY BREAKDOWN to understand the nature of our own organization The typological breakdown reveals a majority of through the projects. Research & Design Projects, followed by Teaching & Learning and Building & Making Projects. The categorization of project for much of the work pre-2016 was done retrospectively. This prioritisation of these types of projects reflects that 1to1 has kept to it's core means of operating INITIATIVE BREAK DOWN and core values. 1to1 began with a Design & Build project (Slovo Hall 2010) that was housed inside a post-graduate PROJECT ACTIVITY BREAKDOWN teaching course at the University of Pretoria. Research and Socio-Spatial Research has emerged Subsequently it appears that these two areas of focus as our predominate activity. This is most likely due (Making & Learning) have emerged as the dominant to the fact these projects are the lightest logistically, project typologies over the years. generate the most income and have impact that can often be scaled much more easily than others. The practice of making, while learning, and making the learning shareable seems to have emerged as a Design & Making projects required more stable strong characteristic of the 1to1 projects. income flows and organisational capacity that 1to1 has not been able to sustain. The idea of taking these learnings or using the
PROJECT AMOUNT BREAKDOWN 10
5
0 NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDER PROGRAMME
NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD FACILITATOR DESIGNER PROGRAMME PROGRAMME
SOCIOSOCIOCRITICAL PRACTICE TECHNICAL SPATIAL SPATIAL RESEARCH DESIGN PROGRAMME PROGRAMME PROGRAMME
PROJECT PROGRAMME BREAKDOWN JUST JOBURG PROGRAMME
SOCIO-SPATIAL RESEARCH PROGRAMME
NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDER PROGRAMME
JUST URBANISM INITIATIVE (JUI)
NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGNER PROGRAMME
FACILITATED ENGAGEMENT RESEARCH TRAINING
NEIGHBORHOOD MAKER INITIATIVE (NMI)
CRITICAL PRACTICE INITIATIVE (CPI)
PROJECT ACTIVITY BREAKDOWN
KNOWLEDGE SHARING SOCIO-TECHNICAL ADVOCACY DESIGN
JUST URBANISM TRANSLATION PROGRAMME
PROJECT INITIATIVE BREAKDOWN
JUST URBANISM TRANSLATION PROGRAMME SOCIO-TECHNICAL SPATIAL DESIGN PROGRAMME
CRITICAL PRACTICE PROGRAMME
JUST JOBURG PROGRAMME
PROJECT TYPOLOGY BREAKDOWN
NETWORK BUILDING PROJECTS COLLABORATION BUILDING PROJECTS
KNOWLEDGE SHARING PROJECTS
BUILDING & MAKING PROJECTS
TEACHING & TRAINING PROJECTS
SYSTEM DESIGN PROJECTS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
SUPPORT & ADVISORY PROJECTS
Images: Right Important figures for 1to1 Monitoring & Evaluation
WHAT IT ADDED UP TO
At this point in the organizational reflection, the important question we ask ourselves is, "what did our work really add up to?" REFLECTING ON 'IMPACT'
Although we started as inspired and unstoppable graduates in 2010, the last decade has offered some very sober reminders of the difficulty of this type of work. The early period of 1to1's were largely experimental as we forged our own practice and operational style. This work was mostly reactionary and was not structured around impact nor sustainability - our principles and ethics were set in place early on and have remained a key part of our work. During the 2016-2019 period, we established our Impact Goals ( Key Outcomes and Key Outputs) in the Theory of Change as a means of establishing our own viability to impact and to be accountable to ourselves as an organization. From this period we began structuring our projects better and working towards our Impact Goals. IMPACT GOAL BREAKDOWN In reflection a large amount of projects ended up focusing on Teaching & Training Projects, Knowledge Sharing Outputs as well as making projects that allowed 1to1 to be a sustainable enterprise. Spatial Practice Recognition and the Network of Neighborhood Designers emerge as a larger secondary focus. These patterns indicate a good overlap of focii towards our theory of change. Whether the focus yielded results is another question as in reflection our attempts to actually build this network have not been successful at all. Interestingly the focus on building tertiary education focus is the smallest, it is the one area that we have been very successful with building a strong appreciation for this work at a tertiary level in South Africa. IMPACT BENEFICIARY BREAKDOWN At this point in the organizational reflection, the import question we ask ourselves is; what did our work really add up to? The numbers we counted in reflection were the figures for those involved in our projects and who would see benefit from their involvement based on our Key Output variables. The numbers reflect high amounts of Residents of 'Disadvantaged Neighborhoods' and a majority of students as our primary beneficiary groups. At this point we feel the monitoring and evaluation of our own organizational practice requires a very careful re-structuring.
INCLUDING RESIDENTS OF 'DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS'
IMPACT GOAL BREAKDOWN JUST URBAN AWARENESS
TERTIARY EDUCATION AWARENESS
IMPACT BENEFICIARY BREAKDOWN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
RECENTLY GRADUATED STUDENTS
A NETWORK OF NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGNERS
SPATIAL PRACTICE AWARENESS
YOUTH FROM DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS
A KNOWLEDGE SHARING SYSTEM
SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE MODEL
TECHNICALLY SKILLED RESIDENTS
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
RESIDENTS OF DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS
TEACHING & TRAINING PRACTICE
PREPROFESSIONALS
BUILT ENVIRONMENT PROFESSIONALS
While the leaders of1to1 are not comfortable with empirical measuring techniques, to account to donors and supporters we have recognised that over 42, 000 people have been affected or involved with the work of 1to1, including government officials, residents of 'Disadvantaged Neighborhoods', university students & city maker practitioners.
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS YOUTH FROM 'DISADVANTAGED' NEIGHBORHOODS BUILT ENVIRONMENT PRACTITIONERS RESIDENTS OF 'DISADVANTAGED ' NEIGHBORHOODS
16 735 405 38 350
UNIVERSITIES
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS
12 2105 245 85
ORGANIZATIONAL INCOME FLOW R60 000 R65 000 R40 000 R15 000 R38 000 R15 000 n/a n/a n/a
2018
2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010
R 10 000
R 25 10 50 000 CPI
R 50 000 JUI
R 75 50 000 NMI
NEIGHBORHOOD MAKER INITIATIVE PROJECTS JUST URBANISM INITIATIVE PROJECTS CRITICAL PRACTICE INITIATIVE PROJECTS
*ALL FIGURES FOR RDN REDUCED
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
RECENTLY GRADUATED STUDENTS
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
1to1 began as a student based
In line with 1to1's goals to foster a
1to1 recognises different scales and roles
The term 'commun
organisation and still sees university
platform of engagement, the organisation
in inclusive city-making. In this regard
(and often racist) in
students as a key beneficiary group to
has a specific beneficiary designation for
the organisation sees specific members
ownership and city
our social impact ventures.
recently graduated architects, planners,
of governmental departments as a
a group of peop
engineers and other built environment
beneficiary group.
practitioners.
RESIDENTS OF D NEIGHBO
neighborhood. to
residents
Ins and
a neighborhood.
group refers to th
live in spatially disa
54
Johann
Image: Centre All Impact numbers & descriptions of 1to1 beneficiaries since 2010.
D GRAPHICALLY BY A FACTOR OF 10
DISADVANTAGED ORHOODS
TECHNICALLY SKILLED RESIDENTS
YOUTH FROM DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS
BUILT ENVIRONMENT PROFESSIONALS
nity' is too generic
While1to1 recognises that all people
1to1 recognises that South Africa has a
1to1 aims to systemically change the
n regards to spatial
hold their own agency, the organisation
growing Youth population who are one
way cities are made, in this regard we
y making to define
has a specific beneficiary focus on
of the most economically vulnerable in
have a focus on the Built Environment
ple who share a
residents from spatial disadvantaged
terms of employment.
professionals who work everyday on
stead
neighborhoods
1to1
refers
'communities'
of
This beneficiary
hose residents who
who
have
technical
different parts of city making processes.
skills that can be employed for inclusive
As a result 1to1 has developed projects
neighborhood making practices.
that specifically target these members of neighborhoods
advantaged areas of
nesburg.
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Photo: Right A selection of successful and unsuccessful 1to1projects (2010-2018)
WHAT WORKED & WHAT DIDN'T
UNPACKING WHAT SUCCESS AND FAILURE LOOKS LIKE
It would be easy to point out the incredible pitfalls and challenges in this work and claim any moment of positive change as 'success' - or write the entire effort off as 'failure'. Instead, we prefer to discuss the various elements of the organisation that yielded or displayed tangible positive change as well the parts that didn't. During the early part of 1to1 the nature of the organization was much bolder and more experimental; as a result, caution was put aside as we leapt into projects. Some of the negative results of this included a lack of resource support for more vulnerable members of the teams as well as difficulty in attributing role and contribution to much of the earlier work. During this period, we were fairly reactionary to work and have since struggled to drive our mission through project selection and implementation. Although this was later adjusted, it made explaining what we do and defining our value very difficult to translate. This unclarity was hampered by our lack of traditional business structure and management of the NPC as a social enterprise due to our heavier focus on social change. This trade off of impact over profit, can be seen in our strong link to teaching and learning that has added to this slow growth - but has allowed important organisational culture and values( see earlier) to be embedded in our practice and ethos while building a strong base 56
of supporters and collaborators via academia and other civil institutions. We have developed unique tools and methods for approaching the challenges of spatial inequality, which combined with our flexible approach to practice has allowed us into very unique situations - but this flexibility has resulted in a lack of space and depth to test and develop these tools at scale across South Africa. As a small organization we have accomplished a large amount of work and have a very diverse and unique set of projects, skills and methodologies as a result. This variety of resources has helped build our collaborative network which is nationally widespread and who are readily available for collaboration, support and advice at a very easy distance. But, this way of working has struggled to build deep capacity in our younger and more economically vulnerable members. This is partly linked to our shortcoming as a traditional business venture, but could also be attributed to our lately declared vision and its link to our theory of change. Issues of socio-demographic power and privilege continuously emerge as problematic aspects of this work internally and externally to 1to1. These factors are not only endemic to South Africa, but will always be engaged with critically, respectfully and meaningfully through out 1to1's work.
KWA-MAI MAI MARKET GARDEN - STILL MAINTAINED IN HIGHLY USED PUBLIC SPACE
BACKSTORY TOOLS - ALLOWING CRITIQUE AND PROCESS BUILDING
SLOVO PARK PLAYGROUND - DESTROYED BY SHEBEEN USERS & MISTAKEN GOVERNMENT PROTEST 57
Photo: Right Slovo Park residents building the Slovo Hall with 1to1 (2010). Naledi in center frame.
WHAT'S NEXT
The next iteration of 1to1 will seek to build deeper capacities in our members and attempt to finally establish a network of neighborhood design support between our collaborators and members.
1TO1 2.0
1to1 has mostly been led by a single director since its conception in 2010. This has been due to a series of events involving all that founded 1to1. This singular leadership (while supported and guided by a host of mentors and peers) is not sustainable for a longevity of the organization. It must be noted that this role has never been seen as a full time position, which may be a critical point to address in the leadership structure moving forward. The new directorship will see a re-organising of roles, responsibilities and structuring of 1to1. This re-organisation is planned to break the mental load of guiding the organization while leveraging the different career paths of the existing directorship. Nonetheless, the next iteration of 1to1 will attempt to focus the operational structuring towards achieving the ultimate goal by focusing a smaller number of projects that are able to provide more sustainable income patterns as well as impact aims. This iteration will see a new advisory board in place that will meet with the new directorship on a bi-annual basis. The advisory board has been chosen to fill the experiential gaps in the directorship The next iteration of 1to1 will seek to build deeper capacities in our members, grass-roots entities and attempt to finally establish a network of neighborhood design support between our collaborators and members. A focus on developing the Tools, Methods and a stronger consulting arm of 1to1 will be adopted for this iteration. This will see more proof of concept projects and approaches. Combining this with the tertiary education links we already have we see a more sustainable and accountable pattern of development and growth in the next 3 years. 58
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Image: Right A list of all 1to1 members and supporters 2010 - 2018.
CAN WE DO IT DIFFERENTLY?
SHOULD 1TO1 CONTINUE?
This question has been at the center of each major reflection since we began in 2010. The importance of this question is to ask ourselves the difficult question of who is really benefiting from the organization and what is the NPC truly serving?
socio-technical design or spatial inequality.
The operational staff and members have all benefited over the years to the exposure of the context and have managed to either grow their careers from this experience or bring their own skills to the projects. Many of whom have gone on to start their own organizations or practices (often incorporating skills, lessons or experiences learnt from their time with 1to1).
To discuss benefit is important, as much of this type of work (social development/for impact) is often discussed only from the perspective of the beneficiaries. This is not to discourage others from building their careers around these types of projects, but to declare that this type of work is not altruistic nor selfless - and it doesn't need to be. These are real issues that are worth addressing, by people they directly affect.
The SPCDF has seen and used some benefit of the small-scale infrastructure projects in their own spatial development and used the Support and Advisory role of 1to1 in countless meetings and workshops with the City of Johannesburg and the other technical/legal support institutes. The big win has been the 2016 Court Case Judgment and the electrification of Slovo Park. The students who have been involved in projects have in discussions offered mix views on their involvement. As an organization we hope their exposure has had a longer term effect of awareness and knowledge of the critical issues involved in
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The government entities we have worked with often express their appreciation of the work, but we have yet to see or understand their benefit.
This report, while largely narrative based, has been a crucial exercise for the directorship of 1to1, in order to understand how 1to1 can operate better towards the it's mission set in 2016. The manner in which 1to1 does so will largely be determined by our recognition of the issues discussed in the previous sections, combined with a re-structuring of the operation in the face of necessary changes while most importantly bringing focus on our core mission and values. This is not the end for now, but the beginning of another iteration.
Mohau Melani, Naledi Ntoane, Frank Mapara, Jacqui Cuyler, Linda Magabutlane, Minka Hattingh, Claudia Fillipe, Jhono Bennett, Isabel Van Wyk, Byron Snow, Neil Klug, Marie Huchzermeyer, Carla Taljaard, Yolandi Viljoen, Omar Horzook, Tuliza Sindi, Abbey Walsh, Kiana Martins, Tialise Taljaard, Clare Hughes, Ingmar Buchner, Alexander Melck, Tuliza Sindi, Sandeep Nicha, Joana Volgado Ferro, Tinashe Dube, Afua Wilcox,, Frank, Bucs, Petrus Shyam Patel, 2013(Hendricks, Bahn & Chothria), 2014 (Bennett & Makhubu) & 2015 (Bennett & Makhubu) University of Johhanesburg: Department of Architecture 2nd Year Design Studio, Megan Louise Wilson, Jamela Mkansi, Heidi Lu, Jade Botes, Isabella da Rocha, Tebogo Kgatla, Siphiwe Siphiwe, Tebogo Mokgwetsane, Natasha Celestine Ramos, Mohau Moidi,Kerry Trebble, Kagiso Teke, Lerato Botlhoko, Aweni Nenongwe, Mikhael Thulani Maluleke, Gareth How, Cheslin Erasmus, Crystal Angela Francis, Dewald Skiepy Le Roux, Dashan Munsamy, Ro land Britz, Rosalie Ferreira, Armand Barnard, Ricardo De Sousa, Corrie Smit, Anneke Wallendorf, A isha Balde, Shawn Constant, Simone Pretorius, Lual Aluel Kuol Makuach, Ruben Smit, Rudelle Bezuidenhout, Kyle Blake, Tebogo Nt soane, Kholokazi KhLz Ngoma, Vikash Mithal, Muyi B. Adegun, Dipna Morar, Kabelo Kay ’b Matlou, Wandile Mkhwanazi, Barry Crouch, Travis Lee, Binaica Morar, Kagiso Bokaba, Alex Becker, Muhammed Dawjee, Nick Randall, Taryn Leefrink, A dam O, Micheal Duvel, Beatrice De Carli, Alexander Frediani, Daniel Van Der Merwe, Denver Hendricks, Yusuf Chothria, Dr. Carin Combrinc, Dirk Bahnam, Dr. Barbara & Emma Holtman, Rosie & Muareen, Sandra Van Rensburg, Merhawi, Jack Makau, Liliana Transplanter, Wayward Sun, Thiresh Govender, Sumayya Valley, Sarah De Villiers, Amina Kasker, Urban Works, Eric Wright, Claudi Morgado, Thomas Chapman, Steve Topham ,Monty Narsoo, Diana Mitlin, Sameera Khurana , Steve Hoffe, Nora Tager, Mai Mai Leadership, Ajit Mistry, Binayka Rama, Mdu, Richard Meade, Charne Vermeulan, Steph Ryder, Mohmammed Dawjee, Auret Street Recyclers, Mfundo Magaongo and SImon Ngubeni Natalia Tofas, Local Studio, Adheema Davis, Kenedy Chikaram, Sophie Morley, Katherine Wong & Liz Brown, Philipp Horn, Olwethu Jack, Claire Du Trevou , Shawn Cuff, Aditya Kumar, Helen MacGregor Rourke, Zinzi Gatyeni, Naemeeah Sadien, Ryan Fester and Sizwe Mxob,Thabisa, Xolile, Andrew,Frances,Gibbs,Sasa, Nombaso, Tatera, Xolelwa KFM - Adiel Baseer, Fairouz Luddy Adiel Bassier Abdul Bashied Ohlsson, Hudson Mcombe & Tammy Paulse Bonolo Masongo, Shani, Elao Martin, Ndeshi Pande, Mohau Moidi, Ora Mothoage, Liz Ogbu , Binayka Rama, Ajit Mistry , Joel Boelnik, Father Jorge Anzorenza, Vrededorp Leadership (Debbie), the DSD Desis Lab, Vaughn Sadie, Jason Hobbs, Angus Campbell, Terrence Fenn, GSA, UJ, Amira Osman, Rea Thipe ,Taylor Holloway, U4E , Miliswa Ndziba, Euradice Paiva, Bonolo, Yusuf, Kennedy, Roanne Moodley, Thabisa Nkoane, Naeemah Sadien, Jeremy Jones, Jahmiel du Toit and Motebang Masitha , Roanne Moodley Orli Setton, Olwethu Jack, Simnikiwe Xanga and Melilizwe Gqoba, Dumisani Mathebula, Build a Future, Xiao Wang, Wits DIZ , Maide, Counterspace, Impact HUB, Blanca Calvo, Amy Leibradnt, John Saaiman, SPCDF, Sanjay Alex Becker, Motebang Matsela, Jeevan, University of Pretoria: Architecture Department, Housing & Urban Environments Module 2010 (Combrinck),2012 (Bennett & Comnrinck)& 2013 (Bennett & Comnrinck), Jabulani Makhubu, Slovo Park Youth Forum, GIFA, Suzette Van Der Walt , Tebogo Ramatlo, Warwick Vilantis
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1TO1- AGENCY OF ENGAGEMENT
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FOR MOHAU & FOR NALEDI... ISBN: 978-0-620-82888-8
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