OUTPOST JOURNAL CAPE TOWN 2015
Projects People Perspectives Stories
The Outpost Journal gives a glimpse into an intense and inspirational journey of 48 young professionals. 48 Kaospilot students. A journey that unfolds itself in the mother city of South Africa, Cape Town. A growing metropolis of diversity, inequality and clashing cultures. The following journal will present a few snapshots of the people, projects, perspectives and stories from meaningful moments and experiences. The journal consists of the following: Context of the Outpost 12 external project summaries Short stories People Photo journal So grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!
CONTEXT - Cape Town On the 18th of February 48 Kaospilot students arrived in Cape Town from a wintery, grey Aarhus and Bern. They were greeted with sunlight and summer, blue skies, stunning nature and wonderfully curious people. They quickly felt the majestic landscape that so beautifully surrounded the Cape Town city bowl. An overwhelming experience that sends chills down the spine and empowers the curiosity of any adventurers soul. Initially met with beauty and magnificence, the Kaospilots slowly started to notice the heritage of a brutal history filled with inequality and cruelty. Shaped by an unforgiving chronicle, South Africa has evolved into a very unique culture of jaw-dropping diversity and ambiguous seperation.
As mentioned 48 students came to Cape Town, from two different teams Team 20 from Aarhus, Denmark and Team 2 from Bern, Switzerland. With rumors and worries from previous stories of how two teams became one organisation, they were determined to prove their worth and do their very best to succeed.
The Kaospilots began their adventure with prejecting at a remote and peaceful farm in Swellendam. With curiosity and determination to listen, they tried to understand and give space for each other’s cultures and backgrounds, as well as initiating the process of forming a new organisation, a beautiful relationship between two teams transformed into the creation of an organisaThe ugliness and the beauty of the city started unfolding itself and they tion. started to understand the meaning of the teamleader’s words when he said, “I have a love-hate relationship with Cape Town”. While navigating in a new culture, filled with complexity and ambiguity, they kept a focus on building relations. Relations between teams, partners, cab They embarked on a journey to work and learn with local partners, collabo- drivers, lectureres, security guards, cashiers, collaborators and new friends. rators, lecturers and new friends. Sharing and listening to local shopkeepers, Investigating new ways of creating relations. Once again, they discovered cab drivers and people in the streets they started diving into a new com- how valuable, challenging and rewarding different relations could be. plex and in many ways extreme culture, a challenging struggle to understand the many layers, stories, perspectives, dreams and disappointments that the They increased their contribution to their new home and created further mother city had to offer. relations through 12 local partner projects. As Kaospilots they were given a new challenge in working with projects, where collaborators were seen as Entering this city they looked for the opportunities and possibilities to create partners and not clients. They were discovering and investigating whether impact and value. With that they learned how tricky it was to create just that partnerships was something they could create, or if they would grow and in a culture that they would probably never fully understand. form themselves along the way. They believed that there was more than one answer to this riddle. What they knew was that the mindset of creating partner
relationships, and not clients, created a good foundation for understanding the importance of sharing the ownership and responsibility of projects. Being door-openers to new opportunities and new relations to the local communities, project stakeholders and the citizens of Cape Town. Being a Kaospilot on Outpost is a very multidimensional journey. This complexity has been the foundation for the work in Cape Town. With a focus on the Kaospilot’s four disciplines, merging into enterprising leadership, and with the four Kaospilot competences in mind, they dived into the 12 partner projects. In addition they had a teamwide project, while creating and maintaining an organisation. Every student was either a part of two external partner projects, or an internal and external project. On top of that they were also a part of the teamwide project - during the whole Outpost. In their project groups, they built relations with partners, dove deep into their context, researched, experimented, developed and delivered their contributions. In the teamwide project they were lost and found, collected stories, were invited to dine with locals in Khayelitsha and culminated their learning and expereinces by hosting Cape Town in their final event “... With Cape Town”. As an organisation they went through creation, development, restructure and a closing down phase.
AFRIKABURN
Deliverables We were to help create frames for a good process with the Elandsvlei community and manage the building of the mantis, work with their deeply rooted stories around the praying mantis, to document and communicate the mantis project and the Outreach program and design and produce a zine to distribute at AfrikaBurn.
AfrikaBurn is an art festival founded in 2007 taking place in the Tankwa Karoo Desert, Northern Cape. Since its inception in 2007 it has enjoyed rapid growth of size and exposure and has come to attract many overseas visitors. Within the AfrikaBurn organisation the Outreach Program operates; an initiative utilizing the resources of AfrikaBurn to promote and perform charity causes which uplift communities in need in South Africa Relationships and fit into the AfrikaBurn model of support and We established a great relationship with our partparticipation. ner. It was built on shared trust and made room for freedom and fun in the collaboration. We made an We were brought in to work on the Mantis pro- effort in meeting half way communication and orject a, now, three year old idea born out of the ganisation-wise. It contributed to moving the relaOutreach program that finally came to life during tionship from client/customer into a partnership. the project period. The project focused on com- We took the time to go up to the Karoo desert munity building with the nearby communities of to build the relationship with the partner and the Elandsvlei and Brakfontein. The aim was to bring other affected stakeholders - the community of the community together by building one of the Elandsvlei. It was very important to meet on this old San gods – the mantis – out of bamboo cane common ground and it provided the space necesand tissue paper, uniting children and parents in sary to overcome language barriers and build trust this common task and ending with walking the gi- in a context that was new to most. ant mantis at AfrikaBurn as proud participants and creators.
Status and next step As we find ourselves back from the desert, the community of Elandsvlei is far from being out of our minds. We are aiming to go back to the Karoo, one final time - to say goodbye to our new friends, give them a little farewell gift and breathe in the dust one more time. AfrikaBurn Outreach keeps getting stronger every year and there are already some plans in motion for the continued success of the mantis project. The plan is for it to walk at AfricaBurn’s “decompression party” in June and at the next art festival in Cape Town, followed by a second AfricaBurn walk in 2016. It will be stronger, taller and possibly adorning a wing or two - shining even more brightly than before in the desert dusk.
Members: Ludvig Sörhus, Hilmar Guðjónsson, Viktoria Litzén, Robin Sullivan Lewis Christensen, Hildur Maral Hamíðsdóttir, Stine Thorsgaard Kjær
LEARNING TO LOVE WHAT YOU HATE... A RELATIONSHIP. William Hewett, Team Leader, Kaospilots, Aarhus, Denmark
I am from a city, with which I have a love-hate relationship She seduces me with her nature, her food, her cold oceans…her beauty She revolts me with her history, her cruelty, her intolerance…her indifference! She is in me and part of me, my thinking, my acting, my promise and my demise How do I separate… if only in part, the “good” from the “bad”? Should it be separated, can it even exist separately? How would I exist with out them both? How much do I allow the past to rule my future? I know how… you leave As if you’re past does not leave with you… As if the impact of the place does not live on in every cell of your body… Influencing whom I am no matter where I am, with beauty and indifference I learn to live with her, inside me, in harmony Until the next moment she shows her ugly head, her angry side, her cruelty She leaves no one alone; she gets inside you somehow…local or visitor You have to live with her, take her along with you, learn from her and be with her Love with her, hate with her…this city…she has made me who I am… I love to hate her; not hate to love her
CAPE CRAFT & DESIGN Cape Craft & Design Institute (CCDI) was the project partner. The CCDI has been working with creative individuals and businesses for 15 years to promote and develop the creative economy of the Western Cape. Their established departments consist of Business, Marketing and Product support, with Rural Outreach which extends into the regions of the Western Cape.
CCDI have the responsibility of implementing the Western Cape Provincial Design strategy. The government´s, MOD department (The Mass Participation, Opportunity, Access, Development and growth program) asked CCDI to research and pilot a best-case methodology for a design-orientated after-school program, which can support students to develop problem-solving abilities. The challenge was to develop activities and projects which were accessible, relevant, enjoyable, skillsbased, easy to run by local coaches and not rely on a complex infrastructure and costly resources. The program should enable the participants to engage on an ongoing weekly basis. The task, was to engage an external analysis of the South African after-school environment and give recommendations and suggestions on how the design of such a program could look like through action research and rapid prototyping.
Deliverables The deliverables was a “Project Model Canvas” offering an after school program framed around MOD. Along with that the project group presented and delivered recommendations and additional findings through a hand out document. Furthermore the project group gave an example of how a week in the program could look like to make it more tangible. The presentation was presented to CCDI, MOD, DCAS, Shift, Have Fun and other stakeholders at the same time. The aim was to set the frames for a discussion around the topic and set a platform where the different stakeholders could connect and ensure that the project could move into the second pilot phase. Status and next step The project is now at a stage where the next steps are for the stakeholders to decide and take action on whether they want to pilot this project or not.
Members: Alisa Hentze, Ana Mertz, Marie Schlosser, Nynne Noergaard, Tine Meldgaard
A SPACE OF RELATIONS
Abdul Dube, Draw More Club Founder & Team Leader, Kaospilots, Aarhus, Denmark Dating back as far as 35,000 the first drawings were discovered on the walls of caves. From that time forward, humanity has given visual form to ideas with marks inscribed on a surface.
As observers and influencers of the local cultural landscape, we can see that un-used space is a concern for many creatives. We must bridge that gap and create catalysts to spark the utilisation of public spaces. The Open City initiative in Cape Drawing or Group Drawing more specifically has Town opens spaces throughout the city that othbeen a fascination of mine since 2009. The con- erwise goes unused. cept of creating spaces that fosters unplanned relations to happen, sometimes temporarily, some- Being inspired by the initiative we hosted a handtimes lasting. From this curiosity Draw More Club ful of events during the outpost. DMC celebrates (DMC) was founded in Denmark in 2009. Dur- people and the process of everyone using the same ing the Outpost, I have kept the torch burning by materials and by using one colour per session we hosting these events at “First Thursdays”. have now created 4 layers. It is our aim to use all the colours of the South African flag. This process The concept is simple, we roll out a long piece of draws parallels to the relations between individuals paper, supply the materials and tools for everyone and weaves a complex fabric. to use. We set a question, in this case “WHAT MOVES YOU?”. The aim is to simply make visible that is invisible at times. Step back and and see people create and negotiate the space. To nourish the field for making new relations. Because the one thing people know how to do well is exactly that, connect.
DISTRICT 6 MUSEUM There were six Kaospilots who chose to work with The District Six Museum (D6M). After some “ping-ponging” of ideas, a decision was made to focus on boosting the economics of the Homecoming Centre.
The D6M organisation bought the Homecoming Center in 2002 and has since then been experimenting with the potential of this large and beautiful building. The project group looked into the business model around the operation, did market research in the local context and an organisational analysis of D6M. They realised great potential in optimizing and supporting the venue hiring at the Homecoming Centre.
• A detailed implementation plan to have the venue hiring business up and running optimally. Including suggestions on improvements of the building, reorganising of staff and task distribution, possible marketing solutions and more. • A process where we went through the implementation plan with the staff and anchored the ideas and “how –to’s”.
The project group was immediately charmed by the big personality of the D6M’s organisation and it’s staff. We shared some great moments learning about the history of Cape Town’s District Six, and getting a deeper insight into the subject of forced removals and healing of a violent past. Attending to cultural happenings and community events at In the last two weeks of the project the group de- the Homecoming Center added to our experience livered it’s products to D6M. of Cape Town and showed us a unique side of the The products were: city. • Budgets on a few different scenarios, showing estimations on what the operation could expect This partnership is soon coming to an end, with financially if they implemented our suggestions. only the process around our implementation plan • A venue hiring web page to make them more left. Our project group sees a lot of potential in visible and accessible to interested customers. It Kaospilots and D6M continuing their co-operaalso included an online booking function, to sim- tion. It is a unique opportunity, for students complify the process of booking the facilities. With ing down here, to get to know an organisation with the webpage we created a simple “how-to” guide, such a strong connection to Cape Town’s people, so D6M would be able to run and update the page history and future. on their own.
Members: Anna Katrin, Rasmus Bach, Nikolai Elmer, Rasmus Stride, Mattias Axell, Julian Kraft
ISA MENTORSHIP Innovate South Africa (ISA) is a local organisation working with empowerment of youth by promoting innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. The project focus was on a part of ISA called Innovate the Cape (ITC). ITC is a social innovation competition where high school students compete for funding and support to make their ideas reality. What was the assignment? As a part of the competition the finalists get mentorship sessions to improve and develop their concept. ISA wanted us to develop a mentorship guidebook, to support the mentors. As well as a tool that ISA could use to track the mentees’s progress. What did we do? We used action research to get to know what the mentees wanted from a mentorship, as well as interviews with mentors and experts to find out what they saw as important perspectives on mentoring. The data we got out became the foundation for our Mentorship Guide. We saw more potential in developing a pedagogical tool that works as a frame for mentorship sessions, and that also tracks the mentees’s progress. Rather than using the partners suggested grading system. Additionally we looked into ISA as an organisation, exploring their value proposition and strategic perspectives of how they could develop.
Relationships in Cape Town Developing a partnership with our local partner was both challenging and rewarding. It took a while to get aligned and understand what it actually means. However, bringing the Kaospilot mindset together with the understanding of the local context, proved very valuable during our work together. Meeting mentors, mentees and visiting schools was priceless for us. It gave us a better understanding of their world, as well as feedback and new perspectives. Foremost, the meetings gave us the passion to keep on working. We saw, that what we were developing would have a valuable impact.
Status and next steps? The next steps for the project is to finalize, deliver and implement the Guidebook and Mentorship tool. We also hope that we have helped create a more holistic perspective of the organisation that can contribute to funding and concept development. What we will take with us from this project, is the passion, playfulness and potential of the Cape Town youngsters. With the right support, they can change, not only their own life, but also the lives in their communities. Hopefully this mentorship program will be a part of that.
Members: Anna Katrín Þórarinsdóttir, Rebecka Cada, Stina Scott, Christoffer Lindblom, Kristoffer Maximilian, Henriette Juel Olsen
CHRISTIAAN ON KAOS.. Christiaan Diedericks Photographer, Computer Engineer and Kaospilot Lecturer, Cape Town, South Africa The Kaospilots sat down with Christiaan and asked into his life and his relationship with the Kaospilots. I was born in Johannesburg and moved to Cape Town 25 years ago. I travelled to many different countries and always felt an incredible attraction to Cape Town. It is one of the most beautiful and amazing cities in the world to live in. The people of Cape Town are warm, loving, generous and just want to get on with it. Not without many problems, it is almost like a microcosm of the world, both good and bad in your face. However, I do think on a personal note that South Africa is in general failing its people. Wealth is squandered by corruption, when there really is more than enough for everybody. It is a disgrace that something like townships exists. On the one hand you have those who go to bed hungry and on the other those who throw away food because they have too much. What is your relationship to Kaospilots? My first interaction with Kaospilots was at their fairwell party in 2014. There I met their team leader William Hewitt. We clicked straight away and I asked him to be a part of a photography project that I was working on and we’ve stayed in touch since.
After reading through the Kaospilot website a couple of times I found the concept to be brilliant and complex. It is not only a way of doing business but a way of life with fully integrated skills to excel in a world of constant change. Learning through failure is also a refreshing perspective. What I like is the strong emphasis on teamwork and getting the team dynamics right. Companies spend big money on that and any project in the world. 90% projects get terminated because of personal conflicts within a group. Not because of skill but because of the group dynamics. Emphasis and focus on teaching leadership through action takes the concept to a higher level. It starts with the individual, the roll of the leader – what does it mean to be a leader? Practicing the skills, doing what is best for the outcome of the project. It is a perfect educational model with an academic and humanistic focus. I also like that Kaospilot in Switzerland is doing the Council Guide Training (CGT). It is celebrating the unseen, mystic and religious - opening the minds for individuals to see and explore various ways of interpreting
the world. The application process is magnificent in putting together diverse teams of inspirational and uniquely talented people. What impact can Kaospilot have on Cape Town? Many visitors come and leave. Kaospilot needs to become a part of the family in Africa. They are needed where there is social injustice and inequality to find opportunities to change that. There are a lot of needs that have to be identified and addressed. For much you don’t need money, you have the skills and abilities to change the situation – that’s where I can really see a difference being made. It’s a way of doing things rather than what is done. Something I also found quite refreshing and powerful – is the respect shown by Kaospilots. There is great respect towards people, between each other and everyone they encounter. Respect fosters understanding and builds bridges between people.
What do you see as the future between Kaospilot and Cape Town? I would like to see Kaospilot play a more permanent role on the African continent. The way of teaching is more aligned with the spirit of Africa. Kaospilot could offer valuable assistance in leadership training and development. We have great leaders in our society which are not celebrated. People in position of power are not always good leaders in Africa. It would give people the tools to develop the solutions they need themselves. Abstract leadership skills and management skills are highly sought after in Africa. We need new a generation of leaders that can teach future generations what it means to be great leaders.
ISA WORKSHOPS
Our partner was Innovate South Africa (ISA) who is running a social innovation challenge called Bellville Box. The basic concept was to have high school students in the Greater Tygerberg area propose ways to redesign a public space. We were responsible for designing and conducting workshops for high school students. In total we facilitated 17 workshops with around 250 students in seven schools.
Additionally we designed and conducted a facilitated teaching for 12 of ISA´s volunteers. The primary KP discipline that we worked with was process. We created solutions and opportunities for volunteers, students, teachers, schools and the community. In general we were good at “dancing in the moments” of change. The leadership was flowing between us. We accepted the way things worked out and focused our energy on creating the best possible solutions in the given situations. The theory of “Unusually Excellent” was the guiding principles of our work throughout the project. We believe that we have largely succeeded in using the essential skills of credibility, competence and consequence. We have gone through the phases of initiation and planning and are in the final part of our execution phase.
Members: Frederick Petterson, Nynne Noergaard Jensen, Rasmus Bach, Thomas Horsted
MACASSAR POTTERY Approximately 38 km south east of Cape Town you will find a colored township cut off from white civilization by wet lands, national roads, a sand mine and a bomb factory. This township is called Macassar and is home to the social enterprise Proudly Macassar Pottery, run by Johan de Meyer. Proudly Macassar Pottery serves a higher purpose than that of a normal pottery. The employees at the pottery are young people who have fallen out of the educational system, which has left them unemployed and often unemployable. The pottery provides them with space and tools to build themselves a sustainable life for both present and future. The intention behind the pottery is to develop the craft skills, life skills and business skills of the employees with the goal of transforming them into standalone entrepreneurs.
To create something that will both make sense and be meaningful within and from a seemingly unknown context was quite a challenge. During the action research phase, the project group soon realized “learning by doing” practiced within the Kaospilot education, was the perfect approach for such an environment.
The initial project scope was to empower and educate the employees in the pottery by co-creating a meaningful business component for them to understand and learn the business skills needed to become independent entrepreneurs. During the project execution, a need from Johan to step out of the pottery business became clear which shifted the initial project scope now aiming to prepare the employees to take over the township business.
This project has been built on human relationships, trust and honesty – both internally as externally. Working together with Johan and the employees has been an absolute privilege. The project group is proud of the work conducted, as it provided the group an opportunity to learn and to grow, together.
In symbiosis with the employees of the pottery, a business tool was co-developed based on the Business Model Canvas. Through several prototyping loops and reflection, the end product was a modified gamification of the original BMC tool, fitting the context of both the township business and the personal needs of the employees. The visual layout of the tool and gamification offered a good overview and understanding of the business in a more intuitive and less academic manner.
Members: Thomas kioer Rollof, Max Lauritzen, Yin Lei Zhang, Natalia Nowicka Gartmann, Mette Boge Kousgaard, Helene Arnfred
ONCE IN CAPE TOWN The project group’s partner was an all-star hostel called Once in Cape Town. The main contact person was Kim Whitaker, a co-owner of the hostel. The partnership between Once In Cape Town and the seven Kaospilots was established to assist and co-develop a new concept called Once on a Roadtrip. The concept was to function as a wandering hostel that would travel around South Africa leaving a trail of meaningful experiences in the spaces it travels through. The focus of the collaboration was to co-design and develop a social and cultural catalyst that would bring people together, bridge cultures and passions by creating social experiences. Initial success criteria •To develop the concept, strategy and execution for a crowd funding campaign to fund the first bus prototype (min. 250.000 Rand) •Develop a sustainable business and operation plan for the bus. •Design a social road trip to Africa Burn and participate in the “Once on the Road” concept. •Evaluation of the first “Once on the Road” event and bus.
Changed scope The project took a turn when the decision was made to postpone purchasing a bus. Instead, the focus was directed towards strengthening the concept and making an action plan. Things that would be included in this could be e.g. a competitor analysis, data from the action research we did and an evaluation from both of our road trip prototypes. Relationship Over an 8-week working period, a strong dynamic relationship was built between the project partner and the Kaospilots. The projects common and ambitious vision was what glued all stakeholders together and moved the project forward. This synergy created an energy ball of interest, which constantly pulled in new and inspiring people that helped develop the concept further. A network of valuable relationships and partnerships quickly fortified itself. This was a constant loop of creative stimulus that both the Kaospilots and project partners benefited from. However being an action orientated group, mountains were moved, but when working separately the energy dissipated quickly. It’s clear that the relationship within a project, if molded and nurtured in the right way is incredibly valuable to all stakeholders and beneficial to the success of a project
Members: Daniel Christiansen, Hilmar Guðjónsson, Viktoria Litzén, Mikkel Sonne Norbygaard, Kristoffer Henriksson, Otto Kubista, Ingibjorg Ferrer
PROJECT OYI-LAND
Deliverables Today and tomorrow OYI – Outspoken Youth Initiative is a non-prof- Support in the initial phase of creating OYI-land; The project is now focusing on creating ownership it organisation that operates in Gugulethu and its creating a business plan and concept development. and authorship for OYI. In the near future the aim surrounding suburbs in Cape Town. Since 2008 is to release a crowdfunding campaign on a South its members have been working to create a pos- Relationships African platform, apply for a container-program itive social impact through working with elderly The relationship between OYI and the Kaospilots and suitable grants. and youth in their community. The 20 members has been the strongest and most unique aspect of The Kaospilots wish for a bright future for the proof OYI, called OYI-stars, have the common factor this partnership. It served as the anchor through- ject. Though it will demand hard work and effort of being social role models and have professions out the project period. In chaotic times with dead- from OYI, an organisation that functions the best like dancers, radio-hosts and basketball players, lines and cancelled meetings, it managed to bring when its members have the surplus from their amongst other creative fields. They are known back motivation. Not once has the Kaospilots left personal life, something that is hard to predict. and appreciated by their community for the ef- a meeting feeling drained of energy, but filled with The goal is to have OYI-land up and running by forts they make to manifest a positive change in a motivation and joy. This friendly atmosphere has June 2016. heavy crime and drug affected area. been challenging at times and the Kaospilots conThe Kaospilot group has been working together sciously had to practice frank communication. with OYI with the mission of creating OYI-land. The partnership has opened the doors for the KaCurrently the organisation operates solely from ospilot project group to work and enact with sides passion, late nights and living rooms. The com- of Cape Town that otherwise are hard to access, munity is mostly in contact with OYI through due to security risks. It allowed them to get close the events they arrange around the year. There to the every-day of a Gugulethu citizen, establish is a need for a permanent solution, a community friendships across borders and view the Ubuncentre with a positive focus, which can serve as a tu-side of what is usually described with a negative creative hub and resource library for the youth. narrative. Where the community can connect and learn from each other, a place for OYI to root themselves and work more efficiently.
Members: Helene Arnfred, Thomas Persson, Cecilia Fendin, Robyn Fisher, Kristoffer Henriksson, Maja Lidberg
ON RELATIONSHIPS... Matti Straub-Fischer, Headmaster of the KaosPilots School in Bern, Switzerland
Relationships strengthen the human sense of togetherness This external classroom concept of four months helps us connect Africa and Europe in new ways. It has turned out to be an important bridge to bring our two schools closer together. With the Outpost the web of relationships among all partners has grown and created many new dance floors for collaborations and friendships. It is experiences like these that enable us to see our different talents, but also to strengthen our understanding that we are one large human community.
the needs for our students and to provide an inspiring education, training and guiding every day.
As we keep sharing our experiences, our ideas, our dreams, our joys and frustrations, the thicker our web of relationships grows. What we need to learn as partners is to see and remember our common dream and to treasure the slightly different ways of how we interpret this dream in the everyday life. Partnerships are strong because we can see, appreciate and use our different talents, as we each have developed a unique set of skills, character, a community and concepts to meet
The challenges for the students are manifold: needing to adapt to a new environment, finding new project partners, learning to read and understand the context and culture. Finding and creating a new home for 4 months can be a challenge. However, the opportunities outweigh by far: Being in a new city allows to develop new routines, try out new things, getting to know new people and making friends. And seen from a
What has brought us closest together has been the decision to send our Danish and Swiss students in their 4th semester together to the Outpost in Cape Town. I am very happy how this has strengthened and diversified our relationships and that our two communities of learners are becoming more like one.
learning perspective: It is only when we are really challenged that we truly awaken, are fully alert, take all the information in and really learn. To me the Outpost is an amazing adventure. When have you last been able to create one new organization with 48 people in 4 months, engage with 10-12 partner organizations and support them in their projects and align between a Scandinavian entrepreneurial school, their Swiss partner school and a South African context? And the greatest thing: You will be tested not only for your impact, but mostly for your LEARNING. That I find unique and enriching.
CT PARTNERSHIP
This Kaospilot project group has a two-sided story to it. The first collaboration started with Cape Town Partnership that took a turn into a break-up and transformed into Partnership Cape Town. The following represents both task: 1. Cape Town Partnership (CPT) is a non-profit organisation that started in 1999. They bring people together around common goals for Cape Town’s transformation. They are connectors, facilitators and translators, working to help people find a common language and a shared set of priorities specific to projects that can make a positive impact on people’s lives. The scope of the assignment with CPT was for the project group to develop a prototype of a physical book focused on city shaping and place making of Cape Town. The booklet would contain harvested data of how partners of CTP experienced collaborating with CTP and unfolding their specific stories. The scope of the assignment was also to develop a sustainable business plan with a clear set of ‘next steps’.
Relationships Exploring and building relationships with different partners has been key towards the project group’s investigations. The group has connected to different partners within Cape Town, that could be an important opportunity for creating 3rd year collaborations, or even for the next team for their outpost in 2016.
2. Partnership Cape Town is a collaboration between the Kaospilots and Cape Town as a partner. The scope was to investigate what a partnership is, in relationship to Cape Town, by looking into what Cape Town has to offer, how to connect with different partners and creating new collaborations. Using a design thinking perspective of moving from exploration into connection, into creation and defining, the project group used the Status and next step four phases as a framework for investigation into The next steps are a creation and defining process development. within the group, based on the experiences and investigations we have collected. This process aims Deliverables to create a concept, deliverable for the organisaBased on the project groups explorations, the de- tion to use further on in the future with a possibilliverable from the partnerships with Cape Town ity of connecting partners to 3rd year project and/ will be a collected understanding of how to con- or next year’s outpost. The format of the concept nect with different partners and creating new col- is yet to be defined. laborations through partnerships. This will be a resource that will be delivered and accessible to the Kaospilot school.
Members: Stinne Sønderkjær Vium, Otto Kubista, Ana Metz, Viktoria Hammer-Jakobsen, Stine Thorsgaard Kjær, Alisa Hentze
MEHUL ON KAOS... Mehul Sangham, Kaospilot Lecturer, Cape Town, South Africa Mehul on relationships, Cape Town & The Kaospilot Cape Town is where I find purpose and meaning-
Meeting the Kaospilots gave me a sent of real
For me the longer vision really involves the more
ful things to do in my life, a place with opportuni-
engagement and a kind of magic that I think
integrated and ongoing conversation. A lot of the
ties and a culture for collaboration, a place with a
organizational scientists have been trying to
projects require an ongoing presence to maintain
growing consciousness of design and social inno-
understand, an idea of self-organization. It really
their relationships. Achieving this, the Kaospilot
vation and a continuing development of socially
stood out for me that people were authentically
could really become a center for transforma-
purposeful organizations.
engaged and committed in their own purpose.
tion and I believe that South Africa needs that.
There are so many types of different people in
It is for me the most exciting place in the world
After studying homeopathy and naprapathic
the team with different backgrounds and histo-
because of the opportunity to create this new
medicine in Durban, I moved to Cape Town to
ries, but they all seem to find their place in the
society.
work with IT and explore how to develop new
organization.
ways of approaching knowledge. I try to address questions of complexity and uncertainty and I am
The value that I see the Kaospilots bringing to
fascinated of how to leverage ideas to create a
Cape Town is the global reach and global atten-
more integral society and innovation that serve a
tion and the opportunity to empower the people
wider audience.
for real change.
SURPLUS PEOPLE The partner was Surplus People Project. “Surplus People Project (SPP) advocates for pro poor agrarian reform and food sovereignty.(...) We focus on supporting the rights of smallholder farmers, farm workers, forestry dwellers, youth and women and around issues of agro-ecology (food and seed sovereignty)(…) This year we broaden our target to include urban aspects of the food system, and recognize that the rural and urban contexts are interlinked.“ - Introduction from the Surplus People Project Brief
are often in positions where they produce standardized varieties for supermarkets. Around these topics the idea of the Funky Vegetable Day was born. The basic Idea is to celebrate the diversity of the food that is grown, the farmers that grow them, make information bite size available and hold workshops around the topic of food and seed. This seemed to be a interesting way to connect and educate farmers, urban people and kids to the important topic of food, to take a step forward towards food sovereignty.
The Project The project was about creating a concept or a campaign to tell the story of seed in South Africa and spread awareness around the topics of: seed, indigenous food and food sovereignty. It was a challenge to understand the complexity of the matter because seed interlinks with the farmers, politics, big companies and the food system, that nourishes us, in general. In this complexity there was one aspect that was graspable for all of us: in the urban context, people don’t know where our food is produced, which varieties exists, and that food is an organic thing that naturally doesn’t look like how we know it from bigger supermarkets. Our partner also highlighted that small-holder farmers have lost a lot of ancient knowledge and
Collaboration The relationships our partner has with different groups was leading to a big collaboration between the Surplus People Project, Interns of SPP, The Ekasi Green Project, The Slow Food Network South Africa and a lot of smaller contributors for the Funky Vegetable Day. The diversity and the knowledge in these groups was an interesting space for us Kaospilots to be in. We were contributing with tools and methods which help to get everyone together. The partners were contributing with more in depth knowledge in their fields and their local networks and relationships.
Members: Andri Geirsson, Robyn Fisher, Ludvig Sörhus, Marc Segmüller, Julian Kraft
UNTITLED An interpersonal relationship is a strong bond where one connection can create a new history It is a mystery when a deep, or close acquaintance is born through acceptance between two or more people that are able to develop a peaceful understanding especially after a crash landing. Relationships can be extensive or merely briefly. They still leave a deep mark, that can help you out of your dark. The question then becomes can you stay open when the time comes to be able to dance to the drums that play the songs of connections for your heart to discover new directions that may evolve into a collaboration of unforgettable relation. - Alisa Hentze
UBUNTU ACADEMY Ubuntu Academy (U.A.) is a school of arts, entrepreneurship and leadership in Cape Town. U.A. combines creativity and passion with entrepreneurship and leadership to instill business sense and proactivity in their students. U.A. strives to unleash the unique talent in all its students. The focus of this project was to co-create a kickass graduation camp for the students, evaluate the two-year educational pilot project and develop the current concept into a blueprint. During the project period the Kaospilot project group also noticed they could support U.A in the development of their homepage. Deliverables To take part in the execution of a graduation camp for 30 students and co-create a blueprint of the two-year pilot project that is Ubuntu Academy. Explaining how it has functioned with an evaluation of what can be done better. Relationships The project group established a strong relationship with the partner through more informal settings. A workshop early on allowed them to also grow a friendly relationship with the U.A. students, which served as motivation later on. U.A. has been good at using its large network to connect with Cape Town and its surroundings;
they are more rich with people than money. The primary stakeholders were the Ubuntu Academy’s day-to-day operational team, the board and the founder. Secondary the students were also influenced by the partnership, especially during the camp. On a larger scale U.A. could potentially have a strong influence on many Capetonians, lift the educational level and get more people into work connected to their performing passion.
Status and next step The project is in a phase where the U.A. is evaluating the whole operation from start to finish. It is based on the student’s, team and board’s perspectives after the ending of their pilot-project. It’s exhilarating to see where it will go as the students have also started to take ownership. They seemingly enjoyed the graduation camp, so they are creating one more camp and currently creating a fundraising concert for the purpose. The project is now in the unknown territory. The blueprint has to be finished and the team, board and founder will look into the possibility of continuing the program in Cape Town. The dream is to create a blueprint, which can go worldwide and allow anyone to duplicate the concept where they are, which can give thousands of people possibilities for further education.
Members: Haotian Chang, Maja Lidberg, Sidsel Stausholm, Andersen Thomas Roloff, Robin Sullivan Lewis Christensen, Sebastian Rasmusson
THEE CHILD Born bright brought up in light, brittle smile burnt at night Big dreams shattered, slight sadness appeared Childhood lost in early ages of life, duties carried burdened young mind world a heavy place, promotes hate. Lost roots, the effect or cause? Finger points nowhere for sure Words not enough, understanding and knowledge takes you no far. But I still reasonable smile because of that hungry child, Hope makes us alive, drives us to sow more seeds of LOVE Feelings expressed break barriers by igniting thy soul. Gratitude: the remedy of change. For I humbleness, humbles the world Be thy CHILD. - Sisa Ntshwaqela (The Brotherhood - The future better leaders)
BROTHERHOOD The Change Agents of Cape Town
Brotherhood is a group of young and passionate people who partnered with the Kaospilots during the Outpost to assist with the Team Wide Project. This collaboration led to the events “Dine with Khayelitsha” and “... With Cape Town”. Coming from different households, with different experiences, they have bonded through the same dream of “Positive Change”. In their communities they have created a free space for change, whereby anyone with an idea or willing to enroot change was more than welcome. They inspire and motivate the next generation. “We sacrificed the so called ‘Life’ to set a good example to other young minds like us” - Sisa Ntshwaqela To the “Brotherhood”, growing up in disadvantaged communities has become an advantage, as they have uncovered the many possibilities that exist in their context. Their dream is to spread positivity and build hope as an ‘institution’ for young leaders throughout the world. Brotherhood is categorized into two organizations. The “Have Fun” organization (Non-profit), which is an educational program currently based through primary schools. The second “GoVarsity” a Social Enterprise, which builds a bridge for students between High schools and Universities.
YOUNG IN PRISON Young in Prison is a non-governmental organisation founded 12 years ago in Pollsmoor prison offering life skills education. Amongst those educational programmes within Young in Prison there is an artist collective comprised of post release prisoners called Kollektivo Illuminoso Fresco (KIF) who served as our main partner throughout the project period. KIF’s previous accomplishments include two published comic books. They have a wish for developing the collective further to become an income generating enterprise for young post-release prisoners.
We held workshops with participants from KIF KIF on the collaboration: around the basics of business, dreams, research “Ever since we met you we have seen more opand more. portunities. We see a bigger picture with the business model and it has motivated us and moved us Through rapid prototyping executed a pop-up stall forward with new skills. Working together was fun at First Thursdays as a revenue stream and brand because we were committed and shared ideas toawareness for the partner. gether.�
Relationships We established a good relationship with KIF and spent a substantial amount of time uncovering and trying to understand their worldview and working methods. We had to meet in the middle and tailor Deliverables our approach to be able to speak the same lanWe were to collaborate with KIF on delivering a guage, and found it worked best when we chantested business model containing the following: neled their interests into the collaboration, for example by combining their artistic talents with our 1. Marketing and communication channel strategy academic approach. 2. Target market analysis 3. Value proposition and customer relationship analysis 4. Key operations, activities and partnerships 5. Ideate and prototype revenue streams 6. Cost analysis and structure
Status and next steps As this is written we have just executed a pop-up stall with KIF at First Thursdays. It was a prototype of a shop that hopefully have given our partner a useful insight into what it takes to run a business.
Members: Kristoffer Maximilian, Thomas Persson, Hildur Maral Hamíðsdóttir, Cecilia Kjems Sairanen, Daniel Christiansen, Nonkululeko Mlangeni, Christoffer Lindblom
AN OBLIVIOUS OMNISCIENT FLASH
Oblivious to the realities of life, Until I find myself in a moment rife, Where Life reveals Itself unveiled. Here I stand in the midst of an organism In a mass of individual humanism Connected through the invincible web Supported by a mindset of a directed step. An organism that is lubricated through its communicated values So we can all walk on united avenues Towards an aligned reality To be able to co-create a human space of vitality. Just for the sake of our learning, to gain an earning, in a hidden turning With different substances for development, to enable and create our own employment. This is our life, and have chosen this path. To decipher this math Where empathy is a significant part of our entity We talk through the path of Oblivion In a forest of opinion. Connected through our fibers That aims to weave each subscriber Into an omniscient collective knowledge Of a newly constructed storage From a spectacularly fragmented lens. The unknown creates these gems But it is in the unknowing, where we find our knowing. - Alisa Hentze (Text) -Abdul Dube (Photo)
... WITH CAPE TOWN In the pursuit of true value and impact the Kaospilot students had embarked on a journey to explore meaningful relations and strengthen empowering connections. On their journey they investigated the existing realities of Cape Town and in an attempt to weave new possibilities, they co-created a concept to “unite what’s separate”.
Involving around 100 people from all over Cape Town, smaller groups were first gathered to meet, eat and connect before uniting everybody in a final ceremony the share experiences and checkout as an entity.
Together they felt seen, heard and a sense of belonging. Together they mattered. In a night of bliss and laughter they celebrated each other with authentic curiosity and words of gratitude.
Together they explored their differences and discovered their similarities. Together they bridged Realized through relational collaboration, beThe Kaospilot students came together to cre- their cultures and shared food, stories, dreams and tween different cultures, people, ideas and dreams ate an unforgettable experience for friends and passions. it emerged into an event for hope and connection. strangers, a night of memorable moments in a An event that will live on and create more memowish for togetherness. rable relationships.
Organisational Design
Kaos Pilot Tennis Jam
Team Wide Event
Easter Break
Org. Reboot
... With Cape Town
Cape Town Sunset
Drift The City
Learning & Reflection
Examination
Org. Reboot
Examination Passing
Swellendam
Cape Town
Woodstock
Networking Event
THANKYOU
We hope we’ve left you with an over- And last but not least Thanks to: view and brief understanding of the Outpost 2015 Our Mama Thembeka Abongile Nkqayi Firstly we would like to thank our Kim Whitaker amazing team leaders. They have Stefan Louw helped create an incredible outpost Rachel Botsis and were there for us through thick Scott Sloan and thin. On behalf of all of us we Richard Kilpert truly would like to thankyou for this Tina and Mandy experience. Robert Weinek / Afrika Burn Outreach Additionally we would like to say Didi Ntsie goodbye and of course thank you to: Johan de Mayer Zayann Khan Our educational leaders, Lilian Schulze Our many partners for giving us the Clinton Osbourn opportunity to collaborate and learn, Gillian Our lecturers that helped us unfold Mara this country its culture, Bonga Jwambi The strangers that became friends, Inga and Indalo Decor All our visitors from back home, Abongile Ntsane Our beloved come-alongs’, Lungiswa Joe Each other: comrades in crime!, Cedar High, and their learners To the you, the reader, Mrs Afrika Coach Dylan Coach Pete Shift Have Fun Study Wise
Zunaid, the driver Brakfontein Students at Cape Academy for Tankwa town Maths, Science and Technology Robert Weinek Ijaaz Sayed Uprize Stephen Curry Annie le Roux Cape Town Branch Manager for Conrad Lattimer NYDA Lorraine Tanner Raoul Spiegel Luntu Michell Mpike Kwanele MOD Eric Zayann Khan Clinton Sizwe And a last goodbye and big thanks to Abonga Cape Town, Xolisa the mother city, Jonathan our second home. Thembela The land of opposites, Ethan where we stayed for 4 months of Mandy our lives, on the second year of our All the wonderfull people at SPP journey to become, astonishing enKaylishas future leaders terprising leaders. Goodwood Kollege Fairmont High Thank you! Cravenby High Fisantekraal High Settlers High Parow High Florida High Delft Technical High The communities of Elandsvlei
D O N’ T
WO RRY
BE
HAPP Y
Cover Photo Andri Geirsson Co-written and produced by Kaospilots Team 20 & SUI2 Proofed By: Stina Scott, Tine Meldgaard, Nynne Nørgaard, Edda María Sveinsdóttir, Ingibjörg Ferrer Photos By: Andri Geirsson, Daniel Morsø Christiansen, Johan Eg Nørgaard, Hilmar Guðjónsson Design, Layout & Publishing By: Daniel Morsø Christiansen, Andri Geirsson, Mikkel Sonne Nørbygaard Printed By: Salty Print Creative Commons License: KAOSPILOT OUTPOST JOURNAL 2015 by Kaospilot Team 20 (DK) and Team 2 (SUI) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License