Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

15/10/2026

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 2027!
With the application deadline of 15 November fast approaching, now is the time to secure your place.

This intensive, five-day experience is designed for investors and practitioners ready to move beyond conventional approaches and rethink how capital can drive lasting, system-wide change. Going beyond theory, the training offers a practical, hands-on opportunity to challenge your thinking, develop new analytical tools and strengthen how you identify opportunities, assess impact and make investment decisions.

𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://uct.ac.za/berthacentre/articles/2026-03-03-systemic-impact-investing-training-course
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://forms.gle/ocvtaomek4oFvEHaA

𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
Join an upcoming Q&A with the course co-convenors to explore what the programme offers, what you’ll gain and whether it’s the right fit for you. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/whd2V5LLxgYZkpaFA

*Systemic Impact Investing Training is cohosted with Agora Global, and the first two iterations were developed in partnership with FCDO.

06/10/2026

𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝: 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐩
Let’s connect, exchange ideas, and explore what we can build together!

Join us for an informal networking session in Accra, Nairobi, or London. It’s a great opportunity to meet members of the Bertha Centre team, hear more about our work and projects, explore opportunities for collaboration, and connect with others in the network.

Whether you’re already part of the Bertha Centre community or simply curious to learn more, we’d love to see you there.

Accra 9 Oct | Nairobi 22 Oct | London 11 Nov
*Snacks and drinks will be served
RSVP here to secure your spot: https://forms.gle/ZVNiFnh71abR2BN99

01/10/2026

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭... 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 2026 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝!

On 23 September, we came together to celebrate an amazing group of young people who have spent the past six months learning, experimenting, building ideas, challenging themselves and exploring the possibilities at the intersection of health, entrepreneurship and youth employability.

The Health Entrepreneurship Academy is a Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship x Healthy Futures South Africa programme, and we couldn’t be prouder of everything our graduates have achieved!

A huge thank you to our host with the most, Sibahle Muthwa, Programme Coordinator: Marketing & Communications at Healthy Futures South Africa, for keeping the celebration flowing and bringing all the energy!

A special thank you to:

Dr Solange Rosa, Director, Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Prof. Tasleem Ras, Head of Department: Family, Community and Emergency Care, University of Cape Town
Simnikiwe Xanga Xanga, Project Officer: Youth Innovation, Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Gcobisa Maqanda, Programme Lead, Health Entrepreneurship Academy

Thank you for your contributions in making the day extra special for our graduates and for being part of this journey with them.

And finally... 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐔𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒! 🎓

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, Class of 2026! You showed up, put in the work, brought your ideas to life and made this cohort one to remember. We’re so excited to see where you take your ideas, ventures, careers and communities next.

Go out there and make it count! 💚

15/09/2026

Last Friday marked the last day of lessons for our first-ever Health Entrepreneurship Academy cohort!

Six months ago, 32 young people walked into the Solution Space with an idea, a spark, and the courage to bet on themselves. Since then, they’ve found their footing in community health, tested ideas, stepped into real workplaces, and built the confidence to pitch who they are and what they’ve built. Today, we’re pausing to reflect on just how far they’ve come.

To our students: you showed up, you did the work, and you grew. We couldn’t be prouder. 👏

A huge thank you to our partners at Healthy Futures South Africa (HFSA), our facilitators, mentors, and work placement hosts, this milestone belongs to all of you too.

The next chapter is just around the corner: we’ll be celebrating this cohort properly at our official graduation ceremony on 23 September, with select ventures moving into the incubation phase.

Here’s to the memories made, the dreams pursued, and the future that awaits. So proud of you all!

04/09/2026

Featured Organisations: YearBeyond and Umthombo Wempilo

Year Beyond is a national Youth Service partnership creating pathways for young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) to enter the economy and build more equitable futures. A key insight from the Youth Development Innovation Review is that when young people are trusted with responsibility and given a sense of purpose, they are catalysed to do more, for themselves and for their communities. This is an important reminder that when we move from 'doing for young people' to 'creating space for young people to do', we unlock agency, purpose and possibility.

Umthombo Wempilo is a community development NPO working in underserved communities with a focus on youth empowerment and health programmes. One of their key findings is that psychosocial support, education and healthcare cannot be treated as separate needs. When these areas are integrated, young people are better supported to navigate the challenges they face and reach their full potential. This highlights an important lesson for youth development: young people’s wellbeing, learning and future opportunities are deeply interconnected.

This concludes our deep dive into organisations featured in the Youth Development Innovation Review. Overall we found that if we want to create meaningful and lasting impact in the youth development space, we need approaches that support the whole young person, not just one part of their journey. If you haven't already, read the youth mailer and review here: https://uct.everlytic.net/public/messages/view-online/aHLiLbDJyOuFtW63/tLSliCMwssBquO0D?fbclid=IwY2xjawUHhFJwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXhRRUJiTlFYME5ucTl3NWNzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEePS9814tfQeSrDK0cXFWxEKTtlAQxQw2VER8MFVJW4taURqXS6-mKaUpCM0A_aem_gTWUNYU-g28FarA09aozMg

02/09/2026

Featured Organisations: SOS Children's Villages South Africa and Think Ahead Transformation Academy (TATA)

SOS Children's Villages works to ensure that children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it, have the support they need to grow into their strongest selves. SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa enables children to grow in a caring family environment through 11 programmes across eight provinces around South Africa. One key insight from the Youth Development Innovation Review is that while external priorities can shape programmes, meaningful youth development starts with listening to and responding to the realities of young people and their communities.

TATA is a youth empowerment and education organisation supporting learners as they transition from secondary school into tertiary education and entrepreneurship. Their work focuses on equipping South Africa’s youth with the critical thinking, mindset, knowledge and practical skills they need to navigate their futures and achieve long-term success. A key insight from their work is that young people need more than information about career options, they need trusted relationships that can help them make informed decisions, build confidence and navigate the journey ahead.

To learn more about the Youth Development Innovation Review and other work from the Bertha Centre’s Youth Portfolio, read the newsletter here:
https://uct.everlytic.net/public/messages/view-online/aHLiLbDJyOuFtW63/tLSliCMwssBquO0D?fbclid=IwY2xjawUFHRJwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWN3dHpxSGk4R1pqSkl6UGlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeYIZ3eiAjvcNQ5qU7kxovHa4WStIsxp6GtzeVzZVPFIcAJrKpDuRihI-0uXE_aem_lPFp21Ukg5zMBULcIJhLNA

02/09/2026

The Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Cape Town, with support and partnership from NORRAG, participated in the 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in June 2026, as part of the Innovative Financing for Education to Leave No One Behind (IFE-2-LNOB) project, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Representing the Bertha Centre, Dr Hillary Jephat Musarurwa facilitated a technical session on Governance and Equity Guardrails in Innovative Finance Structures. The session translated lessons from the IFE-2-LNOB research into practical discussions on governance, risk, accountability and beneficiary protection in innovative financing.

Read more about the session and key lessons on the NORRAG website here: https://bit.ly/4qNRGEp

The Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the University of Cape Town contributed its learnings from ongoing research on innovative financing for education (IFE) to the 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 16 and 19 June 2026. This confer...

01/09/2026

“Changing the way we are changing the world.”

And just like that… one week to go!

Six months ago, these young health entrepreneurs walked through our doors with ideas, questions and big dreams. Today, they’re walking into their final week with new skills, growing ventures, stronger confidence and an even bigger vision for the change they want to create.

Hearing them shout our words back at us is one of those little moments that reminds us just how far they’ve come. 🥹✨

We’re so proud of this cohort and everything they’ve poured into the journey.

One more week. Let’s finish strong! 🚀

26/08/2026

Featured Organisations: Mintor and Pedal for Good

Mintor is a chatbot platform helping businesses and non-profit organisations simplify recruitment, training, and a range of other HR tasks. By integrating seamlessly with apps that organisations already use, Mintor makes HR support more accessible, particularly in marginalised and developing communities. As highlighted in the Youth Development Innovation Review, the solution you need may already exist. Sometimes, innovation is about finding a better use for the tools and resources already in people’s hands.

Pedal for Good builds school-based cycling programmes that support youth mental health in underserved communities. Through the power of mountain biking, they create supportive spaces where children facing mental health challenges can build confidence, connection, and resilience. One key insight stood out: everyday tools can become powerful pathways for healing. Sometimes, innovation isn’t about creating something entirely new. It’s about reimagining what we already have and finding new ways for it to make a difference.

To learn more about the Youth Development Innovation Review and other work from the Bertha Centre’s Youth Portfolio, read the newsletter here:
https://uct.everlytic.net/public/messages/view-online/aHLiLbDJyOuFtW63/tLSliCMwssBquO0D

20/08/2026

Featured Organisations: Maths Centre Incorporating Sciences and Leratong Community Hub

Maths Centre Incorporating Sciences is a non-profit organisation at the forefront of ensuring the importance of mathematics, science, technology, and entrepreneurship in education. The organisation challenges and inspires learners to think deeply, ask questions, and explore the world around them. As highlighted in the Youth Development Innovation Review, young people need learning environments that empower them to learn, grow, innovate, and succeed. Creating these environments is not only about education, it’s about inspiring the next generation of thinkers, problem-solvers, innovators, and changemakers.

Leratong Community Hub is a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering South African communities through education and skills development. Their work focuses on creating opportunities for young people and marginalised communities to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to shape a better future. One of the key lessons from their work is that when young people feel connected, supported, and valued, they begin to see greater possibilities for themselves and their communities. Investing in young people is not just about creating opportunities, it is about creating belonging, hope, and pathways to meaningful change.

To find out more about the Youth Development Innovation Review and other work from Bertha Centre’s Youth Portfolio, read the newsletter here:
https://uct.everlytic.net/public/messages/view-online/aHLiLbDJyOuFtW63/tLSliCMwssBquO0D