2nd Minor: Global Awareness, South Africa
Although a second minor wasn't mandatory for my bachelor (study), I chose one because of the enormous added value one might add. Especially because, as part of the minor Global Awareness, I would live in the Theewaterskloof-community in the Western Cape province of South Africa (near Cape Town) and join local projects with my knowledge as a industrial design student.
After extensive preperations were finished, I arrived in the village of Genadendal with fellow students and experienced the local South African life. I joined 2 projects; with the first one being Grace Kids. In this project I helped the local primary school and the Grace Kids-project with making new (e.g. leather) products for the kids to make; and thought along about how to sustain the future of Grace Kids. In the second project, Greyton Transition Town, I worked on sustainable Ecobrick-furniture and the development of a basic but effective biochar kiln to produce low cost bio-charcoal for more fertile grounds, resulting in higher quality crops for the user/farmer.
Although we had to leave after only 1.5 month because of the corona pandemic, I learned immensely on all levels; personal and professional. I experienced topics like working with children, basic designs, got a better understanding of problems that play around the world and sustainability. Back in The Netherlands I worked on, and finished, the project of fellow student Bernard, in which we designed a new sanitary concept for the informal settlement of Riemvasmaak. See the results below and don't forget to scroll down for more pictures.
Living abroad - Culture change - Children - Leather crafting - Basic resources - Sustainable design - Major challenges
