Review: “Social Impact through Design Thinking” Public Guest Lecture
On January 10th, Michael Hübl (Co-Founder of Impact Week) joined BA students Stina Kozok (International Brand Communication M.A.) and Sina Petersen (Communication Design B.A.) for a guest lecture titled “Social Impact Through Design Thinking” on our campus.
The three shared their stories and experiences surrounding Impact Week projects. Impact Week fosters entrepreneurship, innovation and intercultural exchange through Design Thinking in order to create social impact.
The gathered audience listened attentively as the three elaborated that in 2017, i.e. its third year, Impact Week ventured to countries outside of Kenya for the first time. After two amazing years working with students in Nairobi it was time to bring Impact Week to entirely new places, namely Lagos (Nigeria), Kigali (Rwanda) and Bogota (Colombia).
Colombia is a country known for its incredibly hospitable people and entrepreneurial mindset, but still tainted by social inequality and criminal activities. Nevertheless, Colombia is in a great state of change and thus provides an array of opportunities for impactful ideas. As a result, Impact Week Colombia, hosted by La Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, welcomed 75 students from a wide variety of fields of expertise, who tackled such topics as Education, Fair Trade, Tourism, Regional Development and Public Policy.
The first Impact Week in Africa outside Kenya took place in one of the most vibrant startup hotspot in Africa and has been hosted by the Technical High School of the SOS Children‘s villages in Kigali, Rwanda. During the event the 100 pupils and alumni worked together with their teachers and employees from local government organizations and NGO‘s on different topics.
The final new Impact Week for 2017 brought the design thinking fever to Lagos, Nigeria and was hosted by UNILAG, the University of Lagos. The university has established a Center for Innovation in 2017, thus welcoming the participants of Impact Week was a perfect opportunity to further the innovation spirit within the university.
Aside from these new, the original Impact Week naturally continued in Kenya. However, while the first two years were initiated and supported by a team of foreign coaches, the first independent Impact Week was hosted by previous participants. This shows the great effect of the previous work with students and teachers and the impact that has been created. Impact Week has managed to evolve itself and become an autonomous force.
Do you want to be part of this success and help others? Then do not hesitate to contact Michael Hübl.