Training social innovators and entrepreneurs for Community Oriented Primary Care in Western Cape, South Africa.
1
Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Social Innovation and entrepreneurship can contribute to stronger health systems. In collaboration with the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Health Sciences, the Bertha Centre team hosted a series of education and training activities between 2024 and 2025. The sites for the project are Klipfontein, Saldanha Bay and Knysna-Bitou.
METHODS:
Programmes under the Bertha Centre were multifaceted in 2025: 1. Facilitated 3x introduction to social innovation and entrepreneurship workshops as a career for final year high school students 2. Facilitated 3x entrepreneurship bootcamps to build entrepreneurial thinking and intent among youth Not in Employment, Education and Training (NEET) 3. Facilitated a 17-week incubation and acceleration course to support early-stage social innovators and those with proven business models that have the potential to scale
RESULTS:
1. 100 high school students completed the 3x workshops on social innovation and entrepreneurship as career pathways 2. 60 NEET students across 3 sites completed a 5-day entrepreneurship bootcamp on identifying a solution for a community health priority. Notable solutions tackled mental health, water and sanitation and drug addiction in communities 3. 17 students completed a 17-week incubator and accelerator programme. At a pitch day hosted on 31 October 2025, 7 students won seed funding for their social innovation, with the highest prize being ZAR500,000 or US$30,000 for an innovation to empower people living with disabilities.
CONCLUSIONS:
Based on lessons from the previous 2 years, the Bertha Centre will continue to advocate for social innovations that should be integrated and institutionalised to strengthen fragmented health systems. There is also a need to strengthen the community structures that enable small businesses to thrive.
Social Innovation and entrepreneurship can contribute to stronger health systems. In collaboration with the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Health Sciences, the Bertha Centre team hosted a series of education and training activities between 2024 and 2025. The sites for the project are Klipfontein, Saldanha Bay and Knysna-Bitou.
METHODS:
Programmes under the Bertha Centre were multifaceted in 2025: 1. Facilitated 3x introduction to social innovation and entrepreneurship workshops as a career for final year high school students 2. Facilitated 3x entrepreneurship bootcamps to build entrepreneurial thinking and intent among youth Not in Employment, Education and Training (NEET) 3. Facilitated a 17-week incubation and acceleration course to support early-stage social innovators and those with proven business models that have the potential to scale
RESULTS:
1. 100 high school students completed the 3x workshops on social innovation and entrepreneurship as career pathways 2. 60 NEET students across 3 sites completed a 5-day entrepreneurship bootcamp on identifying a solution for a community health priority. Notable solutions tackled mental health, water and sanitation and drug addiction in communities 3. 17 students completed a 17-week incubator and accelerator programme. At a pitch day hosted on 31 October 2025, 7 students won seed funding for their social innovation, with the highest prize being ZAR500,000 or US$30,000 for an innovation to empower people living with disabilities.
CONCLUSIONS:
Based on lessons from the previous 2 years, the Bertha Centre will continue to advocate for social innovations that should be integrated and institutionalised to strengthen fragmented health systems. There is also a need to strengthen the community structures that enable small businesses to thrive.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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