The Reconstructed Living Lab (RLabs) together with Entrelaces (Brazilian Association for Research and Projects in Education) are proud to announce the beginning of their partnership and the foundation of RLabs Brazil. The goal of this collaboration is to promote social transformation through the creation and dissemination of knowledge in order to increase the empowerment, upliftment and development of individuals and communities. Our belief is that the local communitry should be the main agent in the process of social empowerment, benefited by our innovative solutions and worldwide collaborative network.
Entrelaces (n.) / Entrelaçar (v.) – to INTERTWINE
transitive verb
: to unite by twining one with another
intransitive verb
: to twine about one another; also : to become mutually involved
— in·ter·twine·ment \-m?nt\ noun
RLabs Brazil Overview and Activities
RLabs Brazil works directly with the communities of Cantagalo (Rooster’s Crow) and Pavão & Pavãozinho (Peacock & Little-Peacock), located at a prime spot in Rio de Janeiro, between the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, on top of the hills, where the view can speak for itself:
SlideShow – Cantagalo (Rooster) & Pavão (Peacock) – Pavãozinho (Little Peacock) – RLabs Brazil & Associates:
Carnaval 2011 – Public School José Linhares – Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
Some of the Activities by RLabs Brazil:
The Project Factory
In April 2011, we opened The Project Factory in partnership with community leaders, giving personal assistance and financial guidance to local entrepreneurs. The first project launched was the production of ecological soap made out of recycled cooking oil. Our next step is to help the local bars and restaurant’s owners to get more visibility inside and outside the community bringing a new stream of customers including residents from neighbouring areas and tourists.
Job Placement Program
Developed by a team of HR professionals, economists and psychologists, we offer training, guidance and placement in the job market, creating a network of members, ranging from teenagers (internships) to senior citizens.
Math Reinforcement Classes
Strong academic fundamentals are important to increase job prospects. This program endeavors to assist the students of these communities in improving their math skills.
Re-activation of the local newspaper “Canto do Galo” (Rooster’s Crow)
The local newspaper “Canto do Galo” was first published in 2008 by the Community Association of Cantagalo, reaching a distribution of 2,000 copies in 2009. Since 2010, Entrelaces has been working as a key player in the relaunch of the paper, facilitating the interaction among the key players including public (government), private (business enterprises) and the third sector/social organizations. We are expecting the relauch for September 2011, with an initial release of 10,000 copies.
Our key partners are:
· Community Association of Cantagalo
· Federal Family Health Program
· Estate Security Program
· Youth Reference Center (CRJ)
· Women’s Sewing Cooperative of Cantagalo
· Ipanema Security Project (PSI)
After the Borneo Youth Transformation Lab that happened in March, where we also launched the RLabs movement in Asia, many of the young people in Sarawak in Malaysia were hyped up and ready to start moving and take action to bring change to their community.
Because of what happened during the lab, the birth of a holistic and empowering program for the youth of Sarawak happened. This program is named The Champions. The Champions is an outreach effort to create agents of change among young people whom will drive a positive impact in communities and organizations thus contributing to the nation’s growth.
Basically, it is a champion creating another champion. An inspired selfless youth reaching out to another friend to be inspired and selfless, which in turn creates a ripple effect among the youth community. The youth are not only encouraged to give back to the society, but also The Champions allows them to receive experiences and skills, like Financial Intelligence, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Media for Social Change, Public Speaking, Event Management and others that helps them to increase their own value.
On 12th June 2011, the start of The Champions programme was launched. Thirty young people from all races and nationalities gathered at Swinburne University of Technology for the first session, Champions: Discovery. Here, young people are putting themselves outside their comfort zones and contributing ideas on what the present youth needs and wants are. Instead of asking the usual “What can you do for us?”, the youth are saying, “This is what we can do.”
The outcome of the session were projects like a youth festival to be held for the first time in Kuching, an outreach program that helps underprivileged kids by providing free education and many others. After Champions: Discovery, up next will be Champions : Empowerment Series where there will be weekly sessions that covers topics from Financial Intelligence to Social Media. The first step is taken, now begins the journey of The Champions. “YES WE CAN”
Source: RLabs
The past week RLabs had the privilege to be part of history in South Africa as we launched in partnership with Silulu Technologies, WooThemes, Web Growth and Given Gain the GROW Academy to equip and empower unemployed youth to enter Digital and Social Media industries. This initiative is a response to the current crisis in South Africa where there are many unemployed youth who are seeking employment opportunities and unable to enter tertiary education due to difficult circumstances. Twenty young people from across Cape Town joined the academy that was hosted in Khayelitsha which kicked off with a Social Media Bootcamp.
The Bootcamp would introduce the youth to soft skills, social media, web and design, Search Engine Optimization and online fundraising. At the end of the week it was interesting to see how they’ve “grown” with confidence and excited to pursue careers in the social media industries. The week ended with a graduation for those who completed the boot camp and now we are looking forward to the next phase of the academy strengthening young digital minds with purpose and skills to see their lives transformed.
You can follow the journey of the GROW academy on their Facebook page
Source: RLabs
