Inspire Team

Social Innovation In My Community

by for .  
#transforming systems
40 +

Goal

This research activity aims to engage learners in exploring and understanding social innovations within their local communities, regions and territories. By researching and identifying initiatives that contribute to positive social change, learners will develop an appreciation for the diverse ways in which innovation manifests at the community level.

Materials

    Instructions

    1. Introduction to Social Innovation

      1. Provide a brief explanation of social innovation, emphasizing its focus on addressing societal challenges through creative and collaborative solutions.

      2. Highlight the relevance and impact of social innovation in fostering positive change within communities.

    2. Pair Formation

      1. Have learners pair up with a partner for the activity.

    3. Research Phase:

      1. Instruct pairs to research social innovations within their community, town, city or territory, using the Appendix A worksheet.

      2. Encourage them to explore various sources such as community websites, local news articles, and social media platforms to gather information.

      3. As learners research, they should fill out their worksheet to create a list of social innovations they’ve discovered.

      4. For each innovation, learners should briefly explain who is responsible and how it contributes to positive social change in the community.

      5. Emphasize the importance of clarity and detail in their explanations.

      6. Allocate 25-30 minutes for this.

    4. Sharing and Discussion

      1. Invite each pair to share one or two social innovations they found and explain their connections to positive social change.

      2. Encourage open discussion and questions from the larger group.

      3. Emphasize the diversity of social innovations that can exist within a community.

      4. Invite learners to share how they think that idea could be further built out, expanded on, or modified to create change in other areas.

    5. Reflection and Connection:

      1. Facilitate a reflective discussion on the significance of social innovations in community development.

      2. Ask learners to consider how these innovations address specific challenges or enhance the well-being of individuals or groups in the community.

    6. Debrief Questions

      1. Facilitate a debrief using the questions provided below.


    Background

    Preparation

    Ensure each pairing has access to research materials such as computers, tablets, or smartphones, as well as internet connectivity.

    Technology Considerations

    • Facilitators should ensure that participants have access to the internet for research purposes. Virtual platforms can be utilized if the activity is conducted online.

    • Create breakout rooms if conducting this activity in a virtual setting.


    Additional Context

    Encourage participants to think broadly about social innovation, considering initiatives from different sectors such as education, healthcare, environment, business and community development.

    Tips for Localization

    Invite learners to highlight specific aspects of social innovation that resonate with the cultural, geographical, or identity-related contexts of the communities in which these innovations emerge.

    Debrief Questions

    • How do the identified social innovations contribute to positive change in our community?

    • What common themes or patterns did you notice in the social innovations you researched?

    • How could these innovations be adapted to address other community challenges?

    • How might individuals or groups be affected by the social innovations you explored?

    • How does understanding local social innovations contribute to a sense of community and shared responsibility?

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