We organised Social Justice Jam: Spaces for change in collaboration with the University of Pretoria, an online, cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural learning programme, writes Vasiliki Kioupi, Lecturer in Sustainable Curriculum at the University of Leeds’ Sustainability Research Institute.
The Social Justice Jam: Spaces for Change, took place in June 2024, brought together a group of diverse, collaborative, and creative learners dedicated to social justice and generate positive impact for many involved. After this successful first event, we’re aiming to organise future Jams taking the lessons learnt forward and we will be looking for partners for future years.
It was a great three days during which people from the universities of Pretoria and Leeds and the local communities of Mamelodi (Pretoria) and Seacroft (Leeds) came together virtually to engage in cultural exchange, learn about local community challenges and think creatively to provide solutions.
The challenges faced in Mamelodi included accessing and managing a community park that was established in the place of a rubbish dump and supporting the efforts of Mothong African Heritage to preserve indigenous knowledge. In Seacroft, our partner Ls14trust talked to us about reclaiming a community building so that community members and the We Are Seacroft collective could turn it to a space that serves young people’s aspirations. Both communities had further challenges with funding.
The effort had started months before the event in June, when a team of academics, professional staff, and students from the University of Leeds (working as part of the delivery group) got together to brainstorm ideas of how to enhance the university’s broadening offer, having received funding from the Horizons Institute. The idea of the Jam was born as a flexible framework that can enable lifelong and life-wide learning.
The team was soon joined by the University of Pretoria and colleague Dr Tafadzwa Mushonga from the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship as well as Dr Mabena, a traditional healer from Mothong African Heritage in Mamelodi South Africa to identify the focus of the Jam. After the initial discussions on social justice issues in relation to access, use and management of community space we invited ls14trust, a local organisation focusing on asset-based community development in Seacroft, UK to join the team, and welcomed Naomi Roxby Wardle, its Children, Youth and Families lead to the team.
We are amazed by the community spirit that was built during the three days of the event and the quality of conversations and outputs it generated. We are grateful to everyone involved in the Jam for their dedication, collaboration, and perseverance during the challenges we faced, we are aiming to preserve the relationships developed and identify future opportunities to continue working together.
We gathered feedback from some of our participants:
“Thank you everyone for a wonderful three days. It was a superb learning experience. [… ] I gained a lot of insight and really enjoyed all the passionate pitching solution presentations and group work. The end results were really amazing! I hope we can all stay in touch as there is so much we can learn from one another – so please do keep me posted on any follow up events and updates. With very best wishes for both communities in Leeds and Pretoria – may you all go from strength to strength!” – Adisha Kariyawasam, Social Justice Jam participant
“The integration of local perspectives and languages fosters deeper community engagement and sustainable development pathways. Local problems need local solutions, not top-down, one-size-fits-all, machine gun approach.” -Tamuka Chekero, University of Pretoria
“The Spaces for Change Jam was a unique opportunity for me as a student, to both learn facilitation skills and exercise them with students from the University of Pretoria and staff from Pretoria and Leeds. It was incredibly valuable to learn from people from both the Mamelodi and Seacroft communities, hearing inspiring stories of change, determination, community and sustainability. On a personal note, I am taking forward the learning from the jam as a jumping off point towards my final-year research project, it has inspired me that much!” -Faith Castle, University of Leeds
We are now evaluating the Jam and we will be able to share key learning points soon, but we are excited to announce that the educational materials developed for the Jam are now available as Open Education Resources by the University of Leeds Library.
We are inviting you to join us in future Jams to explore new ways of collaborating across institutions and contexts to enable authentic learning experiences that have the potential to produce societal impact.
Sustainable Development Solutions Network UK 