Episode 8: How Waste Reclaimers Recycle 80 to 90% of South Africa’s Waste

December 17, 2021
Episode 8: How Waste Reclaimers Recycle 80-90% of South Africa’s Waste | Urban Limitrophe Podcast | #AfricanReclaimersOrganization #WasteReclaimers #AfricanCities #Podcast

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Melanie Samson, about the important role that waste reclaimers play in our cities, particularly in Johannesburg. Melanie works closely with the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO), a non-profit group that is fighting to get waste reclaimers the rights and recognition they deserve for their hard work and ensuring that their knowledge and perspectives are incorporated in the broader waste management system. 

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • why in some cities there can be no recycling without waste reclaimers,
  • the precarious conditions and inequality waste reclaimers face when doing their work,
  • the great strides that the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) has made to get reclaimers the recognition they deserve,
  • why reclaimers are much more effective and efficient at collecting waste than private companies,
  • the steps people can take to support waste reclaimers work in their community,
  • and much more!


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Episode 7: How OFF TO Magazine is Celebrating African Cities One Issue at a Time

October 05, 2021
Episode 7: How Off To Magazine is Celebrating African Cities One Issue at a Time | Urban Limitrophe | #offtomag #anafricancitystory

In this episode, I speak with Liz Gomis, about the inspiration and process of developing OFF TO Magazine. OFF TO Magazine is a bilingual, biannual magazine available online and through print, that explores African Cities through the eyes of local citizens.  Each issue centers around one African city and uses the experience of local journalists, writers, artists, architects, urban planners, historians, and more, to dispel some myths about the city and share why it is a region worth heading off to.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • how OFF TO Magazine lets the local citizens of each featured city guide the content of each issue,
  • common misconceptions about Africa and how they negatively shape the rest of the world's understanding of its various cities, regions and people,
  • why there needs to be a more holistic representation of African cities in popular media, 
  • how the magazine connects Africans across the diaspora, 
  • and much more!


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Acknowledgements

University of Toronto School of Cities

This episode is sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and co-supported by the Department of Geography and Planning. The School of Cities "convenes urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities and urban regions more sustainable, prosperous, inclusive and just". To learn more about their work visit www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca.

Glowreel

This episode is also sponsored by Glowreel. Glowreel is a weekly newsletter, curated by women of colour and delivered straight to inboxes every Monday. Glowreel is here to highlight the stories and achievements of BIPOC women. The aim is to empower and inspire BIPOC women to celebrate their wins, discuss important issues impacting BIPOC women, and to encourage anyone who identifies as a BIPOC woman to blaze their own trail!

The newsletter is easy to digest, with a little bit of sass thrown in! It includes a:

  • weekly news round up of the stories you need to know - we cover business, beauty, politics, sports, entertainment and everything in between.
  • feature of a BIPOC woman or women who is making waves in her community - no matter what size that wave is!
  • deep-dive on a BIPOC woman in history who broke down barriers for the rest of us.
To subscribe to the newsletter or submit a story please visit www.glowreel.co

Don't Miss Urban Limitrophe's Feature on GlowReel

September 20, 2021

I am thrilled to announce that the Urban Limitrophe podcast has been featured in the Glowreel newsletter! Glowreel is a fantastic platform that celebrates the stories, achievements, and experiences of women of colour. Their community spotlight shines a light on individuals making a difference in their fields, and I am honoured to be included in this week's feature.

In this week's community feature, I had the opportunity to share my journey and passion for diversifying urban planning. Here’s a brief summary of what I discussed in the feature:

  1. Why I started the Urban Limitrophe podcast
  2. What I hope to achieve through the podcast
  3. My favourite podcast episode
To read the full story please click here.

About Glowreel Newsletter

Glowreel is dedicated to amplifying the voices of women of color, sharing their journeys, and providing a space for inspiration and connection. Each week, the newsletter highlights a community member, sharing their story and insights, and fostering a supportive network of like-minded individuals. It's a go-to resource for anyone looking to be inspired by diverse voices and perspectives.

To learn more and subscribe to the newsletter visit: www.glowreel.co/

I am excited to share this feature with you all and invite you to check out the GlowReel newsletter to explore the diverse and innovative approaches to urban planning from across Africa and the diaspora. Thank you to Glowreel for this incredible opportunity to share my story and passion with their amazing community!

Episode 6: How the Mmofra Foundation is Designing Playful and Child-Friendly Cities in Ghana

August 04, 2021
Episode 6: How the Mmofra Foundation is Designing Playful and Child-Friendly Cities in Ghana | Urban Limitrophe | #playfulcities #childfriendlycities #urbanchildhoods

In this episode, I discuss urban play spaces and child-friendly cities with Amowi Phillips from the Mmofra Foundation. The Mmofra Foundation is a non-profit based out of Accra, Ghana that transforms urban spaces and urban green spaces into creative labs where children and youth can play and learn while being exposed to art, culture, and nature. 

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • how the organization uses creative placemaking and urban design to transform their Mmofra Place Park into an outdoor play and learning lab,
  • the highlights and challenges of implementing play spaces in Accra's marketplaces,
  • what a child-friendly/youth-friendly space looks, 
  • how the Mmofra Foundation is collaborating with other play experts across the continent to develop an Africa Play Network, 
  • and much more!


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This episode is sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities. The School of Cities "convenes urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities and urban regions more sustainable, prosperous, inclusive and just". To learn more about their work visit www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca.

Urban Limitrophe is Now Sponsored by the University of Toronto's School of Cities

August 01, 2021

I am thrilled to announce that the Urban Limitrophe podcast is now sponsored by the University of Toronto's School of Cities!

The School of Cities vision is to become a "world-leading centre for innovative interdisciplinary urban research, education and engagement. It is where diverse communities will come together to spark new insights and design creative ways for cities and their citizens to thrive."

Facebook Debuts New Campaign Featuring Surf Ghana!

July 26, 2021


If you were watching the Tokyo 2020 Olympic opening ceremonies yesterday you might have caught a new advertisement launched by Facebook that was all about skateboarding. The video titled Skate Nation Ghana captures the dynamic energy and vibrancy of the urban skate community in Accra all while highlighting the work that Joshua Odamtten from Skate Nation Ghana and Sandy Alibo from Surf Ghana, and the rest of the collective have done over the years to grow the skateboarding and surfing community in the country. 



In January I was fortunate enough to chat with Sandy, the founder of Surf Ghana to learn more about the organization, their fundraising efforts to build Freedom Skatepark (the first of its kind in Accra) and how they make room for more young girls to get involved with board sports through their Skate Gal Club.

To learn more about the organization and their work, make sure to tune into Episode 1: How Surf Ghana is Building the First Skatepark in Accra 


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Episode 5: How Gbobètô is Turning Waste Into Sustainable Energy in Port-Novo, Benin

June 13, 2021
Episode 5: How Gbobètô is Turning Waste Into Sustainable Energy in Port-Novo, Benin #africancities #podcast #SustainableEnergy #WasteReclaimers

In this episode, I discuss recycling and the importance of creating sustainable energy alternatives with Naomi Fagla Medegan, the founder of Gbobètô. Gbobètô is a non-profit based out of Porto-Novo, Benin that sees waste as a tool for social and sustainable development and through their various recycling programs works to make cities cleaner and communities empowered.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • how biomass briquettes can be a source of sustainable and affordable energy in areas with poor electricity access
  • waste reclaimers and the work they do to keep cities clean
  • the trials, tribulations and triumphs of getting recycling infrastructure up and running in a city
  • and much more!

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Episode 4: How Hope Raisers Uses Digital Storytelling to Build Community Climate Resilience in Nairobi, Kenya

April 30, 2021
Episode 4: How Hope Raisers Uses Digital Storytelling to Build Community Climate Resilience in Nairobi, Kenya #podcast #africancities #climatechange

In this episode, I discuss a bit about community climate change adaptation and the importance of incorporating the youth voice in decision-making with Daniel Onyango, the founder of  The Hope Raisers Initiative. The Hope Raisers Initiative uses arts, culture, and sports to amplify the youth voice in the neighbourhood of Korogocho in Nairobi, Kenya. Through the organization, community members get opportunities to creatively transform public spaces in their neighbourhood whether that is through music, murals, or matatus (i.e. buses).

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • How their Future Yetu (Our Future) program is breaking down barriers between the public and public policymakers
  • How digital storytelling can be used as an important tool in addressing climate change
  • How Hope Raisers leveraged local transportation to gather community insights
  • Why Daniel thinks integrating youth in city-building and climate adaptation initiatives is important
  • and much more!

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Episode 3: How The Abibiman Project is Tackling Food Insecurity One African Dish at a Time

March 28, 2021
Episode 3: How The Abibiman Project is Tackling Food Insecurity One African Dish at a Time | Urban Limitrophe Podcast #cities #foodsecurity #podcast


In this episode, I discuss a bit about the impact of food insecurity in cities with Chef Rachel Adjei, the founder of The Abibiman Project. The Abibiman Project is an initiative started by Rachel in October 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, that uses African cuisine and ingredients to help promote social justice and reduce food insecurity in Toronto's black community. Through the project, Rachel sells African dishes, spices, teas, chocolates, and more, and all proceeds go towards the Afri-Can FoodBasket, a non-profit that through its various programs helps promote food sovereignty and justice for Toronto's Black community. 

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • How The Abibiman Project got started and has grown
  • Food security and its impact on newcomers
  • The role of cultural appropriateness of food in food justice
  • How Rachel uses food to build community
  • and much more!

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Episode 2: How iAfrika is Helping Local Public Libraries Bridge the Digital Language Divide

February 22, 2021
Episode 2: How iAfrika is Helping Local Public Libraries Bridge the Digital Language Divide | Urban Limitrophe Podcast | www.urbanlimitrophe.com | #podcast #Africancities #publiclibraries #cities #digitallanguagedivide

In this episode, I discuss the role public libraries have in cities with Professor Lia Frederiksen. I also chat with Grant McNulty of McNulty Consulting a company that works on "creating and promoting access to digital cultural resources in Africa," and developed iAfrika. 

iAfrika is a new mobile-friendly platform that provides libraries and their patrons a unique service, that allows them to create content in their own languages, and contribute to closing the digital divide all the while teaching valuable digital skills. And by making library materials accessible on a mobile phone, iAfrika just might be the future of library access on the continent because instead of bringing libraries and knowledge to the community or vice versa, the community is the library.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • the roles public libraries play in cities
  • the digital language divide
  • what the future of public libraries across Africa looks like
  • and much more!

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4 Organizations Using Skateboarding to Transform Their Communities Across Africa

January 22, 2021

4 Organizations Using Skateboarding to Transform Their Communities Across Africa | Urban Limitrophe Podcast | www.urbanlimitrophe.com | #podcast #Africancities #urban #cities #skateboarding

While doing my research for the first episode of the podcast about skateboarding and its role in city and community building, I came across a few other organizations spread across the continent working hard to harness the power of skateboarding to empower their communities in a number of different ways.

Surf Ghana

Surf Ghana is based out of Accra, Ghana and uses a combination of skateboarding and surfing to engage communities across the country. The organization runs a variety of initiatives ranging from skate and surf tours to different major surf and skate spots in the region, to their Skate Gal Club that's focused on providing a safe environment for women to learn to sport. 

They're currently fundraising for the construction of Accra's first skatepark called The Freedom Skatepark which is certain to become a key community hub for both skateboarders and non-skateboarders alike. 

Click here to listen to the podcast interview with Surf Ghana's founder and click here to learn more about Surf Ghana's work.

Skateistan

Skateistan, is an organization that started in Kabul, Afghanistan that combines the power of skateboarding and education to empower youth in several locations around the world. They currently have Skate Schools in places as far as Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Johannesburg, South Africa, where they offer not only skateboarding programming but a full-blown public school geared towards closing the educational gap for low-income youth and girls. They also provide youth leadership programming that through skill-building training and events help students to become the community leaders of tomorrow.

You can find out more about Skateistan's work here.

Ethiopia Skate

In 2016, Ethiopia Skate, in Addis Ababa, collaborated with volunteers from another non-profit organization that builds community skateparks across the world called Make Life Skate Life and created Addis Skatepark, Ethiopia’s first free-of-charge public skatepark as part of their mission of empowering youth. On top of creating vibrant skateboard spots where the community can experience and engage in the sport, Ethiopia Skate also helps to lessen the gap in access to board sports by providing skateboard equipment to youth. 

You can find out more about their work here.

Girls Skate South Africa

Located in Johannesburg, South Africa, Girls Skate South Africa uses skateboarding to support social development and empower girls to take up the often male-dominated sport. Additionally, they offer community-building workshops, skateboarding sessions, and host board drives to help expand access to the sport across the region.

You can find out more about their work here.

Freedom Skate Park: How You Can Support the Creation of Accra's First Skatepark

January 16, 2021
Freedom Skatepark: How You Can Support the Creation of Accra's First Skatepark | Urban Limitrophe Podcast | www.urbanlimitrophe.com | #podcast #Africancities #urban #cities #skateboarding


The Freedom Skatepark is on track to be the first skatepark in Accra, Ghana. This project is spearheaded by Surf Ghana, a non-profit based in Accra that uses board sports to empower youth across the country.  

With the skatepark and accompanying amenities, Surf Ghana hopes to create not only a safe space but an economic and community hub that will offer a place for the youth of Accra to play, work, learn, and engage with their peers and the broader community. 
 
But don't just take my word for it, watch this video below.



While the project is set to launch in 2021, the organization is still fundraising for the construction costs of the skatepark. Here are a few ways that you can help them achieve their goal of creating Accra's first skatepark.

Shop the Capsule Collection

Surf Ghana has teamed up with the two major clothing brands Off-White and Daily Paper to develop an exclusive capsule collection. The items are available on dailypaperclothing.com and all proceeds from the purchase go directly to supporting the construction of the Freedom Skate Park. 

Make sure to check it out before it is all sold out!

Shop Surf Ghana's Merch

Surf Ghana has teamed up with local artists and designers to provide a series of stickers, posters, T-shirts, bags, and yes, skateboards, that you can purchase. All of the proceeds go towards funding the creation of the skatepark, so make sure to check it out by clicking here

Donate

If your not interested in purchasing an item from the capsule collection, Surf Ghana is also accepting donations. Click here to learn more about the project and how you can donate to the cause.

Follow @surfghana on Instagram

Make sure to follow and engage with Surf Ghana on Instagram (@surfghana). Every like, share, and/or follow helps to amplify the reach of their amazing work. 


To learn more about the organization, make sure to visit their website www.surfghana.org and/or tune in to my interview with Sandy, the founder of Surf Ghana!

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Episode 1: How Surf Ghana is Building the First Skatepark in Accra w Sandy Alibo

January 16, 2021

Episode 1: How Surf Ghana is Building the First Skatepark in Accra, Ghana | Urban Limitrophe Podcast | www.urbanlimitrophe.com | #podcast #Africancities #urban #cities #skateboarding


In this episode, I discuss a bit about the role of skateboarding and skateparks in city building. I also had the pleasure of speaking with Sandy Alibo, the founder of Surf Ghana, a non-profit based in Accra, Ghana that transforms its communities by bringing youth together using the power of skateboarding and surfing. 

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • Surf Ghana's Freedom Skate Park and the highly anticipated Daily Paper and Off White capsule collection,
  • Surf Ghana's Skate Gal Club,
  • what a skate-friendly Accra looks like to Sandy
  • and much more!

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