Digital Storytelling for Social Change
This minor challenges students to develop digital stories to drive social change in South Africa. You will learn how
- Digital media facilitates social interaction and empowers people;
- Digital media gives people a voice, increases civic participation and facilitates the creation of communities;
- Digital media is changing how work gets done, boosting productivity and enhancing flexibility for workers and employers;
- Digital media can facilitate education and life-long learning to build and source the skills of the future in townships.
Please note; South Africa's academic calendar has changed. This means that minors in South Africa for semester 1/period will start in August instead of September and for period 2 in October instead of November.
The minor is open for all management students and particularly suitable for students of Creative Business and CMD
Minor content
Looking for a minor that combines adventure, personal growth, and social impact?
Explore South Africa beyond the tourist hotspots. During this minor, you'll connect with local communities, experience a unique culture and create memories that will stay with you forever. You will learn how to bring stories to life through concept development, interviewing, scriptwriting, filming, editing, and publishing content.
This minor is offered by the study program Communication & Creative Business.
Structure of the minor
Port Alfred in South Africa is known for its beautiful coastline and relaxed lifestyle, but it is also home to communities whose stories are rarely heard. Just outside the town lies NeMaTo, a township, where poverty and social challenges are still part of daily life for many people.
The terms ‘township’ or ‘location’ refer to underdeveloped, racially segregated urban areas. From the late 19th century until the end of apartheid, townships were reserved for non-whites, including Black Africans, Coloureds, and Indians. Built on the outskirts of towns and cities, these areas often lack basic services like sewerage, water, and electricity. Despite these challenges, they are vibrant communities with rich cultures and organizations in need of development, whose stories deserve to be told.
In this minor, you will work closely with the people of NeMaTo to discover and share their stories through video production and storytelling. By building relationships and creating content together, you will learn how digital storytelling can contribute to social change.
Study features
This minor combines storytelling, video production, and community engagement. You will develop practical skills in concept development, interviewing, scriptwriting, filming, editing, and publishing content. In addition, you will learn how to work with communities, manage productions in challenging environments, and translate real-life stories into compelling content.
Along the way, you will deepen your understanding of social development and systems change, work closely with communities, and learn how to produce high-quality content in challenging environments for social media and streaming platforms. From idea to publication, you will develop the creative and practical skills needed to tell stories that matter.
Working with the people of NeMaTo will also strengthen your communication skills, cultural awareness, adaptability, and ability to collaborate with people from different backgrounds.
The township is your learning environment. Much of your work takes place in collaboration with local community members, organizations, and schools in NeMaTo. By spending time in the community, you will learn to work across cultures, build trust, and create stories together rather than from a distance.
Throughout the semester, you will be guided by lecturers and local partners while developing your professional skills in storytelling, filmmaking & production, and intercultural communication.
At the same time, Port Alfred offers a unique setting in which very different worlds come together. The contrast between the coastal town and the township provides valuable insights into South African society and creates a meaningful context for your work.
