Urban Limitrophe

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

August 04, 2021

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!

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS | Apple Podcasts

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

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

June 13, 2021

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!

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS | Apple Podcasts

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

April 30, 2021

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!

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS | Apple Podcasts