We need creativity now more than ever

International day for innovation and creativity

It is now more than ever that we need innovation, creativity and ingenuity to help and guide us, making this year's international day of celebrating these integral aspects of our society so important.

The crisis has greatly impacted the world of creatives and has generated a sensation that the creative industry is 'a nice to have' rather than the essential tool in the creation and evolution of culture it is.

Some leaders and institutions understand that creatives are their lifeline through this when it comes to messaging and that the power creativity has is like no other. The UN and WHO's call out for creatives to help spread the Stay Home message the world over rippled a powerful message to creatives globally: your work is valuable.

With that, it is innovators who are thinking outside the box and using their technology and ingenuity who are helping governments and our healthcare systems now more than ever.

Innovate. Create. Welcome back to FairPlanet's weekly roundup and always Read, Debate: Engage.

The good

Innovation has never been more celebrated

We live in a time where innovators are regarded as the thought-leaders of our generation. This has never been truer. Over the past few months, since the world began grappling with the impact of coronavirus, it is innovators the world over who have come to the front line.

From 3D printing of PPE (personal protective equipment) and a COVID-19 symptoms app tracker to tech to help support the millions of us working from home and the most creative ad campaigns we've seen giant brands run in decades, innovation is flourishing, and with that, so is creativity.

As noted by the United Nations, "The creative economy –which includes audiovisual products, design, new media, performing arts, publishing and visual arts– is a highly transformative sector of the world economy in terms of income generation, job creation and export earnings."

The bad

creativity and innovation feels like a class struggle

Having the opportunities to join the creative and innovative industries is too frequently subject to income brackets, geographic locations, and education levels. The inequality of creativity as a career is an issue that desperately needs to be addressed as the encouragement of innovative thinking across all individuals, communities and nations will help pave the way forward out of their struggles. As outlined by the UN, "Cultural and creative industries should be part of economic growth strategies."

Established in 2006, the Children’s Radio Foundation currently runs 72 programs in 6 African countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Liberia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia). They partner with organizations and local mentors in order to grant youths the skills and tools needed to create radio programs that spark a conversation about issues that affect them and are informed by local perspectives.

Find out more about how you can support the Children's Radio Foundation.

Children’s Radio Foundation mobilises Africa’s youths

by Yair Oded

The Children's Radio Foundation helps youth create radio programs that address issues that effect them and inspire community-based solutions.

Support

Creativity across the globe

	Nigerian football pitch relies on players’ movements to generate electricity by Bob Koigi As Africa looks to diversify its energy mix for both household and industrial use, groundbreaking innovations are keeping the dream alive. Read

	Born HIV positive, condemned for life by Cyril Zenda After coming tops at Advanced Level in the whole of the Chiredzi district in Zimbabwe’s rural south-eastern part in 2013, then 19-year Gift Chauke’s name automatically made it to the district’s list of students from poor backgrounds that were selected to benefit that year in the Presidential Scholarship Scheme. Read

	We call them cavies... by Frank Odenthal Neither are they pigs, nor are they from Guinea. In South America they are consumed by millions of people because of their healthy meat. In Africa, too, they could help fight malnutrition. German agricultural scientist Dr. Brigitte Maass has all the details. Read

	Occupy your street by Pablo Pérez Álvarez Play areas, bus stops, small plazas or just some benches to take a break. A citizen organization from Lima led by architects and sociologists tries to recover the street for the people, using urban micro-interventions in a mega-city with a chronic lack of public spaces. Read

Country focus

Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)

Situated on the Western coast of Africa, Ivory Coast or Côte d'Ivoire is a former French colony that has celebrated its independence since 1960 with the leadership of President Felix Houphouet-Boigny. For four decades the nation flourished and become a regional economic powerhouse as well as a blueprint for "religious and ethnic harmony" as covered by the BBC.

In 2002 an armed rebellion saw the country split into two – it came following a controversial election of President Laurent Gbagbo in 2000. The country was violently divided into Muslim rebel-held north and government-controlled Christian south and since then had been grappling with violent civil wars. And yet despite the political instability within the country, Ivory Coast is the world's largest exporter of cocoa beans, generating a relatively stable and high income for its society.

The media of Ivory Coast operates under stringent government control and there are no privately operated TV channels.

All stories about Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)

We hope that our stories and insights are valuable to you. If so, we kindly ask you to consider sharing the newsletter with your friends, colleagues, families... Referring is the best thing you can do to support our work - and add value for all of them. As always, thanks for reading. We look forward to continuing to deliver the best solution stories straight to your inbox.