Dorette Steenkamp

Current

• Director at Uthango Social Investments

Past

• Regional Manager at Febdev Greater Cape
• Senior Lecturer at Boland College of Education

Recommended

3 people have recommended Dorette

Connections

149 connections

Industry

Non-Profit Organization Management

Dorette Steenkamp’s Summary

I am energized by innovation in pro-poor community development and investment models. I thrive on challenges to find or create relevant technologies and enterprises to the benefit of the 'base of the pyramid'.

Building community-based assets for sustainable socio-economic development makes sense and our company, Uthango Social Investments, often seeks new investment opportunities where others hesitate to go.

In essence, I would like to think of myself as a social engineer - finding problems and solutions equally fascinating. Crossing the digital divide with practical information technology is a passion. In this, mobile technology and virtual worlds serve as platforms for collaboration with the best minds globally. I celebrate African ingenuity.

As forward-thinking development agency in Southern Africa invited by communities, we tap directly into local dynamics to realize sustainable projects with a lasting impact.

We connect the corporate and academic sector with specific communities for the sake of developing enterprise, infrastructure and human resources. We conceptualized and implemented an award-winning project in micro-enterprise local economic development, recognised by MIT, Harvard University and Stellenbosch Business School.

Current projects include our Indigenous Peoples' Knowledge Exchange (iPeKx) project, where we audit and engage entire neighbourhoods to develop a profile and baseline for development.We then establish an opportunity centre to facilitate change.

Early 2008, we also launched 'Virtual Africa' in Second Life(R) to explore opportunities for innovation, advocacy and investment. In doing so, Uthango became the first African-based company and non-profit organisation with a formal virtual worlds' strategy and presence in a 3D world. Uthango has been recognized for our role to bring African content to a broader audience and explore virtual worlds' potential for development.

I absolutely positively love my work.

Dorette Steenkamp’s Specialties:

Project Management and Monitoring, Fund Management; Grant-making, Social Investment; Concept Development, Innovative Problem-Solving, New Media and Virtual Worlds Consultation for African companies, Capacity-building for civil society organisations in Africa

Additional Information

Dorette Steenkamp’s Honors:

Rotary International Centennial Award for Service above Self
MIT (selected) Case Study for Sustainable Community Development (2008)
Harvard University - JF Kennedy School of Government Innovations Award
Impumelelo Innovation Awards Trust for Sustainable Development in Africa (2006)