d-lab: Fueling Financial Inclusion and National Economic Growth in South Africa
In the vibrant townships of George and White River, and the bustling Johannesburg CBD, a remarkable transformation is underway. Young South Africans, once facing limited opportunities, are now designing apps, conducting market research for major financial institutions, and securing jobs at organizations like Strideshift.AI, Maxtec, EQ-FIN, ITEC Tiyende. This isn’t by chance; it’s the direct result of an innovative skills development program called d-lab.
Beyond Traditional Training
d-lab, short for “design thinkers laboratory,” offers a fundamentally different approach to youth development. It focuses on human-centered development for economically disadvantaged and marginalized South African youth, aiming to cultivate the character and competencies needed to thrive in the digital world of work.
What makes d-lab unique is its holistic approach. Rather than just teaching technical skills, the program is built around five core learning outcomes that seamlessly blend practical capabilities with essential character development:
- Foundational Literacies: Mastering financial, data, and digital literacies to design solutions for the new world of work.
- Critical Competencies: Developing critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication while effectively managing risk and uncertainty.
- Essential Character Traits: Cultivating resilience, courage, care, curiosity, and integrity.
- Design Fluency: Demonstrating mastery in design thinking and human-centered design.
- Meta-learning Capabilities: Building adaptive thinking skills to continuously learn and grow.
Learning by Doing: The d-lab Journey
The program follows a carefully structured nine-month journey divided into distinct phases: induction, launch, orbit, and landing. Each stage builds upon the previous, progressively moving from knowledge and understanding to the creation and evaluation of something entirely new, following Bloom’s Taxonomy.
What truly sets d-lab apart is its emphasis on project-based learning. Students don’t just study design thinking; they apply it through multiple “design sprints,” tackling real challenges within their communities. As one team member explained, “It’s primarily about application. Can you apply what you’ve learned?”
This experiential approach extends to “Blitz Internships”—two-week placements that provide hands-on exposure to professional work environments, preparing them for the full three-month internship that concludes the program.
The AI-Enhanced Learning Ecosystem
In 2024, d-lab fully embraced artificial intelligence not only as a subject but as a transformative tool for program delivery. AI became central to the learning journey, with students mastering essential “Cyborg Habits”—blending human abilities with AI tools to produce exceptional work.
The organization has developed innovative AI tools, including:
- The Assessornator: An AI-driven Portfolio of Evidence assessment tool that evaluates various input formats (audio, video, infographics) and provides personalized student feedback.
- LanguageLeveller: An AI-driven analysis tool that assesses d-lab learning materials against the English proficiency levels of different cohorts.
Real Results: Transforming Lives
The impact of d-lab goes beyond learning outcomes; it’s genuinely changing lives. Recent reports indicate that 51% of students in two cohorts secured employment even before graduating. Zusipe, a graduate, shared that d-lab equipped her with vital public speaking, communication, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability skills, empowering her both professionally and personally. Her d-lab experience led to employment at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, first as an intern and now as a permanent Course Administrator.
Success extends beyond traditional employment. Graduates Thabang, Thabo, and Justeen conceived, designed, secured funding, and produced “Fashion Xplosion”—a successful and profitable event held on a Johannesburg rooftop. Other graduates are conducting market research for corporate clients, with one testimonial praising a team for “demonstrating remarkable agility, quickly completing sixteen interviews that delivered invaluable insights.”
The Power of Partnership
The d-lab model thrives on collaboration. In 2024, the program partnered with three centers: Inkcubeko Youth and Science Centre in Tembalethu (Western Cape), Penreach in Mpumalanga, and Sci-Bono in Gauteng. These partnerships provide crucial infrastructure like computer labs and connectivity, embedding the program deeply within local communities.
Mentorship is another critical element. Each student is matched with a mentor who provides monthly advice, support, and guidance on their academic and professional journey, attending presentations and offering feedback. This personalized support is especially vital during the internship phase as students navigate the professional world.
Innovating for Scale
As d-lab looks to the future, it’s developing multiple program models to expand its reach:
- STEM Centre Model: Continuing with the three current centers and planning to add two more in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
- Online Program: A new online program specifically focused on IT and AI (Cyborg) Skills.
- d-lab ‘Intensives’: Shorter programs offering specific modules to partners.
- Micro-jobbing Services: Where d-lab alumni conduct township economy, community-driven research for clients in banking, insurance, and retail.
- Customizable Programs: Tailored to specific client needs.
The Future of Work is Human + Digital
The d-lab story reveals a clear vision for the future: technical skills alone are no longer enough. The program’s emphasis on blending design thinking with digital fluency, and character development with professional capabilities, reflects a fundamental insight. The most valuable workers of tomorrow will be those who can harness both human creativity and technological power.
The d-lab approach champions a future where human creativity is augmented—not replaced—by digital tools. With an impressive 80% placement rate, d-lab demonstrates that equipping youth with this holistic skill set meaningfully contributes to South Africa’s digital transformation and economic inclusion.