Pathways to Zero Barriers

Brief Summary 

In this episode, host Anthony Giannoumis explores the power of media-driven storytelling in challenging stigmas and driving social change. He is joined by Debora Maboya, Head of Operations and Programs at Tai Tanzania, and Bernard Chiira, Founder & CEO of AT4D (Assistive Technologies for Disability).

Debora shares how Tai Tanzania creates culturally relevant animated content that inspires social and behavioural change, emphasizing the importance of adapting storytelling to different cultural contexts. She highlights the role of collaboration—with governments, local organizations, and communities—in ensuring content resonates and has a lasting impact.

Bernard offers insights on leveraging digital distribution channels to scale disability-inclusive narratives, emphasizing how storytelling can dismantle biases and reach previously untapped audiences.

Expect real-world examples, challenges, and key takeaways for innovators looking to expand inclusive media initiatives globally.

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In PDF Format: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E06_Tai-Chiira_Transcript.pdf]

In Word Format: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E06_Tai-Chiira_Transcript.docx]

The Guests

Debora Maboya, Head of Operations and Programs at Tai Tanzania

Bernard Chiira, Founder & CEO AT4D (Assistive Technologies for Disability)

The Key Questions Addressed in this Episode are:

• 1. How do you prepare to transfer your storytelling model to new regions?

  2. How does adapting content to local cultures affect your approach?

  3. What challenges do you face when expanding internationally?

  Call to Action

  Subscribe today for real-world insights on scaling innovative solutions from across the globe.

  Links to Mentioned Resources

  - Tai Tanzania Website [https://www.tai.or.tz/edutainment/resources-bank]

  Zero Project Scaling Solutions website: [scaling-solutions.zeroproject.org]

  Contact Information

  For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [email protected]

  Sponsor/Partner Info

  This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.

Brief Summary

In this episode of Pathways to Zero Barriers, host Anthony explores the transformative potential of partnerships in scaling inclusive technologies and solutions. Esteban Rojas Munoz, Chief Operating Officer of Humanos 3D from Colombia, and Maria Ignacia Rodriguez, Head of Public and International Affairs at Fundación Descúbreme, share their experience with creating alliances that drive innovation for persons with disabilities.

Esteban discusses Humanos 3D's groundbreaking work in 3D-printed prosthetics for underserved communities, and how collaborations with universities and unexpected allies, such as airlines, have been key to scaling their impact. Meanwhile, Maria Ignacia emphasizes the importance of culturally relevant solutions, quality assurance, and cultivating an innovation mindset.

Expect real-life examples and valuable lessons for innovators seeking to navigate the complexities of scaling disability-inclusive solutions.

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In PDF Format: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E05_Humanos3D-FD_Transcript.pdf]

In Word Format: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E05_Humanos3D-FD_Transcript.docx]

The Guests

Esteban Rojas Muñoz is the Chief Operating Officer at Humanos 3D, a Colombian NGO that is revolutionizing the field of assistive technologies. Esteban leads initiatives that use 3D printing to develop personalized prosthetics and assistive devices for individuals with upper limb disabilities. What’s truly inspiring about Humanos 3D is their holistic approach: not only do they create life-changing devices, but they also run educational programs, empowering local communities to engage with cutting-edge technologies and solutions. Through their mobile clinics, Humanos 3D has already transformed the lives of hundreds, reaching underserved populations in Colombia and beyond.

María Ignacia Rodríguez is the Deputy Manager, International Cooperation at Fundación Descúbreme, one of the key partners of the Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme. Fundación Descúbreme is based in Latin America and works to build a more inclusive society by fostering opportunities for people with disabilities. María Ignacia’s expertise lies in building strategic partnerships and championing global initiatives that align with Descúbreme’s mission to promote accessibility and inclusion. Her work helps connect impactful innovations, like those of Humanos 3D, with the resources and networks needed to scale globally. She plays a pivotal role in enabling transformative projects to thrive and reach more communities worldwide.

Key questions addressed

Call to Action 

Subscribe today for real-world insights on scaling innovative solutions from across the globe. 

Links to Mentioned Resources 

Humanos 3D Website [https://humanos3d.org] 

Fundación Descúbreme Website [https://www.descubreme.cl] 

Zero Project Scaling Solutions website: [scaling-solutions.zeroproject.org] 

Contact Information 

For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [email protected] 

Sponsor/Partner Info 

This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation. 

Brief Summary

In this special New Year’s recap episode of Pathways to Zero Barriers, we revisit the first three episodes to distill key lessons on scaling inclusive solutions. Join us as we explore themes like building strong ecosystems, balancing growth with sustainability, and adapting strategies to local contexts. Hear inspiring insights from DISQ, Happybots, and Incluyeme, and stay tuned for more transformative stories from innovators breaking barriers across the globe.

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In PDF format: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Transcript_Pathways_RecapE01-E03.pdf]

In Word format: [https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fzeroproject.org%2Ffileadmin%2Froot_zeroproject%2FZPSCALE%2Fpodcasts%2FPathways_transcripts%2FTranscript_Pathways_RecapE01-E03.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK]

Host information

• Judith Hermetter the Head of Communications at the Zero Project, Essl Foundation

Call to Action

Subscribe today for real-world insights on scaling innovative solutions from across the globe.

Links to Mentioned Resources

Essl Foundation [zeroproject.org/about/the-essl-foundation]

Zero Project Scaling Solutions website: [scaling-solutions.zeroproject.org]

Contact Information

For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [email protected]

Sponsor/Partner Info

This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.

Brief Summary

This episode focuses on the complexities of scaling inclusive solutions across diverse regions, exploring strategies to navigate economic, cultural, and regulatory challenges. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring programmes to local demands, building strong partnerships, and addressing intersectional barriers, such as those faced by migrants with disabilities.

Gabriela Garciadiego, Director of Operations at Incluyeme, shares her experience expanding into 14 Latin American countries, highlighting approaches to inclusive training, corporate collaborations, and overcoming economic instability. Thomas Trümper from GIZ, German development cooperation agency, provides a global perspective, stressing sustainable solutions, capacity building, and partnerships as key drivers of systemic change in inclusive employment.

Download Captions

In PDF Format: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E03_Transcript_final.pdf]

In Word Doc Format: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E03_Transcript_final.docx]

The Guests

Gabriela is a political scientist, currently working as Operations Director at Incluyeme.com. Her skills include project management, business development, and fundraising strategies, creating inclusive employment initiatives for people with disabilities. She is an experienced Operations and Cultural Affairs professional with over 14 years in high-impact roles across diverse sectors. Gabriela previews experience extends to cultural diplomacy, managing significant exhibitions and cultural events at prestigious venues and cultural heritage, that includes the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Gabriela is skilled in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership, with a commitment to innovative, mission-driven work.

Thomas Trümper works for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and advises the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in international development cooperation. He is also committed to bringing official development cooperation and the private sector closer together to improve the living conditions of persons with disabilities, particularly in the world of work, through social innovation, joint projects and alliances.

Key Questions Addressed

Call to Action

Subscribe today for real-world insights on scaling innovative solutions from across the globe.

Links to Mentioned Resources

Incluyeme Website: [https://www.incluyeme.com]

GIZ website: [https://www.giz.de/en/html/index.html]

Zero Project Scaling Solutions website: [scaling-solutions.zeroproject.org]

For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [email protected]

Sponsor/Partner Info

This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.

Brief Summary

This episode dives into the critical topic of securing funding to scale innovations, with practical lessons from the field of assistive robotics. How can startups assess the required level of investment? What are the key challenges in securing funding? And how can they align initial costs with long-term sustainability goals?

Rob van de Ven, Co-Founder of Happybots, shares his journey developing and scaling Felix, a ‘social’ robot designed to support individuals with psychosocial disabilities. He is joined by Małgorzata ‘Margaret’ Grobelna from the Zero Project, who complements these experiences with a broader perspective on funding assistive technologies and strategies for building sustainable, impactful solutions.

Download Captions

In PDF Format: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E02_Transcript_final.pdf]

In Word Doc Format: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E02_Transcript_final.docx]

The Guests

Rob van de Ven is co-founder and innovator from Happybots. Happybots is changing lives with their emotional support robots, like Felix, designed to help individuals with disabilities express emotions and form meaningful connections. Their work beautifully combines advanced technology with empathy, and what we love most is how they are redefining assistive technology by placing human emotions and inclusivity at the center of their innovations, creating spaces where everyone can thrive.

Margaret Grobelna is Programme Manager at the Zero Project. Margaret plays a pivotal role in driving the Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme, an initiative of the Essl Foundation - our valued partner. Her work focuses on fostering innovative collaborations and creating opportunities for impactful solutions to scale globally.

Key Questions Addressed

1.     How do you determine the level of investment required for scaling your robotics solutions?

2.     What are the biggest challenges in securing funding for such technology?

3.     How do you balance initial costs with long-term sustainability?

Links to Mentioned Resources

Subscribe today for real-world insights on scaling innovative solutions from across the globe.

For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Sponsor/Partner Info

This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.

Brief Summary

In this debut episode of Pathways to Zero Barriers, we dive into the crucial groundwork required for scaling disability inclusion solutions across borders. DISQ, a social innovation incubator focused on assistive technology start-ups, shares their approach to transferring their incubation model to new regions. We discuss the importance of infrastructure, building strong partnerships, and aligning with local communities to ensure success.

Joining the conversation are Sameer Rawal from DISQ and Sayomdeb ‘Den’ Mukherjee from EnAble India, who bring their real-world experience to highlight the challenges and strategies for effective expansion.

Guest Information

Sameer Rawal, DISQ: An expert in social innovation and incubation, Sameer leads the charge in nurturing assistive technology start-ups.

Sayomdeb 'Den' Mukherjee, EnAble India: With extensive experience in scaling solutions for persons with disabilities, Den provides insights into adapting inclusive practices for different regions.

Download Episode Captions:

[https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E01_Transcript.docx]

Key Questions Addressed

1. What foundational steps do you take before expanding to a new region?

2. How do you assess the readiness of a region for adopting your incubation model?

3. What are the key challenges in transferring your incubation approach to different markets?

Links to Mentioned Resources

1. DISQ website: [www.digitalimpactsquare.com]

2. EnAble India website: [enableindia.org]

3. Zero Project Scaling Solutions website: [scaling-solutions.zeroproject.org]

Contact Information

For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [email protected]

Subscribe to stay updated on upcoming episodes and discover more insights on scaling disability inclusion solutions.

Sponsor/Partner Info

This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.

Welcome to Pathways to Zero Barriers, the official podcast of the Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme. In this teaser episode, Judith Hermetter, Head of Communications at Zero Project, introduces the vision behind the podcast: a world free from barriers for persons with disabilities.

Learn how the Scaling Fellows, along with advisors and partners, are working together to expand innovative solutions for disability inclusion globally. Join host Anthony Giannoumis from Inclusive Creation as he dives into real-life scaling stories, practical advice, and insights from those leading the charge for a more inclusive world. Subscribe now to follow their journey and be part of creating pathways to zero barriers!