The hitchhiker's guide to social change started with JūHū, a social enterprise with the aim of fighting stigmatization of people with disabilities by presenting them as the craftsmen of high quality design objects. A project created in collaboration with Elina Busmane.

Throughout the process of designing JuHu, we realized there were many tools to develop projects when they are well defined, however we had to face a lack of tools and methodology fot the first critical steps of creating a social initiative.

During my master work in social design at the Design Academy Eindhoven in parallel to the creation of the JūHū project, I have been working on a creative methodology accessible by all to inspire and accompany projects leaders in developing their ideas.

Utilizing tools I have been using while giving workshop on diverse intercultural issues in Europe, originating from diverse methodologies such as "Design Thinking", "Human Centered Design" and personal tools I have developed in collaboration with diverse consultants active in the social innovation field during the project creation phase. This has brought me to deconstruct the process in a series of small and creative steps with as a result of a strong social initiative.

Following this method we have build JūHū, as of today JūHū is impacting the lives of 40 persons living on the edge of the society (suffering from schizophrenia, addictions or after a stay in a psychiatric ward) in two different social structures working in close collaboration with 5 occupational therapists. We are producing two different products designed by talented designers, amongst them the Thérèse cup. In the next months we will open 3 new workshops and produce a total of 5 different objects.

You can follow JūHū on facebook here

Why01

Are you a changemaker ? would you like to be one ? With this guide, it offers a simple way to build up your own social project.

Forwho

For changemakers

For creative entrepreneurs

For social entrepreneurs

For the ones who have a dream

For people who want to start a project in their neighborhood

For the person who want to impact the society on a small or large scale

Wheretostart

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The first steps into a project are the most important ones, thinking of what, how and most importantly why are absolutely critical. We have seen many projects fail because of wrong assumptions or because they missed some key or basic elements within their project. This guide facilitates the creative process and helps you avoid traps or miss important components of your project.

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The hitchhikers guide, along with your personal motivation, will take you through a series of specifically designed, fun and creative exercises. These include everything from “sending yourself a postcard” , “mapping the resources you need” to “Pretending you’re a visitor from another planet and writing a report”. This guide helps you create your own strong an coherent social project step by step while avoiding the traps on the way. It is giving you the keys that will support you in having a positive social impact.

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Secretmission

This guide compiles what I have gained, experienced and observed during the last four years in the social innovation field. It has come from my experiences in mentoring various local social initiatives, to starting my own social enterprise, to the knowledge gathered over numerous discussions with other social designers/innovators/entrepreneurs strangers met in the streets or at the detour of a coffee terrace.

Sparklingglass

Mygoalfor

To get this tool in the hands of people who want to make a change, and have it widely distributed.

This book contains 140 pages 130x210mm, and will be printed keeping it environmentally friendly

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Supportedbybig05

Latvia Ieva Morica || Program director at SOROS FUNDATION Latvia

Latvia URBAN INSTITUTE Riga

Sweden LUSIC, Lund University Social Innovation Center

Canada f.&co is a creativity and collaboration consulting firm

France SoonSoonSoon, spotting new innovations

Latvia Kaņieris, youth center (the guide is used in one of their programs)

France illusion & macadam, support to cultural projects & social innovation

Author The hitchhiker's guide is written and compiled by Charles Bourrier, and couldn't have reached this stage without the help of numerous people including Elina Busmane (co-founder of JuHu), Sandra Jeckabsone (project guru), our JuHu project partnners and numerous partners in the field of social innovation.

Geography

French born, raised in Switzerland, graduated from high school in Japan, followed a social design master in the Netherlands, currently living in Latvia where I founded a social enterprise working with Russian schizophrenic patient to help them be better integrated within the Latvian society.

Education

After a Bachelor's degree in product and industrial design at écal, I attended the Design Academy Eindhoven for a master's degree in social design. During my studies I participated in different programs such as Venturelab (business) and SummerSchool, it has broadened my perspectives and provided me with a lot of tools to tackle a project with.

Professional

Intercultural trainer for EFIL and intercultur, I gave trainings related to intercultural and social topics in various European countries.

Creative consultant, I worked with companies in various fields from banks to energy companies where I helped setup reflection groups to work on diverse issues.

Social Entrepreneur, I started my own social enterprise called JuHu in Latvia thanks to winning a contest there.

Social designer, after working on diverse projects in the Netherlands and in Belgium I now work with municipalities in Latvia and I am a consultant for non - profit and profit projects. I also worked with groups at risk (kids, disabled people, ... ) in different sociocultural contexts all around Europe.

Every monday between 8-9pm (GMT+2) you have the possibility to chat with me on skype about the hitchhiker's guide. (I might be as well connected at other moments of the week with this account)

my skype id : juhu.charles

Me online

www.charlesproduct.com

www.juuhuu.co

The hitchhiker's guide to social change

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