<p><span class="p-body">Reconstructed Living Labs (RLabs), a social enterprise organization based in the Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa, has impacted hundreds of thousands of people in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond and aims to reach millions more with an effective low-cost education model that engages local communities. It has shown that a different approach to development is possible when driven by community.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Center for Global Affairs (CGA) students at NYU SPS have partnered with RLabs through the Social Enterprise Practicum, a credit-bearing learning opportunity that allows students to learn directly from RLabs leaders while contributing research and consulting-based work to the organization.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">During their experience, students:</span></p> <ul class="p-list"> <li><span class="p-body">Created “playbooks” highlighting the methods RLabs uses to drive impact</span></li> <li><span class="p-body">Documented systems, processes, and best practices for working with local communities</span></li> <li><span class="p-body">Codified RLabs’ model for cultivating environments that spur social innovations&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p><span class="p-body">As part of that work, students delivered:&nbsp;</span></p> <ul class="p-list"> <li><span class="p-body">Playbooks, reports, and related presentations to the RLabs management team&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span class="p-body">Case studies of inspiring stories across RLabs to celebrate</span> community entrepreneurs and help fuel related research</li> </ul>

<p><span class="p-body">Global consulting practicums are a signature part of the learning experience at <a href="/content/sps-nyu/about/academic-divisions-and-departments/center-for-global-affairs.html">NYU SPS’ Center for Global Affairs</a>. Collaborating with top organizations such as the United Nations, the US State Department, non-governmental organizations, and private firms, NYU SPS CGA offers practical, hands-on learning experiences in international policymaking through its global consulting practicums.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Under faculty supervision, the full-credit-bearing practicums have become a key element in the program’s commitment to bridging classroom learning with practical applications.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Every NYU SPS degree student can build a portfolio of work through hands-on learning experiences such as Real World projects, global field intensives, consulting practicums, internships, and capstone projects.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">To learn more about our hands-on learning experiences, please visit <a href="/content/sps-nyu/experience/how-youll-learn.html" target="_blank">How You’ll Learn</a>&nbsp;for more information.</span></p>