Kelo Kubu, Organizer of TEDxSoweto, is a TEDx Ambassador in Africa. In this interview series, she'll be talking with TEDx Organizers in Africa on what inspires them to host TEDx events in their community. 

She starts in Cape Town, South Africa with TEDxCapeTown organisers Bernelle Verster and Justin Beswick.

Kelo Kubu: How did you get involved with TEDx and what inspired you to host TEDxCapeTown?

Bernelle Verster: I decided to do a TEDx event because I was faced with a very specific challenge - how to get people outside of the water industry interested in the water industry - how to make innovation happen outside of the boundaries of any specific (e.g. the water) industry. My close friends are very excited by TEDx events, and wanted to organize one. We evaluated what TED stands for, and the 'Ideas worth spreading' made sense. The TED and TEDx brands would help me to achieve this awareness, TEDx guidelines forced us to make sure the event is of a high standard and my team made sure the event was not too heavy on the water theme, to ensure general interest.

Following this event, TEDxCapeTown has now become a platform for unheard change-makers, individuals with profound and BIG ideas, to gain exposure and support from our audience who have the networks, passion and knowledge that can help stimulate and drive these ideas to the market. This will encourage tangible impact to our innovation and entrepreneurial landscape here in South Africa.

We want to use innovation and entrepreneurship to make a difference in all areas including service delivery and human health. Attending this event is not a ticket, but a vision, and a shared belief and commitment that big ideas are achievable and in our grasp.

Justin Beswick: TEDxCapeTown served as a tool/platform to showcase how we believe businesses/initiatives should be run in the future, with a focus on multi-discipline engagement, constructive co-operative relationships and being locally attuned and responsive.

Kelo Kubu: What inspired the theme of your event and how did your audience relate to it?

Bernelle Verster: The theme 'Be Water My Friend' - a quote from Bruce Lee - pulled water slightly out of context and drew in the qualities of water, especially with regards to entrepreneurship. Making it work in life means give and take. Never giving up, but going with the flow; being adaptable. In celebration of Water, TEDxCapeTown took its inspiration of technology, entertainment and design from water. Water is life. Life adapts and evolves, and Life creates conditions conducive to life. To have a successful business, lifestyle or philosophy, we need to create conditions conducive to our own efforts, without compromising those around us. This is what TEDxCapeTown is about.

The speakers took this challenge on well, and incorporated some aspect of water into their talk, even if they did not talk about water related matters as such. The audience seems to like this, and I believe that we could do a similar approach next time - that we have the trust of the audience that the theme will not be limiting. From the feedback, we received a range of responses, but overall the feedback is very good.

Kelo Kubu: What stood out for on the day of the event?

Bernelle Verster: What struck me was the sense of community we felt at the event. Everyone felt part of the team, there was this spirit of camaraderie which was amazing. For a first event I was blown away by how well it went - and this was a result of everyone, team, volunteers, sponsors, speakers and audience coming together and making it work. We already know of people who found opportunities during the networking at the event that they are pursuing. This inspires us because great ideas without implementation is nothing. Overall, there were some hiccups, we learnt a lot, and can't wait to improve for next year!

Justin Beswick: It felt as though we had gone into another 'world', composed of inspiration and positive energy - it felt surreal! 

How many delegates and speakers did you have at your event?

Bernelle Verster: We had close to 400 delegates and 28 speakers. We would reduce the number of speakers for future events.

Pictures can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/61944197@N08/