Ubuntu Beds

My name is Kim Whitaker, I am the founder of the Ubuntu Beds initiative. I am a passionate tourism entrepreneur from South Africa, until COVID-19 hit our shores I managed two youth hotels(Once Travel) , and a tourism non-profit (Khwela). I am a recent Executive MBA graduate from the University of Cape Town, and I am particularly interested in experiential learning in an African context, as well as service design and design thinking. Ubuntu Beds was born out of my lived experience of contracting COVID-19 in early March, and seeing how the tourism industry collapsed country by country, while the demands on the healthcare system increased. Using the "waste" (empty hotel beds) as a solution (Healthcare workers fear of infecting their families and having to commute in public transport and risk community infection) Ubuntu Beds was born - a platform that unites healthcare workers with safe and free accommodation. 

Ubuntu Beds is centred around the African Philosophy of "Ubuntu" - I am because of who we are; or the essential human virtues of compassion and humility. Through this initiative we are committed to solving the following 4 problems: 

1. Healthcare workers are afraid to infect their vulnerable family members with COVID-19. In South Africa, many live in multi-generational households. 

2. Healthcare workers often need to commute long distances in public transport increasing risk of community infection and exhaustion. 

3. Many healthcare workers are brought in from other provinces to help, and have no accommodation or funds. 

4. Hospitality businesses are standing empty due to national lockdown.

Ubuntu Beds is a platform that unites healthcare workers with empty hospitality beds. This elevates the small business owners (BNB's, guesthouses) as well as healthcare workers. Long-term, Ubuntu Beds will continue to help people in need during humanitarian or natural disasters find safety. 

Many of the 400 000 healthcare workers in South Africa live in multi-generational households in low income areas: they cannot self-isolate from their loved ones while working in COVID-19 rife hospitals and ICU units. Many hospital staff are striking or not coming in to work for fear of their health and families' well-being. 

As the country's COVID-19 numbers begin to increase rapidly, more nursing and healthcare staff are needed to help sick patients. Factors contributing to the problem: the government is not offering sufficient PPE and isolation facilities for sick healthcare workers/patients; support staff (nurses, porters) are the lowest earning (average of $330 a month) and at highest risk of exposure. 

Hospitality businesses (BNB's, apartments, hotels) are laying off staff/closing their doors as they stand empty - factors include tourism arrivals stopping, and strict national lockdown regulations. 

We have accommodated over 400 healthcare workers around South Africa, with numbers growing exponentially: between 2500-6500 healthcare workers in the next 4 months.This problem is not unique to South Africa, other third world countries adversely affected where this could be scaled to include Brazil, India, Peru, Chile etc. The total community value at a national level may reach up to 336 550 people.

The Ubuntu Beds is  platform raises funds to pay for accommodation for healthcare workers: giving the healthcare workers peace of mind to continue serving their communities, and accommodations some income so they can keep their staff employed. We have collaborated with multiple technologies such as map technology platform ESRI, and accommodation booking technology rainmaker to allow hospital administrators to geo-locate accommodations closest to their hospital. Other enabling technologies such as Google for non-profits, Whatsapp business, Airtable etc allow us to safely store Healthcare worker data, manage the supplier database (such as catering, waste removal, ambulance services etc) and escalate urgent cases. We have a national coverage, with over 1100 independent accommodations signed up, totalling over 17 000 beds. This means we can locate accommodations in the most remote places, and offer healthcare workers around South Africa a safe space. 

Healthcare workers, their families' and patients lives are impacted as they can come to work and serve communities with peace of mind. If they have vulnerable family members, they can stay in accommodation close to work, not risk infecting them. Should they test positive for COVID-19, we can give them peace of mind and a safe space to isolate away from their families, which the state is unable to offer nationally - especially in outlying areas. Heart-warming messages like this affirm our work: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for what you did for me and saving my family. Please keep up the good work that you are doing I will be going back to work on Saturday. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart."

Hospitality owners and small businesses:we are able to offer an income, so they do not need to retrench/furlough their staff. Government support has also run dry, while lockdown regulations restrict travel and means to an income for thousands of hospitality businesses. The lives of our suppliers (transport,catering, waste management, decontamination cleaning) their employees are also impacted, as they are able to get a small income by providing these services. 

Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a guideline, our project addresses the following fundamental, difficult problems: 

1. SDG #3: Good health and well-being. Basic access to healthcare is crucial. Without Healthcare Workers, the healthcare-system in South Africa will fail. Our project makes Healthcare workers feel safer, and more ready to help fight on the frontlines. 

2. SDG #10: Reduced Inequality. Our project is highlighting the inequality in South Africa's societies, where public servants are unable to protect themselves as many live in townships, with multiple family members. The disparity between nurses and highly qualified doctors is being highlighted. 

I returned to South Africa from Germany in mid-March, and found out I was COVID-19 positive.

It was clear that the tourism industry was on the front line and that we would be one of the first to feel the economic impact of the virus. On 15 March, I remember listening to Dr Jacob Zwaan, a fellow EO member, telling us about his small Italian town called Lombardy that was at the epicentre of the virus and was experiencing 400 to 800 deaths a day. He said Italy was in a medical crisis that was dwarfing the economic crisis. “We should have used empty hotels to safely accommodate medical workers near their jobs,” he said. In Italy, these valuable workers were forced to travel home after a long day, amid restrictions on public transport. Moreover they had to run the risk of exposing their own families to the disease. Often, they ended up sleeping in their cars in an effort to keep their loved ones safe. This conversation was a light bulb moment for me. Both my parents are doctors – I knew I had to do something. I launched the Ubuntu Beds platform to unite Healthcareworkers with hotel beds.

I am passionate about this project, as we are able to make a tangible difference to many individuals and their families, while solving a problem I can see the government is struggling with. 

I have been a Hospitality entrepreneur for over 12 years, and I understand the industry. My parents are doctors, so I have deep empathy towards healthcare workers. 

Through studying the EMBA course, I learnt to love the Design-thinking process, and have applied it to my businesses, in order to solve problems and make an impact on my community through enabling technologies. I have been an employer of hundreds of South African youth who have used my business and their experience in it as a stepping stone for their careers. I have felt the heartache of having to liquidate a business, and retrench over 50 staff during the COVID-19 pandemic - I want to play a part in creating a better South Africa after COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, my own tourism business was forced to close, and I had to Liquidate my hotel business. While this was happening, I built the Ubuntu Beds platform, and many of my team were able to help as reservationists, and use their experience in the hotel industry to help place healthcare workers. 

Funding was a challenge in the beginning, and I had to motivate a team of over 20 people to work pro-bono, or volunteer. I also motivated accommodations to over their spaces for free, until we were able to get funding. To date, over 150 accommodations have offered heir rooms for free to healthcare workers. I believe in working lean, and leveraging connections to get the job done. I managed to raise over R4.5 million in less than 100 days, and we have placed over 400 health careworkers. 

In 2018 I co-founded Khwela Academy, a non-profit for young under-resourced women in South Africa to become independent and thrive. We have educated over 50 women through this experiential learning program, centred around the concept of a road trip. 

I am the co-founder of Once Travel, a youth travel brand and hotel copmany with over 60 staff and serving over 23 000 young travellers annually in South Africa (pre COVID of course!). 

Linked in

Ubuntu Beds is an initiative of Khwela Youth Tourism Stars, a registered non-profit.

Vision: 

A sense of community, in the spirit of Ubuntu, where every person feels safe. 

Purpose: 

A caring community platform that matches people in need during humanitarian or natural disasters with safe spaces, development and support.  

Khwela is a youth development platform, which empowers young women in South Africa to self-develop and thrive. 

• In the spirit of Ubuntu (African humanity: I am because we are) we felt the need to jump in and help our brave frontline Healthcare Workers whilst also helping to fill hotel beds left empty with the tourism shutdown.

• Ubuntu Beds offers FREE and safe accommodation to Healthcare Workers who:

• Do not want to infect vulnerable family members at home

• May have contracted COVID-19 and awaiting test results

• Have contracted COVID-19 and need to be isolated

• Ubuntu Beds is helping to ensure the safety of more South Africans during COVID-19.

• This platform offers immediate change to healthcare workers and to the hospitality industry across South African and helps in the fight against Covid-19. 

• Long term the platform will be able to assist in other pandemics as well as becoming an on-going database of accommodations near to health facilities. 
  

• By saving the lives of public healthcare workers and their families in the short term we benefit the South African Healthcare system from not being overrun in the long term. 
  

• Ubuntu Beds ensures that Healthcare Workers who need to avail of our Home from Home, Self Quarantine or Self Isolation accommodation can do so easily and for FREE.

• South Africa has over 300,000 nurses working in 400 public and 200 private hospitals.

• The COVID-19 pandemic is placing enormous pressure on South African Healthcare Workers:

• All are fearful of bringing the virus home to vulnerable loved ones in often multi-generational living situations. 

• Some public hospitals’ Healthcare Workers have already downed tools due to this fear and risk of clinical exposure. 

• Many live in outlying areas and commute long distances to work increasing the chances of community transmission.

• Each day more and more Healthcare Workers are contracting COVID-19.

We have over 700 Healthcare workers already signed up as well as over 1000 accommodation providers. 

We have placed over 360 Healthcare Workers for more than 6 700 bed nights.

We aim to place at least 2 500 by end of September. As the COVID pandemic is now changing rapidly in South Africa our target might increase significantly provided we have funding to place workers.

Over next 5 years we aim to place at least 60 individuals per month in safe havens across the country and to respond to natural and other disasters where the most vulnerable, that cannot afford it will need accommodation during tough times.

We aim to place at least 2 500 by end of September. 

As the COVID pandemic is now changing rapidly in South Africa our target might increase significantly provided we have funding to place workers.

Over next 5 years we aim to place at least 60 individuals per month (720 per year) in safe havens across the country and to respond to natural and other disasters where the most vulnerable, that cannot afford it will need accommodation during tough times.

Funding to cover the costs of placing the Healthcare workers into the accommodation. We have sponsorship for cleaning and operations cost as well as heavily discounted rates provided by the accommodations. However these discounted rates still need to be paid via fundraising. 

Further we require funding for our technology platform, integrations and booking platform, this will enable us to create more automated platform that is open to all communities in need to achieve our long term goals.

We are approaching large and small private and government institutions both locally and abroad to offer funding. 

We are also working closely with Research Councils (MRC) and Universities to assist with modelling and campaigning for the cause at various government (provincially and at national level) and private bodies. These models ensures that our funding asks is corroborated by external 3rd parties in the current COVID-19 pandemic working on the ground.

RMB’s First Rand Spire Fund - Coordinator and administrator of the initiative. A Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) registered under section 18A . 

Ubuntu Beds would not be possible without an assortment of pro bono or low cost support partners (legal, social media, PR, email, database, GIS/ geomapping, reservation system etc). Helpscout, First Rand, Ruby Digital, Bidvest Prestige, Legalese, Nicework, Esri South Africa, Rainmaker. 

Accommodation Providers - The asset providers to the system; the empty Hotels – B&Bs – Hostels – Guest Houses. They have empty beds and empty pockets. By providing their beds at fixed rate to cover costs they participate. 

Funders - Private hospitals, private individuals, government funding, private corporations and funds. This initiative will require funding to cover expenses of Accommodation at a nightly rate. 

Frontline Workers - Doctors – Nurses – Medical Professionals – Support Staff. They need the most support. 

Hospitals & Clinics - They want to ensure HCW are well rested and ready to assist in the pandemic. 

Ubuntu Beds business model make use of technology to unite Healthcare workers that need safe accommodation with now empty Accommodation Providers. 

Healthcare Workers and Accommodation Providers sign up via our website (or whatsapp). Their details are uploaded on our database and geo-mapped on an online Platform (sponsored) which the reservation team can use to match Healthcare Workers with Accommodation Providers. Accommodation Providers have provided tremendous discounts specific for the purpose of hosting Healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

This visual tool enables us to select the best suited accommodation as some healthcare workers rely on public transport and by finding accommodation close to the health facilities we can reduce the spread of COVID-19. This also allows Healthcare workers to stay in a safe accommodation without the fear of transmitting the virus to family. 

After each stay we defog (clean) the accommodation provider's premises which enables them to host more healthcare workers. 

We also provide training and guidelines to the accommodation providers on how to host healthcare workers and COVID+ individuals creating awareness and skills within the tourism industry. 

This platform has also been pivoted to map suppliers of PPE, Catering, transport and other services that health facilities and team can make use of to source affordable services (discounted only for this initiative) where needed. 

Our expenses are broken down in two main categories; 1. Overheads that supports expenses of the infrastructure both human and general support functions and programmes. 2. Direct costs for Accommodations of healthcare workers, catering, cleaning costs and other costs like transport.

We have managed to get a sponsor for Overhead structure until August. We have had donations to pay for Accommodations of healthcare workers from general public. We have also aligned with a rewards programme where members can donate their points towards Accommodation. We have also received funding for cleaning costs.

Our main financial burden is that of Accommodation placements and Technology. We are approaching private Doctors who can sponsor their lesser earning support staff (nurses - who earn as little as USD400 per month) per night stay and receiving confirmation of their impact. 

We are also working closely with Research Councils (MRC) and Universities to assist with modeling and campaigning for the cause at various government (provincially and at national level) and private bodies this model ensures that our funding asks is corroborated by external 3rd parties in the current COVID-19 pandemic working on the ground.

RMB Spire Fund has Sponsored USD 59 000 grant (ZAR 1M) towards our overhead structure this will last until August 2020.

We have also received a pledge of USD 140 000 grant (ZAR 2.4M) towards covering cleaning expenses of rooms and waste removal from accommodation providers from RMB Spire Fund.

We have received further USD50 000 (ZAR 880 000) from Booking.com - Netherlands towards paying for accommodation for healthcare workers.

Other funds have been from private individuals, councils and institutions totalling USD 25 000 (ZAR 430 000)

Our goal is to place 2 500 healthcare workers for at least 7 - 14 days = 17 500 - 35 000 bed nights.

The average cost per person per night is roughly USD27 (ZAR 450). So far we have placed 360 healthcare workers and need funds for approximately 2 140 more individuals.

This need translates to USD 400 000 - 800 000 (ZAR6.7M - ZAR 13.4M)

Further we require an additional USD30 000 (ZAR 500 000) for technology, integration and booking software which has generously been done pro-bono until we have managed to source the funds.

We also require approximately USD15 000 (ZAR 250 000) monthly to run the current systems infrastructure and human resource requirements.

Our goal is to place 2 500 healthcare workers for at least 7 - 14 days = 17 500 - 35 000 bed nights. The average cost per person per night is roughly USD27 (ZAR 450). So far we have placed 360 healthcare workers and need funds for approximately 2 140 more individuals.

This need translates to USD 400 000 - 800 000 (ZAR6.7M - ZAR 13.4M)

Further we require an additional USD30 000 (ZAR 500 000) for technology, integration and booking software which has generously been done pro-bono until we have managed to source the funds.

We also require approximately USD15 000 (ZAR 250 000) monthly to run the current systems infrastructure and human resource requirements.

The Elevate Prize can assist us either by:

1. Placing Healthcare Workers in Accommodation

2. Developing the platform further to enable long terms sustainable community project by using the online platform with Accommodation providers to no only provide safe haven for Healthcare Workers but use it as a tool for all members of community that need a safe haven in trying times, women who are suffering abuse in their households, family members that need to travel far for medical care and cannot afford to stay in the city. Vulnerable community members that are going through a rough time. This will provide them with dignity and a safe place to rest. As this platform is online anyone can sign up but we need funds to ensure we are able to pivot the platform for long term sustainability