Canva Africa and YeBo collaborate to support libraries and museums with new digital tools for content creation

Canva Africa, in partnership with YearBeyond, concluded a two-part virtual training series designed to support library and museum teams to communicate their work more creatively and effectively.

The Canva for Libraries and Museums series brought together YeBo’s partners from DCAS Library Services and Museum Services to explore practical ways that Canva can be used to amplify programmes, promote literacy, create learning resources, support public programming and tell stories of community impact. More than 200 representatives from across the province took part in the series. 

The first session focused on using Canva to strengthen communication and visibility, including creating social media content, posters, promotional materials, and exhibition resources. The second explored how Canva can support learning, literacy, youth engagement, heritage education and digital storytelling.

Helene Vollgraaff, Deputy Director: Museum Services, highlighted the value of the series: “Good design makes a big difference in museum work and this training to use CANVA more effectively goes a long way to assist our museums to deliver on their mandate to engage and inform.”

Ronel Mouton, Deputy Director: Library Services, also added: “Creative AI is a handy tool that empowers public libraries to expand imagination and puts achievable marketing and content creation in the hands of every staff member to personalise learning and discovery.”

This partnership speaks to what YeBo is about: connecting people, opportunities, and practical skills to strengthen the work already happening in communities. It highlights the important role digital skills can play in strengthening the reach and impact of libraries and museums as community spaces.

Wayde Groep, YeBo Comms and Advocacy Manager, emphasised that “by connecting our partners with practical tools and new creative approaches, the series enabled teams to explore ways of sharing their work, including the work being done alongside YeBoneers, engaging audiences and bringing the stories within these spaces to life.”

The series forms part of YeBo’s broader commitment to strengthening its network of partners and creating opportunities for learning, innovation and collaboration that support the work happening in communities.