On Thursday evening 22 July, the South Durban Basin showcased its ‘youth champions' and exhibited five stunningly beautiful art tapestries, created by local artists, which celebrate the stories of its diverse communities.

The event also featured spirited performances of music, dance, story-telling and poetry by about 20 ‘youth champions'.

This festive function in the Austerville Community Hall showcased two projects led by the South Durban Area-Based Management of the Ethekwini Municipality to help propel South Durban, an area that is often associated with pollution and socio-economic challenges, into a brighter future. Moira Tucker of Africa!Ignite is pictured here with Iris Francis of McCarthy Limited, who sponsored the showcasing event.

Through a ‘Tapestries of the South' project, artists and crafters from the diverse communities of Umlazi, Lamontville, Wentworth, Merebank, Isipingo and the Bluff created five one metre-square, brightly beaded, stitched and painted tapestries that tell the stories of their diverse communities.

A ‘South Durban Youth Champions Programme' took about 26 youths from South Durban through an intensive personal development programme, in order to build them into youth role models who can inspire others and contribute towards a positive youth culture in South Durban.

It is envisioned that they will take on youth issues by running campaigns and spreading a positive image for the youth of the South Durban Basin. The showcasing event, created and directed by the "champions", provided a platform for the youths to be presented to the communities and the world.

Both projects were implemented by Africa!Ignite in partnership with different community-based organisations and on behalf of the South Durban ABM.