SKHUMBUZO RAPHAEL DLAMINI

SOCIAL YOUTH THEATRE * RURAL YL LEARNSPACE * SOUTH AFRICA

“Our youth are dynamic and willing, but the problems are too big. We need help to get things going, and then I am sure we can create a wonderful future for all of us!”

Skhumbuzo gives first-hand testimony of life in the challenging circumstances of rural Mgungundlovu district in Kaw Zulu Natal, in post-Apartheid South Africa … with 80% unemployment, high crime, sexual violence, 60 students per class, little connectivity with urban affluent schools, few perspectives, aggravated by climate change, but with amazing positivity, diversity and human goodness – a great example to all of us.

Skhumbuzo is deeply moved by the example of teen hero*ines and wishes to to see youth leadership in his country.

His experience with traditional dance groups and youth exchanges in Germany is a perfect basis to work together, to create a Youth Leadership centre, spark action, set up school partnerships, facilitate tourist and volunteer visits and more.

TOPICS

life in rural South Africa

theatre, music, dance

youth work

community development

youth leadership

YL training centre

international 1- and 2-way exchange visits

water

 

PREPARATION

Read up on the history of South Africa, the cruel violent Apartheid rule;

  • study the school student protest of 16 June 1975 called the Soweto Uprising
  • study the transition away from Apartheid
  • study the suboptimal reality of today; consider that a union leader that held Mandela’s mic at a famous speech is today a billionaire while classes count 60 students, 80% of youth are unemployed, electricity is off for hours every day, barbed and electric wire are omnipresent on fences and walls

which is why at YL we say what we need today are not hero*ines with eloquent words but with tangible solutions.

 

Skhumbuzo's story

Skhumbuzo is our eye-witness on South Africa from the source – unfiltered and not academically detached.

Further, he’s is on fire to activate youth leadership across the region and develop his piece of land into a Community Centre (YL LearnSpace) with focus on youth empowerment, with a library to attract families and youth, an experimental permaculture plot, connected with schools across the region and more. The village is between the city of Pietermaritzburg and a spectacular National Park. What can we do to develop it together?

Finally, Skhumbuzo is involved in youth exchanges with Germany and we can build on this with our growing scope of youth, schools, topics and projects. Our video-meets and cooperation can lead to action, friendships, adventure, 1- and 2-way youth exchange and more.

ACTIONS

Skhumbuzo’s dream is to activate youth leadership in his region, to open a community centre with permaculture, a library, to nurture youth-led tourism, to collaborate with regional schools, and with international schools, also with exchanges … (view Namaste Nepal’s story as an example for how one school can boost holistic rural development).

Check on the state of affairs and how you could ad a boost now.

 

+

FOLLOW-UP

It would be awesome if you formed a long-term project partnership. It can start with a FUNdraiser, a holiday trip…