Mamelodi community organisations unite to share ideas and strengthen collaboration
The ninth annual expo brought community organisations together to exchange information, build partnerships and challenge negative perceptions about township communities.
Community-based organisations came together to attend the 9th annual Mamelodi Community-Based Organisation Expo (CBO Expo) and the launch of the story maps of Mamelodi.
The event was held on August 14 at the University of Pretoria (UP) Mamelodi campus, and was organised and hosted by Urban Studio, a partnership project between the Tshwane Leadership Foundation (TLF) and the Centre for Faith and Community.
Tinyiko Ndaba from Urban Studio said the Mamelodi CBO Expo is an annual celebration of community-based organisations’ efforts in bridging gaps that exist in our townships.
Ndaba said the Expo has been running since 2017, almost a decade of celebrating local change-makers.
“The Mams CBO Expo is a space for community organisations to network, to know each other and collaborate and share information and invite each other to attend events, collaborate during crisis and emergencies, and do research together as a community and institution.”
“The Expo is a communal space to bring all matters related to developing the community, shining the light on the good things that are taking place and challenging the negative narrative about townships.”
Guest speaker Dr Charmaine Manuel from the Centre for Faith and Community talked about Research for Impact from a theological lens.
She discussed the practical steps on how we can better collaborate as researchers and the community at large.
Other organisations who attended the CBO Expo are as follows: Javett Art Centre UP, Gomolemo from Denlyn, Mamelodi Forum Senior Citizens Choir, Youth Against Hunger, Unit for Street Homelessness, and Moja Gabedi.
Ndaba further said the CBO Expo is also part of the upcoming event called The Feast of the Clowns, hosted by the TLF in collaboration with other organisations.
The Feast of the Clowns is famous for its vibrant festivities and a colourful peaceful protest around the city.
Workshops take place between the protests, happening in various spaces and communities, and these are meant to create spaces to engage in social justice issues our society faces.
The ‘famous feast’ main event festivities will be taking place on August 29 this year, starting from 09:00 at Burgers Park in the inner city.
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