ArtReach is thrilled to announce that it has been given permission to run the Mahlanya Youth Centre! In recognition of the urgent need by the youth, ArtReach has undertaken the task of relocating its office space and renovating the currently dilapidated youth centre, which has been neglected for years and is in need of a complete makeover. The ArtReach team will provide space for meetings, events and creative workshops as well as a library, kitchen, play area and community garden for all residents of Mahlanya. Over the next few months, the organisation will be building capacity by working with community members to restore the space. According to a current statement issued by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS), over 700,000 youth are living in Eswatini and are in need of safe spaces “where they can come together, engage in activities related to their diverse needs and interests, participate in decision making processes and freely express themselves,” (UNFPA/FLAS, 2018).
Over the past year, ArtReach has completed over 20 mural projects in both rural and urban communities. The focus has been to turn lacklustre and grungy structures into colourful and stimulating environments to promote youth development. Their work exists in schools, neighbourhood care points, libraries, and community centres all over Eswatini. Since 2012, ArtReach has run countless developmental projects throughout Eswatini such as public art murals and installations, creative workshops, talks, presentations, film screenings, and facilitated dialogues. ArtReach aims to endorse the arts and cultivate creativeness throughout Eswatini to promote a vibrant, colourful future where creativity is nurtured and valued, and the arts are used as a tool for youth empowerment, community engagement and sustainable development.
Seipati Jonga, ArtReach Project Coordinator said “ We provide an opportunity for local artists to live creatively by paying them for all the projects we do. This allows for the growth of our local creative economy. The artists we work with also participate in exhibitions. There’s so much local talent we need to support! I’m always happy to meet with new artists who may have something to contribute.”
ArtReach would like to extend thanks to the Swaziland Charitable Trust for graciously funding the initial phase of the centre renovation. In addition, the Mahlanya Youth Centre Project has gained support of some generous businesses and partners, making the project a combined community effort! ArtReach would like to extend thanks to the following partners for their donations thus far: MACSTEEL Eswatini (formerly Swazi Steel and Wire) and Swazi Wire for providing fencing materials to ensure the centre is secure and to Star Paint for their continued support in colourful paints!
If you are interested in donating materials and helping ArtReach turn the Mahlanya Youth Centre into a creative, developmentally appropriate, and safe space for the youth of Mahlanya, contact ArtReach (yebo.artreach@gmail.com or Seipati Jonga at 7699 7050 for details. To keep up the with non-profit’s progress, you can follow ArtReach on Facebook and Instagram (@yeboartreach).