UP-hosted Mamelodi Expo applauds community-focused organisations

The University of Pretoria (UP) is set to host an expo that will introduce the public to various organisations that are working to uplift the Mamelodi community. The Mamelodi Expo will take place at UP’s Mamelodi Campus on Saturday 30 October 2021 from 9am to 1pm.

The event has been organised by the Urban Studio, a collaboration between UP’s Centre for Faith and Community and the Tshwane Leadership Foundation. The Urban Studio advocates for the transformation of the urban environment to support the city’s most vulnerable, and uses the city of Tshwane as a “classroom for action, reflection, dialogue and research”, according to its website.

“The expo intends to gather some of the numerous organisations that are operating in Mamelodi and let them introduce their work and services to the public,” event organiser Dr Laura Lepori said. “These organisations show the variety of commitment for the transformation of this community. We have drop-in centres, seniors clubs and organisations that work with kids, which provide services such as after-school care and visual arts lessons with youth. Additionally, some of these organisations create awareness about serious social issues such gender-based violence and substance (ab)use.”

Dr Lepori believes that everybody’s potential should be acknowledged, valued and fostered, and hopes that those who attend the expo will be inspired to play their part in helping to transform the Mamelodi community.

The event, she adds, is open to everyone who wants to know more about these organisations and make use of their services. It also intends to create a link between the community of Mamelodi and UP. “Students from various faculties have been invited to attend,” Dr Lepori said. “We hope they will get involved in engaged research from which both they and the organisations they might research can benefit. Furthermore, we hope that with this expo, organisations can network better and become more relevant in the community.”