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Share Your Story and help cross Nelson Mandela Bay metro’s racial divide

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Residents of Nelson Mandela Bay are being given the opportunity to share their life stories in order to help bridge the metro’s racial divide.

“The reality is that 23 years after the demise of apartheid we in the metro still have very low levels of interest, understanding or even tolerance of people who are different to us,” says Glenn Weiss, who is coordinating the “What’s your story?” campaign in the metro.

According to Statistics SA, Nelson Mandela Bay is the most racially segregated of South Africa’s six metros, as measured by the Theil’s Entropy Index scorecard.

Stats SA points out that the most racially segregated city in the United States is Detroit – Nelson Mandela Bay is sometimes billed as “the Detroit of Africa”.

Johannesburg is the most racially integrated of the metros.

The What’s your story? movement has been launched in the metro to coincide with the screening of the South African movie “Beyond the River,” which is based on a true story.

“What’s your story?” is an initiative developed and backed by the Heartlines team, which was also behind the making of the movie.

“There is currently an immense trust deficit in our nation and certain politicians seem to be doing everything to further polarise the different race groups.

“The subtitle to the campaign: ‘You know my name, but you don’t know my story’ perfectly describes how we live our busy, segregated, compartmentalised lives.

“It is imperative to get people of all races, cultures and backgrounds talking – and listening – which is the part that most of us battle with,” says Weiss.

Over 450 facilitators and 20 trainers from the metro were coached by Heartlines during March ahead of the launch of the “What’s your story?” campaign.

They are equipped to facilitate the programme in workplaces, schools, colleges, universities and churches.

“Workplaces, high schools and tertiary institutions are natural melting pots of the various races and cultures that make up our metro and country. We see What’s your story? making a significant difference to relationships in these vital areas of society,” he says.

“Human resources managers and company executives should take some time to explore the What’s your Story process for implementation in their businesses as it would aid transformation, cultural awareness and with it team work and productivity,” says Weiss, who was in human resources before going into the ministry.

More information and resources are available from www.whatsyourstory.online.

Organisations wanting to run the programme can contact Weiss at glenn@storehousechurch.co.za for assistance.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.