From Rainy Skies to Bright Connections: Inside the Durban Collaboration Junction
21 May 2025. Rain in Durban.
Not exactly what you’d expect from a city known for its warm coastline and laid-back charm, but despite the gloomy skies, something bright and electric unfolded inside the beautifully set Belaire Suites Hotel on Durban’s beachfront.
As the waves rolled in just beyond the windows, 35 passionate youth development changemakers gathered; all representing different corners of the Durban ecosystem, ready to connect, share, and spark something meaningful.
And that’s exactly what happened.
🌱 Planting the Seeds: Setting the Scene
The morning began with a warm welcome from Thamsanqa (Thami), who set the tone by introducing who we are at Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) and why we believe that real progress happens together.
Thami then handed over to our Managing Director, Duduzile Nyumbeka, who painted a bold vision for what lies ahead. A growing national network of organisations, collaborators, and spaces like this one, intentionally designed to turn connection into collaboration.
The room felt ready. And so, we began to build.
🌳 The Asset Tree: Cultivating Collective Strength
The first activity of the day, the Asset Tree Exercise, invited each organisation to reflect on what they bring to the table and what they might be looking for.
But this wasn’t your typical icebreaker. This was about surfacing real assets:
✨ Skills – the abilities that make your team shine
🧠 Knowledge – the hard-earned insights from experience
🔧 Resources – tools, people, and networks that move the mission
Each attendee jotted down their organisation’s assets and needs on sticky notes, which were then displayed across the room like leaves on trees; colourful, hopeful, and full of potential.
In smaller groups, participants circled the room, explored each other’s notes, and began the most important part of any collaboration: seeing each other.
And just like that, ideas started forming. You could see it in the eyes and hear it in the side conversations: “We should connect.” “We have what you need.” “Let’s talk more after this.”
🎤 Spotlight Organisations: Sharing the Work
After a well-earned coffee break (Durban’s rain has nothing on our caffeine needs), we jumped into our Spotlight Sessions, featuring three incredible organisations:
🔦 Adams Mission – a grassroots organisation working to uplift and empower local youth with holistic, community-based support.
🔦 Youth Cooperative Hub – a powerhouse of innovation, driving youth-led solutions in education, training, and entrepreneurship.
🔦 Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator – a national leader in building systems that connect young people to opportunities in ways that are both scalable and sustainable.
As each speaker wrapped up, a theme quietly echoed across the room:
“We all want to collaborate — but how?”
“What does meaningful collaboration actually look like?”
These are the kinds of questions we love at YD Co-Lab. They’re bold, they’re necessary, and they’re a signal that our ecosystem is hungry for more than conversation — it’s ready for action.
🎉 A Surprise Twist: The Summit Ticket Raffle
To keep the energy high, we ended the session with a little surprise:
🎟️ A raffle to win 3 free tickets to our upcoming YD Co-Lab Annual Summit!
The lucky winners?
👏 Mlungisi Nala
👏 Nonkululeko Nzama
👏 Farieda Jali
The smiles were unforgettable, and the room lit up with applause. It was a reminder that everyone deserves a seat at the table — and we’re always looking for new ways to make that happen.
🌇 Wrapping Up… With a View
After closing words from Thami, we took it upstairs, literally. Lunch was served on the rooftop, with views of the ocean stretching out into the grey Durban sky.
Despite the clouds, the atmosphere was anything but dull. Attendees stayed long after the event officially ended, chatting, exchanging contacts, and letting us know — again and again — just how impactful the day had been.
💬 Why It Matters
Collaboration Junctions are about more than networking. They’re about belonging.
They’re about realising that while we may work in different ways, we’re working toward the same future: one where every young person in South Africa has the support they need to thrive.
Durban showed up. Rain and all.
And we’re already looking forward to what grows from the seeds planted in that beachfront room.
Keep an eye out — your city might be next. 👀
Want to See What You Missed?
Browse the event gallery here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1JGMs8WfrSwo9ruN7
Want to Be Part of the Network?
Become a YD Co-Lab member: https://ydcolab.org.za/membership/