Empower young creatives from the South African ghetto

I'm Sachin, a British-Indian jazz drummer travelling the world out of a backpack. I have started an artists' platform in the Cape Town ghetto with my good friend Vuyani, an MC, marimba teacher, and events co-ordinator. We stage parties and live-shows in these areas, in which the performers, DJs, installations and decorations, costumes, catering, and organisation all come from the neighborhood itself. We just connect together the actors that can create such events, supply some funding, and set the magic in motion, sparking further events-planning, attracting other creative collectives, and cultivating an active, thriving artistic scene in an underprivileged area. It empowers the area to keep creating without external support. It is not charity, nor outreach. It is the township showing what it can do when given the right tools.

Our events will take struggling artists from these areas and provide 5 main benefits:

Exposure - Be seen by a cross-border audience, both local and overseas, since we market our events internationally through UK partnerships

Networking - Engage with key figures in the scene, and practice networking skills

Professional Practice - Perform on a real stage with industry-grade equipment and real-world expectations

Cultural Exchange - Our parties cater to everyone, without exclusion. The artists will engage with groups from all across Cape Town and overseas.

Festival Participation - Join our new theme-camp at Afrikaburn 2026, the South African burning man festival. All attendance costs for our artists will be covered by Project Vuka.

At present, our main source of income is donations, and so for our first event this August (Date TBA) we will use the money from this fundraiser to cover logistical costs and make the event possible. It is also essential to make sure we have the funds to pay each artist a fair rate. Although many are new to the scene, they must learn to justly value their work and charge an appropriate fee.

We've partnered with the Entabeni School of Skillls (see pictures) to raise funds for its refurbishment. Headed by another good friend Vuyo, Entabeni provides a safe-space for city kids to decompress, teaching them gardening, carpentry, textiles, and other therapeutic activities. Our designs and decor will be taken from some of their creations, and all surplus donations will be put towards renovating the space and improving its facilities.

Stay tuned on our Instagram page (@project_vuka) for more information, and if you are in the area then pull up and see for yourself the impact we will have.

Help us make a difference, help us lead the township renaissance. You know what you have to do...