Call for entries: Vuma My Community Connects campaign in SA

Vuma has partnered with musician Jimmy Nevis who will be the headline mentor of the campaign this year. Now in its second phase, the initiative aims to showcase and connect diverse talent in South Africa while fostering skills, narrowing the digital divide and creating more employment opportunities for South Africans in the creative industry.

Phase one of the campaign showcased Soweto’s creative industries, with Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse as the key mentor. The 2022 edition has expanded to incorporate social innovation in fields such as sports, science and technology, entrepreneurship and academia. The campaign will include an individual from each category who has achieved outstanding work. Vuma will connect the individual with a mentor in their respective industry to assist them along their journey.

My Community Connects will host a workshop that will allow participants to engage with Jimmy Nevis, and gain valuable insights and knowledge about the industry. They will also learn about personal and business growth.

“As a fibre network operator, we don’t just focus on laying fibre but also on creating connectivity that allows young entrepreneurs and creators to build their brand, communicate it, and get buy-in from prospective audiences and clients,” Vuma head of marketing Lianne Williams said.

Jimmy Nevis said: “I grew up in a very community-oriented household and have always felt the need to help people realise just how achievable their dreams are. There are so many gifted and innovative individuals out there, and I’m glad to be working with Vuma to help mentor these talented people and help them realise that their dreams are attainable.”

The campaign has already received a number of entries from artists such as Zanele Khoza, who is the founder of Inkosi TV, a free digital publishing company that features positive African stories.

“Being a part of My Community Connects is the perfect fit for our platform because it shares our vision to enable even more people to tell and consume authentic South African stories,” Khoza said. “I’m looking forward to reaching even more people through the My Community Connects platform and increasing our viewership.”

Interested creators can sign up for the initiative here. Submissions are ongoing.

Visit the official website here.