Who is CityStory?
We are a collective of business people, church leaders, municipal employees and citizens working together to effect significant change in our City. What makes this group unique is the ability to collaborate for the greater good.
This is our “Community Of Courage”
What is CityStory?
CityStory is the movement that inspires belief in the renewal of Durban. Our Mission is 3 fold, to Connect, Collaborate and Change.
Connect: Our role as a catalyst is to introduce Government, Business, Churches and Citizens to one another, because none of us can affect real change on our own.
– We call on these groups to “Join the #CommunityOfCourage.” (Find out More)
Collaborate: Working together means embracing diversity. Durban has one of the most diverse populations in South Africa. We celebrate that, because together we are greater than the sum of our parts. Building a common belief in the city will drive faster renewal.
Change: We want to see Durban has become one of the most desired African cities to live in. This is only possible by getting the first two right.
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
Our Purpose
We exist to Connect and Activate a diverse group of people who believe, like us, that Durban can become one of the most desired African cities to live in.
How to Get Involved
Whether you are helping a social initiative, leading a business, working in government, or you are simply a motivated Durban citizen, you can be part of the “Community Of Courage”
Here a 4 easy ways to contribute – you can:
Volunteer | Donate | Influence | Pray
OUR SPHERES OF WORK
goverment Good leadership is fundamental to the success of Government. It is also through the leadership of our businesses and the ability to present lucrative opportunities for foreign investors that we can influence the economic fabric of our country. John Maxwell said that leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. By cultivating this kind of strategic thought, we will see exponential growth in our cities. Government are not only responsible for the efficient leadership of the country, but also for the health and well being of its citizens.
family A family’s ability to prosper is determined by the wisdom and guidance of its leaders. But equally true is that the success of a family is measured by its unity - that means how much the members are willing to pull together, support each other and work toward a common goal. Interestingly, the same can be said of a city. Family is not confined to our own blood but should also include the lonely. If more people were made to feel part of a community, many of our social problems would be resolved. Families, who extend their arms to those around them, help create healthier communities.
church Church is not where we go, but it is who we are in Christ seven days a week. Firmly rooted in local church families where we are discipled, strengthened and grown to maturity, we are empowered to reach out to the world Jesus came to save. We are excited about the plans that God has for our city. With the love that Jesus has placed inside of us, we can positively influence our communities in a real, practical and sustainable way that address our humanity as well as our spirituality. It is through this passion and love that we see our city transformed.
education More than imparting knowledge, education needs to be about cultivating a collaborative learning environment that inspires others to discover their God-given purpose, potential, gifts and passions. We also need to develop our learners to have critical thinking skills and a global perspective which builds a society with opinions and solutions that give life to the cities we live in. By bringing our unique and valuable set of life experiences to the classrooms and lecture halls and sharing them with others, we act as critical facilitators in creating this kind of environment.
business and economy Our city's business environment, financial sector development, infrastructure, human capital and reputation are five key factors that contribute to the success of our city. We should always strive to protect and support these key elements. By speaking truth, strategy, life and prosperity with conviction and passion, we harness the power that God's plan and his spoken word have for business in our city. This type of intentional input advances the creation of an attractive and competitive financial centre and feasible business hub in our city.
OUR SPHERES OF WORK
goverment Good leadership is fundamental to the success of Government. It is also through the leadership of our businesses and the ability to present lucrative opportunities for foreign investors that we can influence the economic fabric of our country. John Maxwell said that leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. By cultivating this kind of strategic thought, we will see exponential growth in our cities. Government are not only responsible for the efficient leadership of the country, but also for the health and well being of its citizens.
family A family’s ability to prosper is determined by the wisdom and guidance of its leaders. But equally true is that the success of a family is measured by its unity - that means how much the members are willing to pull together, support each other and work toward a common goal. Interestingly, the same can be said of a city. Family is not confined to our own blood but should also include the lonely. If more people were made to feel part of a community, many of our social problems would be resolved. Families, who extend their arms to those around them, help create healthier communities.
church Church is not where we go, but it is who we are in Christ seven days a week. Firmly rooted in local church families where we are discipled, strengthened and grown to maturity, we are empowered to reach out to the world Jesus came to save. We are excited about the plans that God has for our city. With the love that Jesus has placed inside of us, we can positively influence our communities in a real, practical and sustainable way that address our humanity as well as our spirituality. It is through this passion and love that we see our city transformed.
education More than imparting knowledge, education needs to be about cultivating a collaborative learning environment that inspires others to discover their God-given purpose, potential, gifts and passions. We also need to develop our learners to have critical thinking skills and a global perspective which builds a society with opinions and solutions that give life to the cities we live in. By bringing our unique and valuable set of life experiences to the classrooms and lecture halls and sharing them with others, we act as critical facilitators in creating this kind of environment.
business and economy Our city's business environment, financial sector development, infrastructure, human capital and reputation are five key factors that contribute to the success of our city. We should always strive to protect and support these key elements. By speaking truth, strategy, life and prosperity with conviction and passion, we harness the power that God's plan and his spoken word have for business in our city. This type of intentional input advances the creation of an attractive and competitive financial centre and feasible business hub in our city.
Our Partners
Partnered With
Frequently Asked Questions
When we say, “Durban can become one of the most desired African cities to live in”, we are referring to the whole of the eThekwini Municipality i.e. the greater Durban area.
Although many people have written off the CBD because of crime and drugs, there is a trend that shows more diverse groups of people being attracted back into the CBD who enjoy the facilities and lifestyle that Durban has to offer. We therefore aim to change the negative narrative in the media and in our everyday conversations about Durban. Simply put, the CBD is right in the middle of our greatest assets and we need it to be safe, beautiful and flourishing in order for us to thrive as a city.
Having said that, it is important to realise that the Durban CBD, the beaches, the Point, the harbour and the main sporting precinct still hold key Durban attractions that drive our city’s economy. Think about our Cricket, Rugby and Soccer stadiums, the beaches, the promenade, uShaka Marine World, the ICC and the Exhibition Centre – these features are what keep Durban alive and vibrant by attracting big events and driving tourism. Along with the key geographic location of our harbour, these assets grow our economy and that, in turn, improves Durban’s reputation.
Our motto is to CONNECT, COLLABORATE, CHANGE. We therefore aim to connect businesses, churches and citizens to support the eThekwini Municipality’s Inner City LAP (Local Area Plan). See CBD Renewal page .
We partner and support initiative happening in the Inner-City that uplift the people of Durban, so if you want to be part of this movement, join our #CommunityOfCourage. Signing up here.
– We are engaging with local government, supporting initiatives and encouraging participation.
– We are driving awareness around the many positive activities and developments taking place in our city though social media, email newsletters and Blog posts.
– We are collaborating with local SAPS to address the issues of crime and safety in Durban’s CBD
– We are hosting City Serve initiatives that serve those who serve us Namely: SAPS and Metro Police, Addington Hospital staff, Life Guards, Municipal Cleaners, Car Guards, etc.
– We support regular clean-up projects that attract hundreds of volunteers who collaborate with municipal services to keep our city clean.
– We are planning education conferences, training and events aimed at equipping our teachers.
See all EVENTS
We have deliberately made it easy for you to participate by offering different ways of getting involved. You can choose to: Volunteer | Donate | Influence | Pray when signing up.
There are a number of ways that businesses can get involved:
– Get your staff involved as a team building exercise which sees them serving together.
– Adopt an initiative and sponsor specific projects.
– Donate on a monthly basis. CityStory is a registered NPO so all donations are tax-deductible.
For more information, please email Contact Us.
