There is little awareness of the valuable work many NPOs are doing to enhance life in our city. Did you know there are over 3500 registered non-profit organisations (NPO) in eThekwini?. A lack of awareness is preventing people from accessing the services these organisations provide, and also preventing volunteers from connecting with causes they’re passionate about. Gateway together with our partners are about to change that.

Gateway has partnered with We are Durban and the Hollywood Foundation to provide 20 Durban NPOs with marketing material and a platform to showcase their important work. Gateway will be hosting the Change in Action Expo in the Expo Explore Court (opposite Sportsman’s Warehouse) from 24 to 26 March. The event provides a platform, exposure and gives the NPOs the boost they need to work sustainably and successfully to continue to make a true difference in our City.

Gateway has close ties with several NPOs and have seen over the years that many of the organisations find marketing challenging. Part of the Change in Action Expo will leave NPOs with tools they can use to raise awareness for their organisations and continue their great work.
The Hollywood Foundation are working alongside We Are Durban Social Upliftment NPC and Gateway to launch the Change in Action NPO Fair this year. The foundation are very passionate about community upliftment and implementing initiatives and events that assist people who aim to change lives, on a daily basis. They hope that the Change in Action NPO Fair succeeds in its goal of bringing change in Durban, and allow organisations to gain vital marketing skills that will enable them to grow and prosper.

The Hollywood Foundation will work with the 20 selected NPOs, getting each one ready to pitch their cause at the expo. The Hollywood Foundation and We are Durban will provide training at a marketing workshop and each organisation will receive a customised marketing pack. Providing NPOs with marketing support is only one leg of the campaign. The second objective is to grow public support and awareness of the good work the organisations do. Partners hope that the public will come out and support the organisations at the weekend expo at Gateway and find out where they too can get involved to make our province a better place for all.

Funding is not the only challenge that NPOs face – sometimes volunteering of time, offering expertise or helping with logistics can be more helpful than funding. Partners are hoping to see these types of connections made at this expo and encourage the greater community to raise their hand to help a cause within their means.

How to get involved
Visit the Change in Action NPO Fair from 9am-7pm on Fri, 24th March & Sat, 25th March and then 9am to 6pm on Sun, 26 March. All 20 organisations will have a stand and someone to talk to about assisting them with their work, or accessing their services.

About Gateway Theatre of Shopping
Gateway is located on the beautiful East Coast of South Africa, in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. This super-regional centre is one of the largest in Africa at over 176,330 sqm and houses more than 410 tenants.

About We are Durban
We are Durban is an NPC that has been in operation since 2010. It exists to empower social dignity organisations to excel in their mandates. We are Durban partners with 370 NPOs in eThekwini and offers training and support to the leadership.

About the Hollywood Foundation
The Hollywood Foundation was established with the goal to play an even bigger role in the communities within which they operate. They are on a mission to bring hope and to work with as many people as possible to make a sustainable impact.