Citizenship in Action: Spirit of the Streets Tour of South Africa

As part of the social and cultural benefit programmes of the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers supported the Youth Charter in its attempt to recreate the successful Spirit of Hulme and Moss Side Tour of Los Angeles. With a representation of young people from communities of Greater Manchester, young people were selected on their ability to make a difference to their communities upon being exposed to the Rainbow Nation.

PROJECT BACKGROUND
As part of the social and cultural benefit programmes of the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers supported the Youth Charter in its attempt to recreate the successful Spirit of Hulme and Moss Side Tour of Los Angeles. With a representation of young people from communities of Greater Manchester, young people were selected on their ability to make a difference to their communities upon being exposed to the Rainbow Nation.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The ten day experience was the most challenging and demanding youth cultural experience undertaken to date. Although challenging and demanding, the life changing experiences will equip and provide life long memories. The Spirit of the Streets Tour was featured as a documentary on the Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers TV Station Channel M. This documentary will be featured on the Youth Charter website in the future. The tour group has also contributed to the Citizenship in Action initiative which will reflect the Youth Charter’s strategic programme over the next decade.

The visit had a profound effect on the lives of all of the Tour Group members who not only questioned the social and cultural motivations of the Apartheid regime, but also their own beliefs, values and prejudices.