On  March 21^st, the Art and Social Justice conference opened with a launch of the Dialogue Among Civilizations exhibition at the Durban Art Gallery. On display in the circular gallery and the red room is a range of images, sculpture and poetry pieces .  Forming a powerful dialogue was the Street Child World Cup, which opened in tandem in the next room, creating  a topical atmosphere for the celebration of Human Rights Day.   Before I give you a brief account of my wonderful experience of the Art and Social Justice Conference, I must congratulate our Ekukhoseleni CreACTive Centre team for their immense contribution .  Mxolisi Sithole, Bongumusa Hlongwa, and later, Sibusiso Mvelase, Caversham Intern, with Umthombo Street Children, are the  heads, hearts and hands behind the making and installation of the vibrant bees display.  The bee metaphor is a result of finding a positive and exciting ways to communicate the kids’ experience of life on the street. “By hanging the bees from the ceiling of the gallery, the street children can ensure that they truly inhabit the space.” (Mxolisi Sithole, 2010)  

A huge number of delegates constituted the conference and each, in their unique way, added richness to my experience of this forum.  As a result I came back with a satchel full of useful lessons.  Common purpose and vision towards promoting social justice, inclusion, access and advocacy towards healthier communities was a common thread.  It mostly renewed the spirit of contribution towards the dignity of those that often find their voices muffled.  It was about sensitizing the telling of the stories in order “to scratch the surface of human disasters”, as William Cleveland so eloquently said in his moving presentation.I must thank Art for Humanity’s Jan Jordaan for making such a relevant dialogue a possibility, as well as Tony Starkey’s secretariat body. Not forgetting the DUT Hotel School team who prepared us scrumptious meals all the way through!   Witty Nyide