faith in the city
We create spaces where faith, justice, and community intersect. Through our engagements, we bring together diverse voices to address the pressing issues facing urban communities today. These gatherings foster dialogue, inspire action, and promote collaboration among community leaders, faith-based organisations, researchers, and policymakers.
Our engagements are catalysts for transformation. From the annual Feast of the Clowns, which uses art and activism to spotlight social justice, to the Tshwane Urban Activist School, which empowers leaders advocating for land and housing rights, each event embodies our mission to support healthy, life-affirming communities.
By participating in these events and engagements, you join a movement that seeks to reimagine urban life, amplify the voices of the vulnerable, and co-create solutions to some of the most complex challenges of our time. We invite you to explore our upcoming engagements and become part of this transformative community.
Pathways Operational Centre
The Pathways Operational Centre is a key initiative of the Unit for Street Homelessness, dedicated to developing strategic, evidence-based interventions to support individuals experiencing homelessness. Through research, advocacy, and direct engagement, the centre works to create sustainable solutions that address the root causes of homelessness while providing practical pathways toward stability and reintegration.
By collaborating with local organisations, policymakers, and communities, the Pathways Operational Centre plays a vital role in shaping policies, influencing urban planning, and fostering innovative approaches to social justice. Our work is rooted in the belief that every person deserves dignity, security, and the opportunity to thrive.
​
Urban Studio
The Urban Studios initiative serves as a dynamic space where research, community engagement, and social transformation intersect. Rooted in real-world urban contexts, these studios function as interactive learning hubs, bringing together scholars, community leaders, and practitioners to co-create solutions for pressing urban challenges.
Located across six geographical sites in Tshwane, the Urban Studios focus on issues such as homelessness, housing justice, migration, and sustainable urban development. By immersing in these communities, we foster dialogue, document best practices, and develop innovative approaches to social change.
Through engaged participation, we seek to bridge the gap between academia, faith-based organisations, and civil society—turning our cities into classrooms of action, reflection, and transformation.
Mamelodi SOCIAL INNOVATION Hub
It is a vibrant network of over 100 community-based organisations, faith groups, and non-profits working together to drive meaningful social change.
As a space for collaboration, learning, and action, the hub brings together leaders and practitioners committed to addressing pressing community challenges and fostering sustainable development.
Through capacity-building, advocacy, and engaged research, the Mamelodi Hub supports grassroots initiatives that empower local communities.
It serves as a platform for dialogue, skills development, and collective problem-solving, ensuring that communities themselves play a central role in shaping their futures.
The Marabstad Hub
This hub is a space of historical reflection, social engagement, and forward-looking transformation. Rooted in one of Tshwane’s most complex and historically significant urban areas, the hub seeks to bridge the past, present, and future by engaging with issues of displacement, migration, urban justice, and community resilience.
Through research, advocacy, and collaboration with local communities, the Marabastad Hub serves as a platform for dialogue, storytelling, and strategic action.
It is a place where histories are remembered, present challenges are addressed, and future possibilities for a just and inclusive city are imagined.
Tshwane Urban Activist School
This school is a transformative initiative dedicated to equipping grassroots leaders, community organisers, and activists with the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to advocate for justice and urban transformation.
Focusing on key issues such as land and housing rights, social justice, and community empowerment, the school provides a collaborative learning space where participants engage in critical discussions, strategic planning, and hands-on activism.
By bridging academic insights with lived experiences, the programme strengthens the capacity of local leaders to drive meaningful change in their communities.
Feast of the Clowns
Celebrating its 21st year, the Feast of the Clowns is an annual social justice, arts, and community festival hosted in collaboration with the Tshwane Leadership Foundation. It unites activists, artists, faith communities, and local organisations to spark critical conversations and creative expression.
Rooted in the belief that joy and activism can coexist, the festival uses art, music, performance, and dialogue to spotlight pressing social issues such as homelessness, inequality, and human rights.
More than just an event, the Feast of the Clowns is a movement—a platform for advocacy, awareness, and collective action. Through workshops, street performances, and public engagement, it challenges injustice while celebrating the resilience and power of communities.
Formational Programme in FTR
The Formational Programme in the Faculty of Theology and Religion (FTR) is designed to nurture future faith leaders by integrating academic learning with spiritual formation and practical engagement. This programme equips students with the theological, ethical, and pastoral foundations needed to serve in diverse ministry and community contexts.
Through a combination of coursework, mentorship, and hands-on experience, participants are encouraged to critically reflect on their faith, develop their leadership skills, and engage with real-world challenges. Rooted in a commitment to justice, transformation, and faith in action, the programme prepares students to be ethical, compassionate, and prophetic voices in their communities.