EMC Celebrates Youth Month through Fostering US-SA Cultural Ties
“EThekwini Maritime Cluster Commemorates Youth Month with an International Cultural Exchange Programme”
[Durban, South Africa, 20 June 2022] The Royal Natal Yacht Club, Wilsons Wharf, was the official welcoming ceremony venue of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) cadets for their KZN cultural exchange programme.
The Massachusetts Maritime Academy Annual Cultural Tour is part of the province’s programmes aimed at enhancing the Oceans Economy and positioning Durban as a Smart Port City. This welcoming event was hosted and directed by the EThekwini Maritime Cluster’s MD, Zenzile Gwamanda, eThekwini Municipality Councilor, Cllr Nkosenhle Madlala, officially welcomed the MMA cadets into our city.
The EThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) hosted the 17 cadets for three weeks until 8 July 2022. The cadets were afforded the opportunity to engage and exchange cultural knowledge, by participating in a various cultural activities across the province.
The objective of the programme is to enhance cultural relationships between the people of South Africa and the United States of America. During their training, cadets were given an option to visit a country and its city for cultural exchange purposes, and this year Durban was selected as a suitable destination. The programme is structured to maximise the exposure of the MMA cadets to South Africa, and Durban through cultural knowledge sharing. Maritime learners’ in the province benefited from this exchange with the cadets. Activities included visiting cultural/monumental sites, academic institutions, maritime businesses, and other cultural activities.
Eric Apelgren, head of International Relations in eThekwini Municipality, provided the history of Durban and South Africa as a whole, whilst also sharing encouraging words to the cadets. Apelgren offered a gift of appreciation from the city to the visitors, a portrait of sailing boats at the Durban Harbour and a tour book that demonstrates the beauty of KwaZulu Natal.
“During the apartheid days we wouldn’t have had a chance to do all that is offered to us now. Things like working on ships were for a particular group. The ocean is something that we feared. Never a place we thought of opportunities. Now that we have a free South Africa it means the world has opened up to many engagements such as this one. I personally like the idea of young people coming from the United States to South Africa because it inspires our youth to be channelled to opportunities that will create better futures,” said Apelgren.
The US Consul General, Anne Linnee, shared imperative information on the maritime sector and the work done by her team.
“I encourage you to engage in conversations of politics and challenges that South Africa face, I also encourage you to exchange the challenges we have in the United States,” emphasised the Counsul General to cadets on the importance of cultural exchange during their tour.