FOR Alumni and Friends OF THE DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Driving positive change in South African communities Almost 20 years from the time he asked himself, “How can I help?”, Darian Smith (38), National Quality Manager for Activate! Change Drivers, is still a tireless and dynamic catalyst for positive change in communities throughout South Africa.
“D
rugs, gangsterism, violence and abuse was something that we were becoming immune to in our community and I wanted to be part of making it better,” stated Smith with passion. “To work long hours and often without promise of reward requires a resilient spirit and unfailing commitment towards making things right. It’s not something you decide to do, it’s something that is second nature to your being as you recognise that your calling is one to serve.” Activate! Change Drivers has to date provided 4 267 young South Africans with training to change their lives and the world they inhabit. The organisation impacts diverse communities throughout all nine provinces in order to equip young people to be innovative, active citizens. A large part of Smith’s workday involves doing research on the topical issues in South Africa, as well as quality measures being utilised globally to evaluate programme effectiveness and quality. He analyses reports of their portfolios as well as feedback from programme participants according to the quality standards that he has developed, and provides recommendations to improve service quality. In normal times, he visits the programmes throughout South Africa and is often in meetings about the direction of the organisation. During lockdown, he has gravitated more towards online platforms. Besides his job, he is committed to building communities and being part of collaborative efforts to influence positive change in the form of training, developmental and awareness workshops and co-creating spaces that are safe and conducive for all communities. “My biggest career success is waking up each day knowing that the work I do is so much bigger than me and acknowledging that it is God who is my refuge, strengthens me, keeps me grounded and allows me to do what I was born to do.”
Darian Smith DUT BTech Child and Youth Development graduate DUTConnect // 13
