Meet & Teach — turning Hout Bay creators into game-changers and champions

Multiple martial arts champion Isa Michaels, formerly known as Peter, was among several young, creative, and sporty individuals who gathered at The Lookout Restaurant in Hout Bay to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Meet & Teach, a youth development organisation founded by American education specialist Dr. Evan Brown. 

A four-time South African kung fu champion, once ranked number six in the world, Michaels and others used the opportunity to pay tribute to Brown.  Michaels, also known by his stage name Spike P, has worked on video productions for various acclaimed artists.

He participated in a series of Meet & Teach workshops that introduced Hout Bay youngsters to a wide range of film, photography, and video editing skills, turning their digital hustle into creative muscle.

“Evan had a powerful impact on me, both spiritually and creatively. He reinforced my belief that the work we do is bigger than ourselves,” said Michaels, recalling a chance encounter at a gym that led to a longstanding friendship, mentorship, and kinship between himself and Brown, and among those seated around the extended dinner table.

“I had the opportunity to do some filming in Hout Bay,” said Brown, adding that those early days were when he first met Michaels and other young people from Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu.

“As I walked through the townships with my camera equipment, many young people were curious and eager to engage, asking questions and wanting to learn how to use the gear themselves,” he said.

Brown made an impression on Michaels, who initially mistook him for a hip-hop artist. “Yo bro, what’s popping? Are you a rapper?” he said by way of introduction, in a somewhat lame attempt at an American accent.

No wonder Brown gave him a slight brush-off, but the next time the two met, the foundation was laid for what was to become Meet & Teach.

“In those moments, I began to recognise a deeper need for access to creative education and mentorship,” said Mr Brown.

“Around that time, I met Peter, who introduced me to the Harvest Youth Project — an experience that further clarified the impact this kind of work could have,” he said.

“That journey ultimately led me to enrol in a PhD programme in Educational Administration, where I intentionally blended my background in media with youth development,” Brown said.

“From there, Meet & Teach was formed, and I returned to South Africa to begin facilitating workshops. What began as a short visit quickly grew into something much deeper as relationships were built. I stayed because I felt a responsibility to the young people I was meeting. Meet & Teach was never something carefully mapped out on paper; it was born out of lived experience, trust, and the needs of the community,” he said.

What started with a simple vision — to give young people space to grow, connect, and unlock their creative and athletic potential - evolved into a community driven by mentorship, storytelling, and opportunity. Through a series of workshops and sports camps, the young people were taught digital, ball, and life skills.

Promising basketballer, Emilio Jurie Schutt, born and raised in Hout Bay, met Brown in 2017 during a kickboxing class hosted by Michaels and was invited to attend a Meet & Teach sports camp.

“I said yes, not knowing it was going to be a basketball camp, and they took their time teaching me and some other players the game,” he said.

“Basketball saved my life because where I grew up, there aren’t a lot of opportunities for young people,” said Schutt, a member of the Ocean View-based Bulldogs Basketball Club. “What I've learned from Evan is respect, how to bond with people, how to conquer the world with talent and passion, and just being yourself,” he said.

Fellow basketballer, Tanaka Dembo, met Brown a year later, in 2018, at another Meet & Teach camp when a friend invited him to give it a try. Intrigued by the fact that it was hosted by “än American guy,” the young baller tagged along to see what the fuss was about.

“That's how I ended up meeting Dr. Evan Brown,” Dembo said.  

“I learnt quite a lot of things: what being principled can do for your life; when you do something, do it not to attain recognition but to uplift a fellow human being,” he said. “Of course,  I also learnt a lot about basketball principles. He unknowingly opened a lot of pathways for me,” he said.       

Jasmine Juries, a sports photographer from Hangberg, said she learnt the basics during a photography and videography workshop at the Harvest Centre.

“I learnt from Evan that photography is not as simple as just taking a picture. When taking pictures, you have to look at the lighting and the best angles,” said Juries, who now works as a photographer for a local soccer club.

“He deepened my love for photography, showing me the different ways that photography can be used in the real world and how far it can take you,” she said.

“At its core,” said Brown, “Meet & Teach was about access. I saw young people with immense creativity, leadership potential, and resilience, but limited opportunities.”

For Brown, combining creativity and sport in the Meet & Teach philosophy was a no-brainer.

 “Sport naturally draws young people in, helping to build confidence, discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Creative expression creates space for reflection, storytelling, and identity. When combined, these elements form a powerful, holistic approach to youth development that nurtures young people physically, emotionally, and creatively.”

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