I Survived: The Phola show giving survivors a platform to speak, heal and inspire

A young local producer is using storytelling to create a space for people to speak about difficult experiences and remind others that survival can also be a story of hope.

Difficult experiences are often carried quietly. For some people, trauma, tragedy and painful life experiences can remain unspoken for years, leaving them without a platform to share what happened or connect with others who may understand.

It is this gap that inspired young Phola producer Tilton Manqoba Dlamini, founder of Tilton Media, to create I Survived, a programme built around giving people an opportunity to tell their stories.

The first season began streaming on Facebook around 20 August 2026, following approximately three months of planning and preparation.

Rather than focusing only on the events people have survived, the programme aims to create conversations around what happens afterwards — the emotions, challenges and lessons that can emerge when people finally have an opportunity to speak.

Creating space for difficult conversations

According to Dlamini, the idea behind I Survived came from observing how people often deal with difficult experiences without talking about them.

“We go through many difficult experiences in life without talking about certain things,” Dlamini explains.

He says the programme was created because he noticed a lack of platforms in the community where people could openly discuss these experiences while sharing messages of hope.

The first season produced eight episodes, although four were selected for release.

Dlamini says the decision was partly influenced by the counselling support available to participants. The organisations supporting the initiative with professional counselling were able to accommodate four participants within their current schedules.

Rather than bringing more people onto the programme without sufficient support available, the team decided to work within that capacity.

The identities of the counselling organisations have not been made public, with Dlamini citing privacy and professional considerations. He says their role is to provide professional counselling and emotional support to participants who may need assistance while taking part in the programme.

More than a media project

For Dlamini, I Survived forms part of a broader vision for Tilton Media.

Founded out of his passion for media, the company has grown into an entertainment-focused platform involved in music recording, artist management, television and radio submissions, event filming and other media production.

But the work has also increasingly intersected with community initiatives.

The approach behind I Survived reflects Dlamini’s belief that local media can do more than entertain.

It can create spaces for conversations that matter to the communities producing and consuming the content.

That is particularly relevant in smaller communities, where stories of trauma, resilience and survival can often remain invisible unless someone creates the opportunity for people to speak.

From survival to connection

I Survived is not the only community-focused project coming out of Tilton Media.

The team is also filming a new season of Phola Find Me Love, a dating programme that connects single people looking for relationships.

Participants can approach the programme through its social-media platforms and share the type of partner they are hoping to meet. The production team then uses its database to identify people who may be compatible.

Previous episodes have resulted in romantic connections, according to Dlamini, although not all previously filmed episodes were released after some participants became concerned about criticism and negative reactions on social media.

The new season is planned to consist of eight episodes, with the release schedule still to be announced.

While Phola Find Me Love offers a lighter form of connection, I Survived tackles a very different kind of human experience.

Together, however, the projects illustrate Dlamini’s broader interest in using local media to connect people and tell stories from his community.

Giving back to the community

Tilton Media is also planning a community Fun Day involving Zulu Church, Mpumelelo Day Care and a nearby orphanage in the Phola/Witbank area during the school holidays.

The initiative is expected to involve approximately 15 to 30 children and will include clothing, toys, lunch, entertainment and activities such as face painting.

The team is also appealing to community members, businesses and organisations that may be able to contribute food, clothing, toys, services or financial support.

The date for the event has not yet been finalised.

For Dlamini, the objective is simple: to create a positive and memorable experience for children while encouraging the community to play a role.

A local voice with a growing platform

From producing entertainment to creating space for survivors to tell their stories and organising initiatives for children, Dlamini’s work reflects the possibilities that can emerge when local people use media to address issues close to home.

At the heart of I Survived is a simple idea: surviving something difficult does not have to mean carrying the story alone.

By putting those stories in front of an audience, Dlamini hopes the programme can encourage people to speak, listen and recognise the importance of support.

For a young producer building a media company in Phola, the ambition extends beyond making programmes.

It is about creating a platform where local stories — whether they are stories of survival, love or community — have somewhere to be heard.

Follow Tilton Media on Facebook and YouTube for updates on I Survived, Phola Find Me Love and upcoming community initiatives.