Development Talk

Dance for All: An invitation to help make dreams come true!

 

June 29, 2011

Dancers showcase their skills. Photo: Nondumiso Ntsengentsu

Many South Africans have dreams, desires and interests that they are unable to pursue, due to the limited availability of information in their community. Faced with this challenge, they often lose hope and begin to believe drugs and alcohol abuse as well as violence and crime are the only things that help them to feel fulfilled. With increased focus on personal development and access to information it would be possible for community organizations to help community members fulfill their dreams and avoid the pitfalls of substance abuse and violence in their own lives.

Dance for all, an Athlone based Outreach Programme, looked at the challenges facing community members and came up with a solution. They aimed to offer children in historically deprived communities with an opportunity for enjoyment, upliftment and promotion of self – esteem through the medium of dance, as well as training for young people who hope to become professional dancers. This has lead to the development of a unique, indigenous dance company that embodies creativity and culture. They also offer these classes at other service points in the surrounding townships of Gugulethu, Nyanga, Khayelitsha and Langa.

Eight dance teachers from the United States (US) are expected to come and share their dancing skills with participants.  The list of visiting teachers includes founder of the LEAP programme at St Mary’s College Claire Sheridan, a regular visitor to Dance for All, Kristine Elliot, Geren Scribner, Lucy Van Cleef, Olivia Ramsay, David Tamaki, Annie Colbeck and Alejandro Piris Nino. They will work with students over the next two weeks designing and producing an on-site dance that includes movement classes, repertory and choreographic workshops.

Anyone who is interested in this amazing dance experience is exclusively invited to two performances offered by this initiative from Friday 08 July at 16:30 or Saturday, 9 July at 11:30 in their Dance for All studios in Athlone.

The entrance fee of R25.00 for an adult and one of R15.00 for kids will help you to get inspired and assist you in finding your new hobby.

We can all rise above our current situations and become what we want to be in lives!!!

Filed under: Access to Information,Awareness,children,civil society,community,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,History,Hope,initiative,inspiration,media,spatial poverty,Training,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:19 pm

Why are our children violent?

 

November 17, 2010

Children need to be loved and protected from violence to stop them from becoming perpetrators of violence themselves. Photo: Thetravellinged via Flickr

Children need to be loved and protected from violence to stop them from becoming perpetrators of violence themselves. Photo: Thetravellinged via Flickr

South Africa was recently shocked by the gang-rape of a school girl by three of her fellow pupils. The girl was drugged and raped while other pupils watched and filmed it on their cellphones. Why are some children in South Africa so violent and what can be done about it?

Some people have spoken about a “culture of violence” in South Africa, but implying that violence is inherently South African is not helpful. The cause of the problem needs to be found and addressed.

South Africa is not the only country that struggles with violent and dysfunctional youth. Safe Families Safe Children, an international group of renowned child rights organisations, including ACER Brasil, The International Children’s Trust, JUCONI Ecuador, JUCONI Mexico, New Life (South Africa) and Railway Children (UK, India and East Africa) “promote access for highly excluded children from violent homes around the world to the support and services they require to recover from their traumatic life experiences and gain sustainable access to their rights”.

In this organisation’s “Manifesto of Change” they site the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study which “found a clear link between the adverse experiences in childhood (including physical, emotional or sexual abuse and living in households with domestic violence) and a range of physical, emotional and social problems, including: heart disease, obesity, depression, alcoholism, sexual promiscuity, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, rape and poor job performance”. (more…)

Filed under: access to health care,children,community,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,crime,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,education,Family,healthcare,HIV/AIDS,Homeless,poverty,rights,violence,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 9:16 am

Unemployment and youth discussed at NGO Week

 

September 27, 2010

Panelists discuss challenges facing youth at NGO Week. Photo: Development Works

Panelists discuss challenges facing youth at NGO Week. Photo: Development Works

Young people are facing many challenges in today’s society. In some cases, especially where unemployment is concerned, these challenges are so great that they cannot take active part in and contribute to their families and the community at large.

More than 30 people, from various organisations, gathered at Salt River Community Hall on 22 September, during the South African National NGO Coalition‘s NGO Week, to find innovative solutions to issues concerning youth. (more…)

Filed under: children,civil society,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,economy,education,Employment,Family,Homeless,Hope,housing,initiative,NGOs,poverty,rolemodels,South Africa,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:29 pm

Gugulethu youth benefit from Sports Development Programmes

 

July 14, 2010

With their boot on a soccer ball, Gugulethu youth feel on top of the world. Photo: 1happysnapper via Flickr

With their boot on a soccer ball, Gugulethu youth feel on top of the world. Photo: 1happysnapper via Flickr

Every child has a dream of becoming something in life, but an impoverished background or lack of resources in their community could make it impossible to fulfill those dreams. Faced with these challenges, they sometimes lose hope to an extent that they believe drugs and alcohol abuse, crime and violence are the only things left for them.

How do they face these challenges?

Youth staying in Gugulethu experience these challenges, but they can see light at the end of the tunnel, because of sports development programmes in the area.

What were they doing during the Soccer World Cup?

The youth were very active during this 2010 FIFA World Cup. They played against youth from other areas that face similar problems, such as Mitchell’s Plain and Manenberg. The medal a player receives after a match is one of the reasons that they keep on going to soccer fields every day.

How do they benefit from sport development?

These youths believe there are many opportunities to improve their lot through football, and make their dreams a reality. Anam Mxokozeli, one of the Gugulethu soccer stars went to Ajax Cape Town for trials. He was delighted to have that opportunity and he believes that one day he will play for big soccer teams.

Role of their coaches

The coaches are not only training these young boys, they are also guiding and supporting with them with social problems. They teach them how to react to difficult circumstances and also help them with their school work.

Even thought the FIFA World Cup has come to an end, Creative Consulting & Development Works hopes that the youth now has an even greater interest in soccer and that it will continue to have a positive effect on their lives.

Filed under: 2010 World Cup,children,civil society,community,CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS,development,DEVELOPMENT WORKS,education,Hope,Inequality,inspiration,poverty,South Africa,sport,violence,youth — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 9:16 am

End Conscription Campaign turns 25 – now wants to focus on current issues

 

November 5, 2009

Gavin Young’s sculpture "Botha's baby" at the ECC exhibition.

Gavin Young’s sculpture "Botha's baby" at the ECC exhibition.

During the 1980s, when the apartheid government in South Africa deployed troops not only in Angola, but also in townships within its own borders, there was a brave group of people who said: “No, I refuse to be part of this”.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of that defiance, the End Conscription Campaign (ECC). It was celebrated this weekend with seminars, art exhibitions, films and a thanksgiving service at Spier wine estate, outside Stellenbosch.

The ECC was originally launched by a coalition of human rights, religious, women’s and students’ groups, including the Black Sash, the National Union of South African Students and the Young Progressives. According to an article in Die Burger of 31 October 2009, altogether 7589 young men failed to report for military service in 1985. Some were sent to jail for their refusal to comply to compulsory conscription.

Willemien Brummer reports in Die Burger that the ECC was always very creative, for instance tying yellow ribbons to trees – a symbol for calling troops home. The art exhibition at Spier is thus a fitting way to commemorate the campaign’s 25 years. Works of well-known artists such as Jane Alexander, Penny Siopis and William Kentridge are on display.

Gavin Young’s sculpture of a baby’s high chair with a gun in the tray, entitled “Botha’s Baby”, shows how South Africans were born into a society where aggression was institutionalised.

Compulsary conscription ended in South African in 1993, but a campaign for peace such as the ECC is still relevant if one takes into consideration that violence and the use of guns is still pervalent in this country.

Many other countries still have compulsory conscription, many are manufacturing deadly bombs and some have to deal with still live landmines, left behind after wars.

Eight photos of child soldiers confront you in the exhibition. This is still a reality in some countries.

Laurie Nathan, former ECC national organiser told Die Burger the weekend at Spier was a celebration of what they achieved, but also a chance to address contemporary issues.

Filed under: arts,peace,rights,violence — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 1:44 pm