The artist’s role in community development and inclusivity

THE ROLE OF THE ARTIST IN

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Theatre director, educator, writer and AND INCLUSIVITY actress Gcebile Dlamini uses her talent and artistry as a vehicle to address social issues and help bring positive change.

Her most recent theatre production – The Stories We See – saw her working alongside BigBoy Ndlovu, with whom she A PLAY ON REALITY Through the lead character, Luthando, the play takes us on a journey of the stories she sees as she person on stage: “I knew, as a team, we achieved our goal of inclusiveness. That we are all the same and we need to work together to make the world has a formidable creative collaborative partnership. “I have been working with BigBoy Ndlovu as a choreographer since I was at Outreach Foundation. We both worked on a piece, In My Mother’s Womb, with the Johannesburg Society for the Blind (JSB),” Dlamini tells Spot-On.

The pair yet again demonstrated true craftsmanship and activism working with participants from Thembalethu Child Welfare and JSB. The production featured participants with visual impairments, tackling and reflecting on inclusivity and raising awareness about blind and partially sighted persons, says Dlamini. The creative process began in February 2022 and gradually matured into a full theatre production, being showcased in five different community spaces and theatres in Johannesburg during May and June. CREATING MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING In staying true to community development and creating meaningful partnerships, Dlamini and BigBoy partnered with ASSITEJ SA, Market Photo Workshop and Goethe-Institut SA to bring the production to life. Dlamini explains how art can be used as a force for advocacy and says the role of an artist is not only limited to making people aware of issues around them but also educating the masses on how to face those challenges.

Painting a picture of how impactful the project is, she mentions how – through process-led workshops – the team came up with a moving production that speaks to the realities of the cast members that is relatable for wider society. Considering how paramount the story is, one can only imagine the intensity behind the cast learning to fully embody the characters and be instruments to shift minds. learns sign language. She is intrigued to teach and make the different participants from Thembalethu learn through sound, sticks and the different stories told by the visually impaired. This speaks to education and how the play not only teaches the audience but the process begins with the team and cast. But it doesn’t end there. Through assimilation, the story also reflects that the sticks of the visually impaired become a reflection of spirituality, acting as eyes for the visually impaired, used by the youth to take the audience on a journey in search of direction, knowledge, understanding and inclusion of the stories being told. When asked how important is it that the production and story genuinely reflect the experiences of the cast, Dlamini says because the intention is to teach the cast, it really needs to reflect their research journey, their understanding, and what it means for them to be performing this reality of their community. When asked if she thinks skills such as sign language, brail and other modes should be included in all schools, her response was a definite yes. A BIGGER PICTURE “That is the bigger picture to the project actually. It’s something on the move in our NGO. We have already approached a few government organisations.” Dlamini's highlight in the journey was in their first performance, when an audience member claimed that there was only one blind include everyone.” Staying true to the idea of an all-inclusive society, Dlamini explains, “We aim to make this thoughtprovoking production accessible to as many people in the City of Joburg as possible, where they will be able to critically engage with the work. We want this production to be a moment for reflection, with a session for dialogues after each performance.” SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41 • 29

Nurturing

THE NEXT GENERATION

As illustrated by

Kliptown Youth Program, targeted youth development can make a real difference and serve as a strong catalyst for educational empowerment in South Africa’s townships.

It’s no secret that so many families across the country are facing difficult circumstances – adjusting their lives while they try to ensure they can still feed, educate and develop their children, both physically and mentally. Yet, many are struggling to find this balance and – coupled with the reality that one of out of five children has been orphaned and at least 64.5% of children are already living in low-income households and impacted by poverty – children’s rights are being substantially diminished, intentionally or not.

In fact, this is where initiatives like Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) become crucial. “Our aim is to provide opportunities that will enable our children and youth to rise out of poverty,” says Thulani Madondo, executive director of KYP. “We service a community that faces many challenges, where three of four adults are unemployed, there are high rates of teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and food insecurity, among other disheartening socioeconomic challenges. Added to this are the many barriers to education, like the cost of school fees, uniforms, supplies and underperforming schools, all of which can make it that much harder for many children to see a brighter future for themselves.” MAKING A DIFFERENCE Since opening its doors in 2007, KYP has offered tutoring support for 3 292 children, all the way from grade 1 through 12, many of whom have grown to become reputable young people in their communities. “On average, we assist 902 children a year, who, when they first join the programme were struggling at school – not because they are

incapable, but because they lacked access to basic necessities and, in most cases, English is taught as a second language in schools, which has meant that the probability of passing matric was low,” adds Madondo.

“However, through our programme, we have seen a pass rate of 80% with matric students where one in three Kliptown students is expected to pass matric. And today we not only offer tutoring services, but food programmes, online learning access, psychological support, vocational training, and an arts and culture programme.” ADDING HOPE The impact KYP has been able to make would not be possible if it were not for the support it receives through its partners – one of which is KFC Add Hope. Add Hope delivers 400 meals a day to the programme – a total of 22 000 meals a year. A good meal is a crucial component to education and overall development. Children in this community often don’t have access to adequate nutrition – vital for young and developing bodies and minds.

Speaking to this partnership, Andra Nel, purpose manager at KFC, says; “This partnership was an effortless one due to the alignment of our ambitions – KFC Add Hope’s sole purpose is to ensure we give children from disadvantaged communities a chance to realise their potential and the work done by KYP speaks to that. For many of these children, this is the only meal they get, making our role even more important to ensure they don’t go to bed hungry and that they can feed their potential, today and tomorrow.” KYP also has 50 university graduates under its belt who are doing great things and employs 75 young people in the community. The programme has also recently expanded its services to three new neighbouring communities – Dlamini, Klipspruit Ext 6 and Pimville Zone 4 in Soweto – given the success of the existing interventions and support. With a staff complement of 22 young adults, the vast majority of whom grew up in Kliptown and faced the challenges that members live with each day – KYP is able to Andra Nel, bring understanding and real purpose manager, KFC insight into the children’s daily struggles. The programme takes pride in having passionate and motivated staff that see their work not only as job, but as something that contributes to and makes change in their community. “Change takes time, it takes commitment and its take support from partners like KFC Add Hope. KYP could never do the work it does every day for the children of Kliptown if not for the generosity of organisations, foundations and companies that have helped fund our programmes and come

Thulani Madondo, together with the same goal executive director, in mind – to give back and

Kliptown Youth uplift the next generation,” Program concludes Madondo.

MO’S

CHANGING KASI STEREOTYPES ONE CUP AT A TIME

Chances are, if you’re someone who enjoys a nice cup of coffee and a slice of carrot cake while reading a good book, you’ll probably either have to stay home or leave the kasi to get your fill. Mo’s bakery and coffee bar, however, is stirring up a caffeine culture in Mamelodi.

Our townships may be littered with shebeens and taverns, where you can quench your thirst at just about any hour, but there’s a notable lack of spots for those coffee-lovers among us who are looking to sip on something a bit less strong. Simply put, there just aren’t a lot of cafés in the township.

One famous Indian lawyer and anticolonial nationalist by the name of Mahatma Gandhi once intimated that we should be the change we wish to see in the world and Sibongile Rakgatjane, owner of Mo’s in Mamelodi, seems to have heeded Gandhi’s words.

THE GENESIS

“I love baking and I love hanging out at cafés – the township does not suit that lifestyle and I thought of introducing the café as a form of daytime fun in the township,” Rakgatjane tells Spot-On.

She founded the café in 2015 after leaving corporate and hasn’t looked back since. Rakgatjane is a self-taught baker who learnt the trade at a young age. “So, we are a cakery and recently reopened our café. We sell handcrafted celebration cakes, and the café serves as a pick-up point where people can also order light lunches, coffee and smoothies,” she says.

Today she bakes specially designed birthday cakes, with themes ranging from Ferrari to Jameson whiskey! These cakes vary in design and Rakgatjane says they take her about five days to make.

Situated on 41 Nkwane street, Mamelodi West, the store operates from Tuesday to Friday between 07:00 and 18:00 and from 08:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays. “On Sunday, we are open for bookings only,” she says.

Rakgatjane’s business wasn’t spared from the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown regulations, which forced businesses to close their doors until it was deemed safe to operate. “I had to close shop and lay off about six employees,” she says. Mo’s coffee bar currently employs three workers. The businesswoman rents the café premises but still also works from home. “I actually do both. I bake from home and the rental is for the café.”

THE FUTURE

The business is not funded by government or any external investors. “Not currently however, when I started years ago, friends and family helped out.” But she says if there was someone offering assistance for the business’ growth, she would welcome help in the marketing and PR side of things.

Running this business in the township has its obstacles, as most township folk aren’t used to the culture of going out to a café for a cup of joe. “It’s seasonal and you have to always be creative and come up with sales initiatives. It’s 50/50. We have local loyalists, and we also have those that come from outside who want to see what it’s all about,” explains the owner.

Mo’s coffee bar has cult-like clientele in parts of Johannesburg and Rakgatjane says that, in a few years’ time, she would like to open other branches to serves those customers. “Being a household name and hopefully replicate to two more townships,” she says of where she envisions the business in a few years. “I also want to open a pick-up spot in the Fourways area because of my clientele that side.”