Artslink.co.za News
Zakheni to celebrate 10 years on 16 JuneDIVA PR06/11/2012 09:13:05 
The Zakheni Arts Therapy Foundation will present their 10th Anniversary Celebration event at Magnet Theatre on 16 June. Zakheni Arts Therapy Foundation is a non-profit section 21 Company that is committed to awakening creativity for the growth, development and wellbeing of South African communities. Zakheni’s vision is ensuring the creative arts therapies are accessible in communities affected by HIV, poverty and conflict. Creative arts skills development workshops for child and youth care workers and Dramatherapy groups in schools aim to strengthen psychosocial support services to vulnerable children. Zakheni’s well- known Bonfire Theatre Project works through improvised interactive theatre to develop social dialogue around themes including xenophobia, HIV stigma and grief. Zakheni’s 10th Anniversary Celebration is an exciting event which will be held at Magnet Theatre at 1pm on Saturday 16th June (National Youth Day). All Zakheni’s projects and work over the past 10 years will be introduced to the public. The day will include 4 performances by learners from Joe Slovo High, Belhar High, Hindle Road West High and Eersterivier Secondary, these schools being recipients of our Schools’ Dramatherapy Project, speeches by participants of the Wellbeing, FireMaker and Beyond Words Workshops, a performance by Bonfire Theatre and Nik Rabinowitz keeping it all together as Master of Ceremonies. In January 2011, Zakheni embarked on their first Schools Project, bringing the arts and healing together in a 20-week programme in 5 schools in disadvantaged areas of the Cape Flats and one in rural Eastern Cape. The Zakheni Board and Director, Lesley Palmer, intends the project to create a platform for Secondary School Students to explore, dramatically, school-based violence. Registered Dramatherapists and Drama Facilitators are working with the learners. The aim of the project is to build resilience in adolescents affected by school-based violence. The project will culminate in the creation of a piece of theatre that will be performed at each participating school. Not only does this project offer the students the space to process deeply problematic issues that are prevalent in the majority of schools in the Cape Flats, it also affords them the opportunity to learn, apply and demonstrate Drama methods, skills and competencies. Dramatherapy offers the possibility of reconnection and healthy psychosocial development of these young adults. Through drama processes, the learners can explore the challenges they face in a safe way, while building resilience. A Dramatherapy group creates the opportunity for positive group interaction, restoring a healthy connection to self and others. This programme has the potential to be an effective antidote to what is otherwise an overwhelmingly challenging environment for children. The project is in its second year and 4 pieces have been developed with high school learners from Cape Flats Schools; Joe Slovo, Eersterivier, Belhar and Hindle Road. We have planned a public performance for National Youth Day. The intention of showcase is for the broader community and public to witness young learners speaking out about the issues affecting their lives. The showcase will also be an opportunity for these young adults to develop their confidence and performance capacity with a larger audience, where they will be seen and heard. Zakheni will stage this once-off, one-show-only showcase on Saturday 16 June from 1pm to 4pm at the Magnet Theatre, Unit 1 at the Old Match Factory on Lower Main Road in Observatory. The entry fee is R100 per person with all funds raised going towards costs and to help feed the young people attending the event. Booking is via admin@zakheni.org.za or 021 4487199. Lesley Bester, director of Zakheni, and Heather Mac, Project Manager, are available to be interviewed about the Anniversary and the transformative work that Zakheni offers nationally. For more info contact Zakheni Arts Therapy Foundation directly on 021 448 7199. Artslink.co.za Account: Allison Foat DIVA PR diva_events@iafrica.com 021 462 7384 083 635 6312 Zakheni Web site: http://www.zakheni.org.za
Related Venue:
Magnet Theatre, Old Match Factory Observatory Cape Town Western Cape South Africa
|
  |
Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
Previous
