Masupatsela

RATANG BANA
DIRECTED by LESEDI MOGOATLHE
EDITED by ENOCK VALOYI
TX 17 August 2009

Ratang Bana, which means ‘love children’ in Pedi, is an extramural centre for young people in Polokwane, It was started in 2002 by primary school teacher Rahab Mudau.

Ma Mudau loves children and she thought she would give young people something to do after schools closed each day. The Ratang Bana Centre caters to pre-school and school going children. Pre-schoolers attend in the morning and school goers attend in the afternoons.

At Ratang Bana children explore and develop their creativity through activities that include drumming, dancing and poetry. Thlompho Maponya, as the youngest winner of SABC 2’s ‘Lentswe Poetry Competition’ is one of Ratang Bana’s shining stars. Thlompho won the Lentswe competition for her rendition of a poem written by Ma Mudau.

Ratang Bana continues to win award upon award year after year as testament to the passion and commitment of its young members.

TO CONTACT RATANG BANA:
please phone Ma Mudau on +27 15 267 5224 or +27 84 881 6269.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO START A PROJECT LIKE MA MUDAU, HERE ARE THE STEPS YOU COULD FOLLOW:
- begIn with a handful of kids and keep working to grow the numbers
- set up a pre-school in a shack
- find out more about getting assistance from government
- get your Non-Profit Organisation certificate
- gain practical experience in educating kids
- encourage the children in your group to enter competitions
- take your group on field trips to big city theatres for greater exposure to what the art world has to offer

PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO SEE FURTHER IMAGES FROM THE RATANG BANA STORY

KEISKAMMA ART PROJECT
DIRECTED by ALETTE SCHOON
EDITED by JEMIMA SPRING
TX 17 August 2009

The Keiskamma Art Project is an initiative started by Carol Hofmeyr. Carol studied to be a doctor, but became disillusioned with the practice when she realised that she could cure people, but could not give them a reason to live. She gave up medicine and studied art, which she believes has the power to give people meaning to their lives.

In the little village of Hamburg in rural Eastern Cape, Carol’s combination of medicine and art has brought hope and meaning to the residents. Villagers have an assured source of income, they feel better about themselves, and they have formed lasting friendships with people they otherwise may not have.

The relationship between dance therapist Zelide Jeppe and Nombeka Ganto is one of the friendships that has blossomed and that survives the distance and time apart when Zelide returns to England. Zelide’s dance therapy sessions with mainly women in Hamburg aims to allow the body to express and release emotions that it may have repressed. Once these feelings are expressed the person feels freer and is able to establish connections with people around her.

TO CONTACT THE PEOPLE OF THE KEISKAMMA ART PROJECT:
contact Carol Hofmeyr on +27 82 519 0806 / +27 40 678 1177 or email her.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO START A PROJECT LIKE THIS ONE, HERE ARE CAROL’S STEPS, WHICH YOU CAN FOLLOW:
- quit medicine to be true to herself
- she studied art for ten years
- she invited people like Zelide to help her train the villagers in different types of artistic expression
- encouraged the people of the village to participate in the project

SCREEN GRABS FROM THE RATANG BANA AND KEISKAMMA ART PROJECT STORIES: