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Our voices, our future
Bren Brophy and Eliza Moodley. UKZNdaba. Republished courtesy of UKZNdaba.
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A generous grant from the National Development Agency (NDA) will en-able UKZN?’s Highly Effective Art (HEART) programme an opportunity to demonstrate the important contribution that the cultural arts can make in the HIV/AIDS arena.
Located within the Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking (HIVAN), the HEART team has several years?’ experience of mobilising arts and culture organisations to develop and deliver innovative training and intervention programmes which contribute to social and economic upliftment. For its work on the NDA project, HEART will be partnering DramAidE, an established and highly experienced cultural arts organisation based at the University of Zululand. The NDA award represents a significant investment by national government in the vision of these two creative organisations.
The programme, called Izwi lethu - ikusasa lethu: Our voices, our future, is a cultural tourism initiative that will be located in the Uthungulu district of KwaZulu-Natal. Its core objective is to develop a participatory cultural arts training and income generation programme for learners from schools in KwaDlangezwa, Uthungulu. Although Kwa-Dlangezwa has a rich and varied cultural heritage and significant local talent, the ability to harness it into marketable and sustainable income-generating products is lacking. Research has shown that young people find it particularly difficult to secure employment because, even with matriculation certificates or University degrees, they lack the experience required by employers. This programme will strive to empower young people to live within their environment and make the most of the opportunities it provides. The emphasis will be on the development of sustainable income-generating projects driven by the learners and their communities. In addition, through participatory cultural arts workshops, participants will be trained in research methods and participatory techniques aimed at preserving the community?’s cultural heritage, history, environment, culture and visual arts. Participants will then record, document and archive the Uthungulu district as a cultural heritage site in Zululand.
Once their research is complete, participants will be assisted to develop sustainable income-generating projects at a district level. This will involve significant guidance and mentoring. A co-operative will be formed with various community representatives to assist and monitor the progress of the young entrepreneurs. Relationships with existing tourism operations will be nurtured, with the project offering innovative and truly authentic alternatives to what has often become a somewhat jaded cultural experience for visitors to the area. The project runs for a two-year cycle commencing in April 2006. |
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