Iphutheng Primary School has done Alexandra proud by winning top spot at the 6th Biennale National Land Care Conference in Durban.
The school’s drama pupils were crowned national champions of a land care drama section of the conference, beating eight other provincial schools.
They were representing Gauteng after beating numerous other schools in the provincial competition in August.
The school enlisted the help of Art Smart Brand, which is behind the branding of Alex into an art smart township, to help them write a script for a play about land care and environmental issues.
“This is a clear example of [the] potential power there is when art professionals and schools believe in each other and know how to work in unison at the highest level,” said Vika Mjoka, chief project director of Art Smart Brand.
“I am proud of the achievements of the pupils and school, not just in winning the Gauteng leg, but going all out to conquer the national competition to bring about positive results in our beloved township of Alexandra.”
Art Smart Brand aims to develop arts in the township and is working closely with Iphutheng to ensure the school becomes the beacon of school art development programmes in Alex and in all other township schools.
The land and agriculture department plans to throw a lavish celebration where the school and its pupils will be officially honoured and handed their medals and trophy.
The national conference and competition was also organised by Land Care South Africa in association with the department of agriculture and forestry, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and the department of agriculture and environmental affairs in KwaZulu-Natal.
Details: Themba Khoza 011 057 3964; Iphutheng Primary School 011 346 1782.
