Department of Social Development director envisages a Hollywood in Alex
Alexandra has immense talent when it comes to the creative arts space and I envisage the creation of our own Hollywood in South Africa right here in Alex as the arts were once so big in this township, says Ndweni.
The Department of Social Development’s chief director for NPO support and development programmes Solly Ndweni has called on the Ikusasalethu Youth Development Project to include the creative arts industry in its bouquet of portfolios.
During his keynote address at the handover of start-up kits to more than 180 graduates of the Ikusasalethu youth business development programme at the Sankopano Centre in Alex, Ndweni described the creative arts industry as a cornerstone of any youth business development strategy.
“Hollywood [in the United States] is what it is today because of the creative arts, and who knows, maybe we can one day turn Alexandra into the Hollywood of South Africa.
“I am sure you are all well aware of how big the arts were in Alexandra those years gone by. This township has immense talent when it comes to the creative arts, and we need to support and nurture its ongoing develop.
“The majority of the people playing and entertaining us in the creative arts space today come from this township and to overlook that aspect of business is tantamount to suicide, and I therefore encourage Ikusasalethu to look into adding this portfolio to its bouquet as well,” Ndweni said.
He urged the graduates to boldly take their steps towards success but not to be discouraged by failing, likening the word fail to an abbreviation of the ‘First Action In Learning’. “Go out there and fail but remember to dust yourselves up and say this was your first action in learning and you are going to do it,” he said.
Ikusasalethu chairperson Constance Lulama Benesh said: “This programme gives me hope about the future of our youth. We have set out to create a better future for unemployed youth through the promotion of sustainable job creation and enterprise development.
“By mentoring and supporting young entrepreneurs, we are doing our part to respond to issues of youth development, poverty alleviation and creating sustainable solutions to combat unemployment.
“We have created a solid partnership with the Department of Social Development, TymeBank and others, which is vital as Ikusasalethu Youth Development Project cannot achieve this alone. This is a collective effort that sets the tone for the change that we all want to see,” Benesh said.
