Art workshop teaches children creativity in Reiger Park
A four-day drama, dance, music and visual art workshop as part of the Jonathan Butler Foundation holiday programme took place at the Reiger Park Civic Centre from October 6 to 9.
The foundation seeks to empower children from disadvantaged communities. At the workshop, participating children acquired skills on how to make their own bjembe drum, which is a rope-tuned, skin-covered, goblet drum played with bare hands.
The children then showcased their newly-acquired skills at a concert held at the centre on Friday, October 10.
The programme has already benefited thousands of young people in different townships within Gauteng, since its launch last year in September.
These include Sebokeng, Kagiso and Eldorado Park as well as Boksburg.
According to the workshop organisers, these programmes not only keep young people off the streets, but are also aimed at reigniting a sense of purpose in many of the participants, who are from disadvantage backgrounds.
The Cape Town-born international jazz artist, Jonathan Burtler launched the Jonathan Butler Foundation (JBF) at the Johannesburg Civic Centre, amid South Africa’s Heritage Day celebrations last year.
The main thrust of the foundation is to be a self-funded organisation that provides positive intervention to promote access to music and arts education for children and focuses on preventing the perils and ease of falling into a life of substance abuse.
It will do so through the use of a series of digitally mastered interactive presentations and programmes that it will run through schools and community centres.
The foundation’s approach to substance abuse is based on their slogan ‘purpose kills addiction – live your dream’ – a strengths-based approach to maximise the potential of our youth.
In addition to this, the JBF will be launching a bursary and scholarships programme to partner education institutions for those stellar students who come through its programmes, and who clearly demonstrate talent and the willingness to succeed while upholding the ideals and philosophy of the JBF.
The JBF currently partners with the Tshwane School of Music, of which Jonathan Butler is a Patron.
– @FanieBoksburg
