Wednesday, June 6, 2012

What is the Role of White Youth in South Africa's Struggle Movements?

While this is not an I Am Somebody! event, we are excited about the question they are asking and wanted you to know about the event: 
 
Ndifuna Ukwazi

Presents

Building Young Unity Across Divides:

What is the Role of White Youth in South Africa's Struggle Movements?

Date: Youth Day – Saturday 16 June 2012
Time: 11h00 – 15h00
Venue: Central Methodist Church, Greenmarket Square


Dear Guest,

We would like to invite you to attend Building Young Leaders for a Better Future: Unity Across Divides. Our guest speakers will include Paula Ensor, Paula Hathorn, Alison Lazarus, Zackie Achmat, Doron Isaacs, Waldimar Pelser, Murray Hunter and Vuyiseka Dubula-Majola. They will discuss the role of White, Coloured and Indian youth in creating a struggle movement that builds solidarity across the various divides – such as race and class – that have come to define South African society.

The seminar will have two panel discussions. The first will comprise activists who participated in the liberation movement in South Africa, and will focus particularly on their role in the 1976 uprisings. The point of this panel is to create a platform to discuss the role that White, Coloured and Indian youth played in the 1976 uprisings – a fact that is not always given as much weight as it deserves.

The second panel will be made up of white activists who participate in current South African struggles that aim to progressively realise the rights enshrined in the Constitution. The discussion will focus on how and why they became involved in the various struggle movements of modern South Africa and what they believe the role of the white youth in South Africa's current context.

We would like to invite five members from your organisation to join us at the seminar. Lunch will be provided (please contact Zenande Booi for catering purposes). Transport will be provided from Khayelitsha and UCT. You can also watch the seminar live at NU Live <http://nu.org.za/upcoming-events/live-streaming/>
if you can't attend on the day.

Please RSVP to and/or contact Zenande Booi (email: zenande@nu.org.za <http://zenande@nu.org.za/> , cell: 079 732 1591, Tel: 021 423 3089) for further information.

Sincerely
Ndifuna Ukwazi



Office 203, 47 on Strand Street

47 Strand Street, Cape Town, 8000
Tel: 021 423 3089

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NdifunaUkwazi
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/NdifunaUkwazi
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ndifunaukwazi/

DIRECTIONS

>From N2:
Head along N2 to Cape Town CBD
Pass CTICC on left
Exit N2 onto Buitengracht Street
Continue along Buitengracht Street
Turn left into Strand Street
The Ndifuna Ukwazi offices are on the corner of Long Street and Strand Street.
Ndifuna Ukwazi is a recently established non-profit trust that aims to build and support social justice organisations and leaders in South Africa. Part of our programme involves hosting seminars on various topics of importance to democracy

Monday, June 4, 2012

OPEN: An Evening of Song, Sound and Poetry


This press release about our collaborative event on June 16th was posted by the Two Oceans Aquarium 31 May, 2012. 

In celebration of Youth Day on Saturday 16 June 2012 the Two Oceans Aquarium, in association with I Am Somebody!, will present “OPEN: An evening of song, sound and poetry”. The event is in support of the non-profit organisation I Am Somebody! 

Featuring Jonny and Julie Blundell and Anele Viti from the Rhythm Workshop, poets Diana Ferrus and Sandile Mhi, and renowned jazz/folk singer Tina Schouw, OPEN will  take place against the backdrop of shoals of silver fish, graceful rays and sharks in the I&J Predator Exhibit.

Working from Cape Town in South Africa, brother and sister team Jonny and Julie Blundell specialise in facilitating interactive rhythm workshops using various instruments including musical tubes, African djembe drums, pan-pipes and assorted percussion. Together with Anele Viti, they will facilitate an Interactive Musical Tubes performance with the OPEN audience. Participants will be astonished with their ability to create rhythm, melody and harmony with a bunch of plastic tubes!

Diana Ferrus is renowned for her poem about Sarah Baartman whose remains were on display in Paris until 1986. In 2002 Ferrus read her poem for Sarah Baartman at the handing over of the remains to the South African government. At OPEN Ferrus will perform poetry in English and Afrikaans and will focus on themes around women, peace, identity and love.  

Sandile Mhi is a young poet who is a participant in I Am Somebody!’s Rites of Passage Programme. During this eighteen month programme a group of young adults between the ages of 18-25 meet regularly to go through rites of passage. Together they work with different aspects of themselves, including their strengths and their challenges, and share their story as they take different steps towards their dreams. Mhi will share his experiences of this programme through poetry.

Renowned musician Tina Schouw will perform songs from her most recent album “Winds Call” as well as some old favourites. Schouw is a heart artist making connections to the heart of healing. She is a singer /songwriter/ guitarist and author who continues to perform locally and internationally.  She has produced and staged her own shows, as well as collaborated with various artists on different productions in South Africa. Her music draws on an eclectic blend of styles including, folk, jazz, Latin and contemporary.

Proceeds from OPEN will go towards I Am Somebody! Through its programmes, this non-profit organisation provides people with the personal foundation for making better choices, stronger communities internally, integrated solutions between communities and restored relationships with nature that nurture community development. The programmes are based on principles of storytelling, the give and take of listening and the authenticity of real exchange.

Tickets to OPEN cost R130.00 and include entrance to the Two Oceans Aquarium, a glass of wine on arrival and a light snack. Tickets are available at Webtickets.co.za - www.webtickets.co.za. Doors open at 19h00 and a cash bar will be available.

For more information please contact:

Helen Lockhart
Communications & Sustainability Manager
Tw Oceans Aquarium
Tel: 021-418-3823

Nicole Le Roux
Director
I Am Somebody!
www.iamsomebody.co.za <
http://www.iamsomebody.co.za>
http://www.marioninstitute.org/serendipity/i-am-somebody
Tel. 071 568 8970