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SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Durban Central Regional Durban Girls’ College: Saturday 7 March

Time for a spot of hockey, the 101st overall tournament in the tenth year of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge heads to 031 for the Durban Central Regional, hosted by Durban Girls’ College.

 

Eight teams will take to College’s astro. Split into two pools, Durban Girls College will face Durban Girls’ High School, Inanda Seminary and Ridge Park in Pool A. While Pool B sees St Henry’s School, Maris Stella, the INK team and Port Natal School battle it out.

 

The duration of the matches will be 20 minutes, with no half time. A win in the pool games will see a team awarded 4 points, a draw with goals 2 points, a goalless draw only 1 point and a loss equating to no points.

 

A total of 12 pool games will be played, followed by the two semi-finals. Teams who finished fourth in the pool games will then face each other to reveal seventh and eighth places. Third place in the pool games will challenge each other for the positions of fifth and sixth places. In the penultimate game, the losers of both semi-finals will then take to the turf, with the winner earning third spot. And finishing the day off will be the main regional title game featuring the two winners from the semi-finals.

 

Only one school has been crowned the regional champion in all nine of this area’s tournaments and is the only team in the history of this tournament to have a 100% record at the Grand Finals. Nine times winners, Durban Girls’ College will be keen to continue their outright dominance in this region in the hopes of notching up their tenth overall title.

 

This will be the second regional this year, with the tournament having travelled to Vryheid last weekend (29 February). The first team to earn a spot at the Grand Finals is Hoërskool Pionier.

 

The next regional, the Durban North Regional, takes place at the recently launched astro at Ashton International in Ballito the day after the Durban Central Regional, on Sunday 8 March.

 

For more info, like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.

 

ENDS

 

 

 

 

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Northern KZN Regional Pionier High School: Wrap up

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Northern KZN Regional

Pionier High School: Saturday 29 February

 

Northern KZN Regional has a new winner, that of host school Hoërskool Pionier which took the title in a scintillating final of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 29 February.

 

Hoërskool Pionier had a cracker of a day, starting their efforts off with a 5 nil victory and continued their winning streak all the way to the final where they met St Dominics Newcastle School. 

 

St Doms started the regional final with a spring in their step as they worked their way to the Pionier goal from the whistle. The visiting team opened their account with an absolute pearler of a goal when Vanessa Abudo entered the circle left of goal, slapped the ball in from the top of the D, passed the waiting keeper, Chrysna van Rhyn’s defence to a cleverly placed Andiswa Mhlongo camping out on the right post. Mhlongo calmly popped the ball across the line, netting the first goal. 

 

After 8 minutes, the home team started chipping away at St Dominics Newcastle’s dominance when they broke into the opposition’s circle and earned a short corner after 8 minutes and 21 seconds. They set up a basic attack, with the ball getting trapped at the castle and then being rocketed towards the goals, but a brave charge-down stopped Pionier’s first real attempt. 

 

After a few more unsuccessful short corners, Pionier magiced up an equalizer after a scramble in the St Dom’s circle resulted in the ball slipping across the line. The game was then 1 all with only 2 and a half minutes of play left. St Dom’s response was a solitary break from midfield with the player running out of turf, pushing the ball in from the right only to find no support from her players. 

 

As the game time ran out, the action moved to the pressure spot where three players from each team got a chance for a penalty shoot out. Pionier started the proceedings nailing the first one, with St Dom’s rising to the challenge, and also finding the back of the box on their first penalty. The second round saw both teams slot in their attempts. In the final round Pionier’s Berne van Heerden’s flick went wide giving St Dom’s captain, Nosipho Magula’s a tournament winning chance but it wasn’t to be as her attempt agonisingly didn’t get the rewards. 

 

The title of the tournament went to sudden death with St Dom’s stepping up to the spot first. Abudo earlier game time success didn’t continue to the spot and her chance went abegging giving Pionier’s Charnique Oosthuizen a tournament winning chance. Oosthuizen rose to the occasion, pummelling in her shot, past the advances of keeper, van Rhyn and earning the regional honours for Pionier. 

 

Pionier is the third team to earn the title of Northern KZN champion, claiming the title from the defending champs Ferrum, who have won the trophy eight times. Pionier met Ferrum in the second semi final and knocked out the defending champs with two goals scored by Oosthuizen and Kayla Becker. In the first semi final, St Dom’s were victorious with a 2 nil win against Dundee High School. Awande Mbuli and Vanessa Abudo netted the two for St Dom’s in the semi. 

 

Pionier is the first team to earn a spot at the Grand Finals which will take place at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof in July. This weekend (7 & * March) the tournament continues with two more regionals taking place at Durban Girls’ College and Ashton International. 

 

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page and follow on Instagram.

 

ENDS

 

 

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge Northern KZN Regional Pionier High School: Saturday 29 February

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

Northern KZN Regional

Pionier High School: Saturday 29 February

 

Getting a jump on the hockey year, the tenth SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge gets underway with the first of its ten regionals taking place at Hoërskool Pionier on Saturday 29 February.

 

The Northern KZN Regional hosts eight first teams from its expansive outlying areas. The teams will be split into two pools, with the host school having a tough task taking on one-time winners, Sarel Cilliers who placed second overall last year; Dundee High School will hope to improve on their fourth from last year and Vryheid Landbou which makes a welcome return to this tournament,  in Pool B.

 

In Pool A, defending champs Ferrum High School hope to retain their dominance in this regional, with eight crownings out of nine regional tournaments. The tight outfit will meet St Dominics School who finished in third last year. Rounding off the teams in this pool are Vryheid High School and Newcastle High School.

 

Games lasting 20 minutes one way will take place on one field. A win in the pool games will earn a team 4 points, a draw with goals notches up 2 points, a goalless draw only 1 point and zero points for a loss. 

 

Tipping off the 100th overall tournament, defending champs Ferrum High School will match up against St Dominics School at 7.30am. Next to square off are Vryheid High School versus Newcastle High School. The third pool game will be the 2016 regional winners, Sarel Cilliers who take on Dundee High School. Pionier will meet Vryheid Landbou in their first match of the day.

After 12 games of action-packed skills, the tournament proceeds to a cross pool play-off. The positional games begins with the seventh and eighth play-off, rolling into the first semi-final at 13.25. Twenty minutes later the second team to earn a spot in the regional final will be revealed after the second semi-final. The fifth and sixth placed game will give the four top teams a breather before the penultimate third position game followed by the concluding regional final.

 

If scores are level in the semi-finals, third and fourth place game and the regional final, the game will be decided by a three players penalty shoot-out. 

 

The SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge heads to the coast for the Durban Central Regional hosted by Durban Girls’ College on Saturday 7 March followed by the Durban North Regional taking place at Ashton International College in Ballito on Sunday 8 March.

 

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow the tournament on Instagram.

 

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge 2020 Dates Announcement

SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge

2020 Dates Announcement

 

Leaping into its tenth year, and notching up a momentous milestone, the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge’s first tournament of the year significantly tips off its 100th overall tournament.

 

The first date in this jam-packed, action-filled hockey calendar that travels to ten regions in KwaZulu Natal takes place on the added bonus day this leap year, on Saturday 29 February. Host for this year’s Northern KZN Regional are Pioneer High School. 

 

The first of four regionals in March heads back to Durban for the Durban Central Regional where Durban Girls’ College will host teams at their astro on Saturday 7 March. The following day, Sunday 8 March, the tournament moves to Ashton International College in Ballito for the Durban North Regional. Ashton welcomes the tournament onto their recently unveiled international-spec astro turf. The fourth and fifth tournaments travels to Hilton where both the Pietermaritzburg Central and Pietermaritzburg North Regionals will take place at St Anne’s College on Saturday 14 March. 

 

After a short two week break, Kingsway High School will host the Durban South Regional at 3 Schools Trust on Sunday 5 April. Staying south, the tournament hits the road travelling to Matatiele for the Southern KZN Regional where King Edward High School will host teams on Saturday 18 April.

 

In May, schools from the timber-rich areas gather for the uMvoti, uThukela and uMzinyathi Regional on the astro at Wembley College in Greytown on Saturday 9 May. Back-to-back action takes the tournament to Curro Hillcrest on Sunday 10 May for the Highway Regional. Concluding the regionals, the tenth tournament takes place on the familiar turf at Grantleigh School that hosts teams for the Northern KZN Coastal Regional on Saturday 16 May.

 

Max Oliva, Managing Director of SPAR KZN said, “SPAR KZN is delighted with the success of this tournament that began in KwaZulu Natal in 2011 quickly became a highlight on the sports calendar; and has since been introduced to a number of our neighbouring provinces.”

 

“With the upcoming milestone of the 100 overall tournaments next month, we look forward to watching the action unfold and its success in the future. With 2020 being a big year for sports, with the Olympics taking place in Tokyo – we are delighted that our South African hockey teams will feature as well and look forward to seeing how many ladies donning the green and gold in Japan have been a part of our humble journey.”

 

Mid-July, the top team from each region will represent their school and their regional at the Grand Finals which takes place at St Mary’s D.S.G.. The two day final starts on Saturday 18 July with the pool games and then the cross pool and medal games on Sunday 19 July. 

 

For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram. 

 

ENDS

 

 

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY presents BUSY SEEING RED KZNSA GALLERY 21 Feb 2020

Media Release

 

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY presents BUSY SEEING RED

KZNSA GALLERY: 21 February 2020 @ 6.30pm

 

Durban’s Flatfoot Dance Company celebrates its 17th anniversary this year as one of South Africa’s leading contemporary dance companies with a new dance theatre work, Busy Seeing Red at the KZNSA Gallery on Friday 21 February.

 

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With an international touring reputation for excellence and a host of national awards under its belt, Flatfoot’s arrival at this momentous 17th mark is a testament to a dedicated team of dancers and administrators.

 

In keeping with its reputation of creating and performing edgy, controversial, beautiful and intelligent dance, Flatfoot partners with the KZNSA Gallery to offer a site responsive dance work that ask the audience to engage all the different space of the gallery. In a fluid display of exquisite technical training, Flatfoot’s 7 resident dancers dive heart first into the inner politics of ‘seeing red’. Asking questions that are on all of our lips as South Africans, Busy Seeing Red, negotiates the personal politics of anger. From exploring remembrances of colonial race and current gender violence, this dance theatre work offers a surprisingly gentle embodied encounter with dance that will leave audiences breathless.

 

Embracing a collaborative creative process of making this performance, the three senior Flatfoot dancers (Sifiso Khumalo, Jabu Siphika and Zinhle Nzama) have jointly collaborated in the choreography with Artistic Director of Flatfoot, Lliane Loots. “As a dance maker I am increasingly interested in the power of multiple voices to tell stories and what better way than to encourage the profound dance voices of the senior Flatfoot dancers to bring their vison to this work”, says Loots. She continues, “it is and has been a remarkable journey making this collaborative dance work and seeing what we share and where we differ as South Africans – I remain deeply humbled by the power of our dance/art to allow dialogue – especially at a time in history when there is so much rage and anger”. 

 

Also featured in Busy Seeing Red is Flatfoot junior company dancer, Mthoko Mkhwanazi stepping into his first professional choreographic role in the company. “Seeing this young Flatfoot dancer in the role of choreographer in this work is a testament to not only his own talent and drive, but to the nurturing role that Flatfoot had played in offering this space to our up and coming practitioners”, says Loots.

 

Dancing in Busy Seeing Red are; Sifiso Khumalo, Jabu Siphika, Zinhle Nzama, Sbonga Ndlovu, Ndumiso Dube, Siseko Duba, and Mthoko Mkhwanazi. Lighting and sound design by Wesley Maherry and Clare Craighead.

 

The Busy Seeing Red  will be performed at the KZNSA Gallery is on Friday 21 February at 6.30pm. Tickets cost R60 and seating is limited. Tickets can be pre-booked via flatfootdancecompany@gmail.com or on a first come first serve at the KZNSA Gallery on the night. Door sales and Gallery open from 5.30pm. The KZNSA restaurant and coffee bar will be open for pre/post show meal and drinks.

 

This dance work will travel onto the Hexagon Theatre in PMB in early May 2020.

 

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SA Film - Days of Cannibalism - Nominated for Best Documentary Award at the  70th Berlin International Film Festival

Media Release

 

SA Film - Days of Cannibalism - Nominated for Best Documentary Award at the 

70th Berlin International Film Festival

 

South African filmmaker Teboho Edkins’s crossgenre documentary Western, Days of Cannibalism has been nominated for a Best Documentary Award at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival which takes place in February.

 

Days of Cannibalism, which has its World Premiere at the Festival, is set in the rugged terrain of a remote rural region in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, Southern Africa. Here modern-day pioneers are met with unease by local communities, and self-made Chinese merchants negotiate their place alongside traditional Basotho cattle breeders.

 

‘The film, like a classical Western, takes place in a universal frontier space in which the laws of society are in a state of flux,” explains Edkins. “I am fascinated by the notion of settlers moving into new spaces, and what this does to the status quo, especially within the context of globalisation and capitalist forces. The arrival of new settlers in Lesotho  – economic migrants from China – has upset the balance of power. Old laws and old gods are being called into question. Against the backdrop of a newly emerging China-Africa relationship Days of Cannibalism explores the complexities and the latent tensions this encounter gives rise to.”

 

Teboho Edkins - director of Days of Cannibalism

Teboho Edkins - director of Days of Cannibalism

The film avoids central characters or an overarching plot; instead strained moments and small gestures between the newly arrived pioneers and local communities unfold against a vast and harsh landscape.

 

Produced by KinoElektron, Day Zero Films, Kepler Film Days of Cannibalism the world sales rights have been picked up by Paris based Indie Sales.

 

 

The film will be screened on the following dates, venues in Berlin:

 

22.02.2020 16:30 Kino International (PREMIERE)

23.02.2020 16:15 Cubix 7

24.02.2020 13:30 CinemaxX 6

28.02.2020 19:15 Cubix 7

 

Berlinale Talents Programme

25.02.2020 14:00 HAU - Hebbel am Ufer theatre

For more information go to:

https://indiesales.eu/days-of-cannibalism

http://www.kinoelektron.com/en/project/days-cannibalism-teboho-edkins/

https://www.screendaily.com/news/indie-sales-boards-berlin-panorama-title-days-of-cannibalism-exclusive/5146715.article

https://www.berlinale.de/en/press/press-releases/films-panorama.html

https://www.berlinale.de/en/press/press-photos/current-press-photos.html#lb1546111-4

https://www.berlinale.de/en/festival/awards-and-juries/berlinale-documentary-award.html

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Realness Institute Celebrates Sundance Win and Extends Call For 2020 Applications

Media Release

Realness Institute Celebrates Sundance Win and Extends Call For 2020 Applications

 

The first film produced from the Realness African Screenwriters’ Residency This is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection, directed by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese's (Realness 2017) and produced by Urucu Media's Cait Pansegrouw and Elias Ribeiro competed in the 2020 Sundance Film Festival's World Dramatic Competition section to critical review, and  was awarded the Special Jury Prize for Visionary Filmmaking at a ceremony last night in Park City, Utah, USA.

 

“Delicate and strong, this director told a little story of resistance and made it universal,” said the World Dramatic Competition Jury’s citation. “The composition of images, the visual phrase and the story of this film moved us. One of the most beautiful films of our Sundance 2020.”

 

“Realness Institute has been designed as a platform that caters to the full spectrum of the production line in a way that can push the African film industry forward. Core to the program’s development is the view that African cinema is a central market in the new sphere of the global cultural economy,” says Elias Ribeiro, co-founder of Realness.

 

The Realness Screenwriter’s Residency is dedicated to providing African film projects with the support and resources needed at the critical development stage of a film. The programme ensures that talent is given the space to mature their work, such that they develop films that can compete in the international film finance market, travel and appeal to international audiences.

 

Realness offers a natural environment that allows filmmakers to stretch their creativity and drive their craft under mentorship from industry experts. The residency takes the form of a six-week stay at the Nirox Foundation situated in the scenic Cradle of Humankind in South Africa.

 

This programme caters for filmmakers with distinct voices and perspectives, who are devoted to their craft and have a steadfast passion for cinema. Filmmakers with feature fiction film treatments and/ or scripts that are at least 60% filmed on the African Continent.

 

Creative Producer Indaba is a year-long professional development programme, providing emerging producers with the necessary tools and leadership skills to pursue their craft, as well as capacity to operate sustainable businesses at a strategic level.

 

Creative Producer Indaba is aimed at producers (with and without projects) from Africa; producers from North America and Europe with an interest in co-producing with Africa,

 

Film Professionals from other disciplines such as distribution, international sales, funding bodies, institutions, broadcasters and development executives with a stake in the African marketplace.

 

The deadline for the 2020 Residency and Indaba has been extended to February 15

 

For more information go to realness.institute

 

To apply submit a completed application to submissions@realness.institute

 

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Winners of the CLiP STOMP Awards Announced – South Africa


Media Release

Winners of the CLiP STOMP Awards Announced – South Africa

The winners of the inaugural the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLIP) STOMP Awards were announced at the CLIP Innovation Conference: “STEM the tide of plastic waste in Africa” hosted by the Sustainable Seas Trust in Cape Town on 5 December 2019.

From the 63 entries five winners were selected in five categories: Technology or Technical Design, Product, Adult Inspire through Creativity and Youth Inspire through Creativity, and Special Recognition for Action.

The winning entries were as follows:

The Technology or Technical Design Award went to The Mermaid Tear Catcher, submitted by Clare Swithenbank-Bowman from the KwaZulu-Natal, North Coast A recycled plastic “frisbee” that essentially is used to sieve out nurdles and other small plastics from the sand and facilitates people getting involved in citizen science projects. The judges said that the entry was a “fun, creative community solution to removing plastic waste that could be easily replicated anywhere in the world.”

Finalists in this category were Wildtrust – Pyrolysis Machine from Hilton in KwaZulu-Natal and Games Tangibl, submitted by Jean Greyling from Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

The Product Award went to Patch Bamboo Plasters submitted by Dr Milliea Anis. Judges said that it was “an unique, practical and tested product that has been courageously trialed in South Africa, and importantly replaces plastic products that most overlook without thinking twice.”

Finalist in this category also included The Big Scoop SA submitted by Alexis Wellman from Cape Town, Beeswax Wrap submitted by Mica Da Silva from Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal and The Mutea EcoPod submitted by Liam Bulgen from Cape Town , Western Cape.

 

Luke Rudman’s The 12 Plastic Monsters, a performance art work that uses plastic waste to convey the horror of plastic pollution, won the Adult Inspire through Creativity Category. Judges said that they loved the entry as it was brilliantly creative and driven by a passion for the oceans, citing it as inspiring and unique.

Finalists in this category were The Well Worn Theatre Company submitted by Kyla Davis from Johannesburg  and The SuperScientists Project by Codemakers NPO, submitted by Justin Yarrow from Berea in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. 

The Youth Inspire through Creativity was won by The Oceano Reddentes NPC submitted by twelve year old Jade Bothma from the Western Cape, who started the non-profit that is “Saving the sea one piece of plastic at a time” through education, awareness, and research.”

Finalists in this category were The Future Kids submitted by Rocco Da Silva from the Western Cape and Norman Klutsky Eco-Warrior of the High Seas - Eden College submitted by Jean Van Elden, Berea, Durban KwaZulu-Natal

The Special Recognition Award for Action went to Singakwenza, submitted by Julie Hay from KwaZulu-Natal. Singakwenza, which means ‘we can do it’ in isiZulu, provides low cost, high impact health and early education through empowerment programmes to economically-disadvantaged communities, particularly in rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal.  Much of what they do involves recycling of plastic waste. This entry impressed the judges in terms of showing tangible impacts on both waste and social upliftment.

Finalists in this category were Captain Fanplastic, submitted by Nwabisa Joba from the Western Cape and The Ethekwini Conservancies Forum, submitted by Paolo Candoti from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal 

‘Most of these finalists and some other entrants that very much impressed the judges, attended our CLIP Conference, and were able to present their projects to delegates working and researching in the marine pollution sector,” said Kyle Briggs, Contest Lead from the UK's Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) which leads the CLIP Programme. “It was a really exciting two days of knowledge-sharing and looking at practical solutions to the marine pollution problem which we hope will help contestants develop their ideas further. These creative ideas from the STOMP Awards form part of CLIP’s efforts in finding creative solutions to plastic waste. It sends a clear message that plastic pollution is not only confined to scientists or policy-makers, and that anyone can innovate. Together people from all walks of life can find tangible solutions that have real impact. Congratulations to all the winners, finalists and everyone who entered with a  commitment to find solutions to the plastic pollution challenge!.”

For more information about the awards go to www.stompawards.co.za

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IDFA Bertha Funded BUDDHA IN AFRICA to show in Best of Fests line-up at International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam

MEDIA RELEASE

IDFA Bertha Funded BUDDHA IN AFRICA

to show in Best of Fests line-up at International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam

 

Buddha in Africa, an award-winning South African documentary that follows the intimate story of a Malawian teenager growing up in a Chinese Buddhist orphanage in Africa, will be shown as part of the Best of the Fests programme at the prestigious International Documentary festival of Amsterdam in November.

 

The documentary, directed by first-time filmmaker, Nicole Schafer, has been many years in the making and received development, production and post-production support from the IDFA Bertha Fund.

 

“It is very meaningful to finally be showing the film at IDFA, a festival and fund that have believed in and supported this film since its inception,” says Schafer. “In 2011 the film was pitched at the Durban FilmMart in South Africa and received the “IDFA Most Promising Documentary Award”. This was very much the springboard that got the film off the ground in the first place. But being my first film, it took much longer than expected to raise all the finance and to follow the story, which is set in Malawi.”

 

The film had its World premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in April 2019, and has since shown at numerous festivals around the world where it has scooped several awards since including “Best Documentary” in the International Panorama ‘A Window onto the Future’, section of the Visioni dal Mondo International Documentary Festival in Milan (Italy), the Grand Prix award for the NHK Japan Prize for Educational Media, First Prize from the Youth jury for the Chicago Children’s Festival (USA) , and in South Africa an Audience Choice Award at Encounters Documentary Festival, “Best Documentary” at the Knysna Film Festival,  and “Best South African Documentary” at the Durban International Film Festival, which has automatically qualified it for consideration for an Oscar nomination.

 

In the next two weeks the film will show at the AFRIFF festival in Nigeria, in Bristol, Oslo, the Festival Enfances dans le monde in Paris and the Verzio Human Rights Festival in Budapest.

 

Screenings at IDFA are:

Thurs 21st  Nov  (7pm)   Rialto Bovenzaal

Fri 22nd   Nov (14:45) Munt 13

Sun 24th Nov  (13:00) Tuschinski 6

Tue 26th  Nov (16:30) Munt 12

Fri 29th Nov (10:00) Brakke Grond Rode Zaal

 

Ticket Bookings:

https://www.idfa.nl/nl/film/dcb6d526-fbc2-465f-a0ba-1e0fbd4d8838/buddha-in-africa

 

Finalists Announced in CLiP's STOMP Awards – South Africa

Finalists in the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLIP) STOMP Awards have been announced.

 

The STOMP (Stamp Out Marine Plastic Pollution) Awards made a call out in October for South Africans to enter ideas and solutions that could reduce, or eliminate plastic pollution, which ultimately ends up in the ocean destroying habitats, and endangering marine species.

 

Over 60 entries in five categories were submitted: Technology or Technical Design in which judges were looking for new and innovative design and or technologies to reduce or manage plastic pollution and encourage circular economy thinking; Product Development which were innovative allowing consumers to reduce their plastic waste; Adult Inspire through Creativity and Youth Inspire for any kind of creative art made to inspire people into creating a better place and a Special Recognition Award for Action that recognizes work done to implement cleanups, or projects the mitigate waste, reduce plastic, change behaviours or create awareness on a community level.

 

The finalists are listed in no particular order:

 

Technology or Technical Design

Wildtrust – Pyrolysis Machine from Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal

The Mermaid Tear Catcher submitted by Clare Swithenbank-Bowman from the KwaZulu-Natal, North Coast.

Games Tangibl submitted by Jean Greyling from Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

 

Product Development

The Big Scoop SA submitted by Alexis Wellman from the Helderberg, Western Cape

Beeswax Wrap submitted by Mica Da Silva from Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal

Patch Bamboo Plasters submitted by Dr Milliea Anis  from Johannesburg, Gauteng

The Mutea EcoPod submitted by Liam Bulgen from Cape Town , Western Cape

 

Adult Inspire through Creativity

12 Plastic Monsters  submitted by Luke Rudman from the Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

The Well Worn Theatre Company submitted by Kyla Davis from Johannesburg, Gauteng

The SuperScientists Project by CodeMakers NPO, submitted by Justin Yarrow from Durban, KwaZulu Natal.

 

Youth Inspire through Creativity

The Future Kids submitted by Rocco Da Silva from the Somerset West, Western Cape

Norman Klutsky Eco-Warrior of the High Seas - Eden College submitted by Jean Van Elden, Durban KwaZulu-Natal

The Oceano Reddentes NPC submitted by Jade Bothma from Western Cape

 

Special Recognition Award for Action

Captain Fanplastic submitted by Nwabisa Joba from the Cape Town, Western Cape

The Ethekwini Conservancies Forum submitted by Paolo Candoti from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

Singakwenza submitted by Julie Hay from Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal

Some of the finalists (as well as some of the entries that did not make it into the finals but impressed the judges) will be in attendance to present their entries at the "CLIP Innovation Conference: STEM the tide of plastic waste in Africa" in Cape Town on 4 and 5 December 2019. Winners in each category will be announced at Conference on December 5.

 

The Conference, which will be attended by scientists, environmentalists, conservationists, and policy-makers, is co-hosted with the Sustainable Seas Trust, will be looking at STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) solutions to the marine litter problem in South Africa.

 

"We were pleased with the number and quality of entries submitted for these inaugural awards," says STOMP Project Manager Duncan Pritchard, of Green Corridors, the NPO tasked with managing the awards in South Africa. "The entries were fairly diverse with some truly innovative ideas being showcased. It certainly demonstrates that South African's are thinking about the plastic challenges we face, and are looking at what could be the next world-changing innovation to solve the crisis. That is extremely positive for us going forward."

 

Commenting on the judging process, Fiona Preston-Whyte, CLiP Country Lead from the UK's Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) which leads the CLIP programme says, "As scientists we were looking for innovative, sustainable solutions which contribute to reducing or preferably eliminating plastic as a waste. The entries are high quality and creative and speak of the innovative spirit of South Africans.”

 

To view the finalists go to https://www.stompawards.co.za/index.php/vote

 

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Note to editors:

CLIP is led by the United Kingdom through the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), funded by the UK's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and has partnered with Green Corridors, a Durban based non-profit organisation to roll out the awards programme in South Africa.

Cape Town : Social Justice Documentary "Push" Special Screening and Discussion  at Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education in Mowbray, Cape Town during European Film Festival

Media Release

Social Justice Documentary "Push" Special Screening and Discussion 

at Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education in Mowbray, Cape Town during European Film Festival

CAPE TOWN: The social justice film Push by Swedish director Fredrik Gertten will have a special screening at the Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education in Mowbray, Cape Town, on Thursday, 5 December at 6pm.

The film is one of 12 award-winning films screening at Cinema Nouveau Theatres during the 6th European Film Festival, which runs in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town from 29 November to 8 December.

Gertten's documentary explores how the acquisition of urban property by financial institutions is becoming a global trend and making living in cities unaffordable. His previous documentary Jozi Gold precipitated great public interest during its showings at Encounters and the Durban International Film Festival earlier this year and his new offering Push is expected to generate new debate about the very topical housing challenges in this country.

Discussion featuring Leilani Farha, UN Special Rapporteur for Adequate Housing

The screening of the film at the Tshisimani Centre will be followed by a discussion led by Mandisa Shandu, the director of public interest law firm Ndifuna Ukwazi that specializes in urban housing rights.  Ndifuna Ukwazi is leading the campaign to stop the sale of the Tafelberg School in Sea Point, Cape Town, a case which reaches the courts during the last week of November.

Special participant in the discussion will be Leilani Farha, UN Special Rapporteur for Adequate Housing, who plays a central role in the documentary as she investigates the phenomena, which are literally pushing out people from inner cities around the world. Ms Farha will Zoom into the discussion from Toronto where she is based. 

In developing countries such as South Africa the massive housing challenges, the infringement of human rights and displacement of peoples are drawing increasing pushback from affected communities and activist groups working to open access to affordable, well-located land and housing.  This screening and discussion session aligns with Tshisimani’s focus on addressing and finding solutions to injustices faced by the poor and marginalised people of our society.

As Leilani Farha says: ‘‘I believe there’s a huge difference between housing as a commodity and gold as a commodity. Gold is not a human right, housing is.’

The screening and discussion is free and open to all at the Tshisimani Centre, Bertha House, 69 Main Road, Mowbray, Cape Town at 6pm on Thursday 5 December. Enquiries can be made on 021 685 3516.

See http://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/ for festival info, film synopses, trailers, screening schedules and ticket bookings!

The European Film Festival is a partnership project of the European Union’s Delegation to South Africa and twelve European Member State cultural agencies or embassies based in the country. They are: the General Representation of the Government of Flanders, the French Institute in South Africa, the Goethe-Institut, the Italian Cultural Institute, The British Council, and the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. The project is organised in cooperation with Ster-Kinekor Cinema Nouveau and Cineuropa and is coordinated by Creative WorkZone.

 

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Les Misérables Filmmakers in South Africa for European Film Festival

Media Events

Les Misérables Filmmakers in South Africa for European Film Festival

Cannes Jury Prize-winning French film, Les Misérables by celebrated director Ladj Ly, will open the 6th European Film Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa on 29 November. The festival, which is hosted at Sterkinekor Cinema Nouveau Theatres in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town until December 8, features 12 award-winning films from Europe.

Three visiting filmmakers from Les Misérables, will be in the country, courtesy of VideoVision, to introduce their film and participate in filmmaker workshops in Johannesburg and Cape Town during the festival.

Producer Toufik Ayadi and actors Didier Zonga and Almamy Kanoute are in the country to promote their film, which was recently selected as France's entry to the Academy Awards in 2020. Ayadi, Zonga, and Kanoute will also be in attendance at its first screenings in Pretoria and Cape Town while the workshops provide an additional opportunity for in-depth discussion and exchange. Targeting young filmmakers, in particular, the workshop sessions will interrogate the making of the film and engage local filmmakers about filmmaking processes in general.

Both workshops are free but producers, actors and interested parties are advised to pre-register to book their participation. The workshop in Johannesburg takes place at the Rosebank Sterkinekor Cinema Nouveau on 30 November from 10 am to 1pm. Bookings can be made via Vuyiswa Tshangela at 011 7179237 or vuyiswa.tshangela@wits.ac.za. The Cape Town workshop takes place at the Cape Investor Centre on 2 December at 1pm to 3pm. Bookings for the Cape Town workshop can be made via 0785004488 or info@creativeworkzone.co.za.

The European Film Festival runs from 29 November to 8 December at Cinema Nouveau theatres in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town - for more about the festival films, including trailers, visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za

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CLiP'S STOMP (Stamp Out Marine Plastics) Awards – Public Voting Has Started

Media Release

CLiP'S STOMP (Stamp Out Marine Plastics) Awards – Public Voting Has Started

Public voting has started for the inaugural Commonwealth Litter Programme's STOMP (Stamp Out Marine Plastic Pollution) Awards, which was initiated to discover and encourage innovations to reduce and eliminate marine plastic pollution.

Duncan Pritchard, Project Manager of Green Corridors, the Durban-based non-profit organisation tasked with managing the awards programme, reports that over 60 submissions have been made.

"We are pleased with the number of entries we have received in this first year of the awards," he says. "The entries have varied in terms of category, and in terms of the kinds of individuals and organisations making submissions. For us, that is a positive start, as we want to use the awards to inspire South Africans to finds solutions to the plastic crisis."

Entries have been made in five categories: technology or technical design, consumer products, youth and adult inspire through creativity and action and special recognition category for organizations and individuals doing great things to find solutions. "As expected we have had entries from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, but we have also seen a significant number of entries from the Eastern Cape, and inland areas."

"What is particularly interesting is the number of entries by young people, who are doing significant work in trying to find solutions to the plastic crisis. We have also seen some interesting tech innovations, giving us enormous hope that people are thinking of the future, and this certainly speaks to the overall vision of the awards."

Public voting is open until Friday 15 November, thereafter, a panel of judges will start their judging, with finalists announced on Friday 22 November.

Representatives of the final entries in the Technology or Technical Design and the Product Development categories will be hosted, and their innovations showcased at the CLIP Innovation Conference: STEM the tide of plastic waste in Africa in Cape Town on 4 and 5 December 2019. Other entries will also be showcased at this conference, which is co-hosted with the Sustainable Seas Trust.

CLIP is led by the United Kingdom through the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), funded by the UK's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

All voting takes place online. To view the entries go to https://www.stompawards.co.za/index.php/vote

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Caption to photo 1603 by Val Adamson:

Marine Environmentalist Aphiwe Notshaya (left) reveals to young eco-warriors, Shridhar Ramlagan, Matthew Jolley, Zoe Paige van Niekerk and Nhlamulo Khosa, how plastic nurdles, small plastic pellets, end up in the ocean and on the beaches affecting our marine life and the environment. With plastic  pollution in the oceans creating major environmental and health challenges, the STOMP Awards aims to encourage people to come up with creative  and innovative solutions to stem the flow of litter into the sea. Entries to the awards are open online at www.stompawards.co.za and close on 8 November. Winners will be announced at the CLIP Innovation Conference: STEM the tide of plastic waste in Africa in Cape Town on 4 and 5 December 2019.

Flatfoot Dance Company Presents “Stand By Me” With The Flatfoot Downie Dance Company

FLATFOOT DANCE COMPANY presents “STAND BY ME” with the FLATFOOT DOWNIE DANCE COMPANY

 

The Flatfoot Dance Company presents its third annual integrated dance programme working with dancers with Down Syndrome titled Stand by Me at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on Tuesday 12 November at 6.30pm.

 

This landmark once-off performance will feature the unique partnering of the professional Flatfoot dancers with the fondly-referred to “Flatfoot Downie Dance Company”. This unique dance programme is unprecedented in South Africa and is a celebration of the power of dance to shift lives and to negotiate difference and inclusivity.

 

Flatfoot celebrates its 16th anniversary this year and has - as one of its core values - the practice of dance (in education and in performance) as a tool towards what it calls “living democracy”. This dance programme celebrates community across the divides of race, gender and disability.

 

This programme began in August 2017 with the visit of Dutch choreographer Adriaan Luteijn of INTRODANS and his collaboration with Flatfoot. The company has continued this work over 2018 and 2019 and this performance is the culmination of this year-long programme.

 

“Stand By Me will not only move and delight audiences but will challenge the very core foundations of who we think can and should dance professionally,” says Lliane Loots Artistic Director fo Flatfoot. “This dance journey is about learning to stand next to our neighbours and acknowledging their humanity.”

 

Four Flatfoot dancers (Sifiso Khumalo, Siseko Duba, Jabu Siphika and Zinhle Nzama) partner up with their counterparts, Karl Hebbelman, Charles Phillips, Kevin Govender and Michaela Munro in a dance explosion that is an affirmation of faith, courage and the joy of dance.

 

Loots, who is the company’s award-winning choreographer, says “creating this work has been a journey into discovering community and into discovering what it means to engage a firm and loving assertion of self and identity. All nine of us in the rehearsal room have been forced to look inward and to find the spaces inside ourselves that embrace the true meaning of ubuntu, and I have been humbled every day by what these eight dancers bring to our process”. 

 

As two very special curtain-raisers for this evening, Flatfoot will also showcase work it has been doing in its unique 2019 “Junior ADD: Girls to Women” dance programme. In this programme 10 young girls between the ages of 11 and 14 years were identified from Flatfoot community dance programmes run in KwaMashu and Umlazi. “They have been working with the company every Saturday during 2019 for special technical dance skills training as we believe that these amazing girls are the next generation of Durban (and Flatfoot’s) dancers,” says Loots. “They will perform a work choreographed for them by Flatfoot’s Zinhle Nzama called Kivuli.”

 

The second work called Fire in Me! features four Flatfoot Junior Company members (Mthoko Mkhwanazi, Siseko Duba, Nondumiso Dube and Sbonga Ndlovu). This is an athletic and magical foot-stomping work created for them especially for this event by Flatfoot’s Sifiso Khumalo who continues to grow a technical style that combines his own African dance roots with contemporary technical training.

 

The season promises, as always, to be one of the highlights on Durban’s dance calendar and this once-off performance is being offered as a fundraiser to help support the Flatfoot Down Syndrome Dance programme for 2020.

 

Tickets are limited and cost R80 each. To pre-book contactflatfootdancecompany@gmail.com .

Pre-booked tickets can be collected at the Sneddon box office from 1 hr before the start of show on the 12 November.  This is cash payment only as no card facilities are available.

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Search is on for the next great 21st century science, technology and technical innovation that will help reduce and eliminate plastic waste

Search is on for the next great 21st century science, technology and technical innovation

that will help reduce and eliminate plastic waste in South Africa

 

The search is on for science, technology and technical innovations that will help reduce and eliminate plastic waste, and be the next great 21st century innovation that could change the world, as the UK-based Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLIP), introduces its STOMP (Stamp Out Marine Plastic Pollution) Awards in South Africa.

 

The awards, which are open to all South African residents, are grouped into four categories: Technology or Technical Design, Product Development, Inspire through Creativity, and Action. 

 

Finalists in the Technology or Technical Design category will present their ideas or projects at CLIP’s Innovation Conference co-hosted by the Sustainable Seas Trust, titled STEM the tide of plastic waste in Africa, in Cape Town in 4 and 5 December. The winner will also receive a trip to the UK in 2020, to attend the London CLIP Conference, along with winners from across the Commonwealth, where they will showcase their project. They will also receive further research and development mentoring and support from industry experts at South Africa’s  Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

 

With 90% of marine litter made up of plastics that originate from land and sea-based sources, it is one of the most widespread problems facing oceans, and key to coming up with solutions to this plastic pollution problem, are the science, technology and technical innovators. 

 

Speaking about their involvement in the awards Jerome Andrew, Senior Researcher and Project Manager at the CSIR said, “With the ever-increasing challenges around marine plastic that has a direct impact on the quality of life for the people of this country, and its marine life, we are very excited about the possibilities and potential of some ideas that may come through this initiative. It is our organisational objective to undertake directed, multidisciplinary research and technological innovation that contributes to the improved quality of life of South Africans. So we look forward to seeing the submissions and hopefully there will be one brilliant innovation that we can support in becoming a sustainable solution to the plastic problem.”

 

‘While we are encouraging people to enter into any category in the awards, we are particular interested from a long-term and sustainable point of view, in those studying, researching and working in the science, technology and technical sectors who are the thinkers and creators that are finding new ideas, inventions and innovations that cut across so many aspects of our 21st century lifestyles,” says Duncan Pritchard, from Green Corridors in Durban, the Project Manager of the Awards. “This a global problem and we are looking for those individuals or institutions in South Africa who may have the solutions the world needs. Wouldn’t that be awesome to have a South African innovation blaze the trail in stamping out marine pollution?”

 

 

All categories are important to a holistic approach to dealing with the plastic pollution problem and will be awarded and acknowledged. CLIP, however, recognizes that innovations in the technology or technical design category will be where the practical solutions will emanate. 

 

CLIP is led by the United Kingdom through the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), funded by the UK’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and has partnered with Green Corridors, a Durban based non-profit organisation to roll out the awards programme in South Africa.

 

For more information about all the categories and prizes or to enter go to www.stompawards.co.za. Entries close on 8 November after which there is a public voting period for one week until 15 November.

 

European Film Festival for Cape Town, Joburg and Pretoria

Media Release

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL FOR CAPE TOWN, JOHANNESBURG & PRETORIA

 

Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town are in for a ten-day feast of award-winning films as the European Film Festival celebrates its 6th edition in South Africa. The festival will be held simultaneously at Cinema Nouveau theatres in the three cities from 29 November to 8 December.  The carefully curated festival is packed with Oscar-nominated and multi-award-winning films from twelve countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.  

 

The Films

Opening the festival is the French film Les Misérables, which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 and then picked up Best International Feature Film at the Durban International Film Festival in July. Inspired by the Paris riots of 2005, witnessed first-hand by director Ladj Ly, the film revolves around three members of an anti-crime brigade who are overrun while trying to make an arrest.  It has been selected as the French entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020. 

Representing Austria, Styx depicts the transformation of a woman sailor when she becomes the only person to come to the aid of a group of refugees shipwrecked on the high seas. Olly Richards (Time Out) says of the film: ‘A vital, highly intelligent movie that is both a first-class thriller and a biting commentary on our current world.’

The highly awarded Girl, from Flanders Belgium, tells the story of 15-year-old Lara who dreams of becoming a ballerina. Lara however was born into the body of a boy, she is undergoing treatment in preparation for gender reassignment surgery and the film illustrates some of the tough challenges she must face, both physically and psychologically, as a dancer, and as a person in transition.

System Crasher is Germany’s choice for next year’s Oscars. This intense journey witnesses the untamed high-energy antics of nine-year old Benni as she swings from sweetness to aggressive wild-child, causing danger and despair to all around her, including the social welfare services trying to help her.

Set against a housing crisis in Dublin, the Irish film Rosie is a riveting account of a remarkable woman trying to protect her loved ones and maintain their dignity when they lose their home. It examines how even in times of crises, the love and strength of a family can endure.

Women are the heroes, villains and victims in The Vice of Hope, a social drama about poverty, African immigration, human trafficking and the surrogacy business in towns around Naples (Italy). But change is coming, at least for the protagonist, Maria, who finds a link to her past, and her future.

My Extraordinary Summer With Tess is a sensitive Dutch coming-of-age drama for all age groups.  It follows a young boy and a girl on their paths of self-discovery as they cross the threshold from childhood to adolescence, and into the realization of the importance of family.

Cold War is a passionate love story between a music director and a singer whose meeting in the ruins of post-war Poland continues across Berlin, Yugoslavia and Paris. A tale of a couple separated by politics, character flaws and unfortunate twists of fate, Pawel Pawlikowski’s sumptuous black and white masterpiece of auteur cinema won Best Director prize at Cannes before earning three Oscar nominations at the Academy Awards in 2019, with five European Film Awards before that.

The outrageously wacky Diamantino is perhaps best expressed by Cath Clark in her review in The Guardian (UK):  ‘If Cristiano Ronaldo fell asleep after gorging on year-old camembert, his dreams could not match the bizarre bonkersness of this enjoyably throwaway romantic sci-fi satire from Portugal about a megastar footballer who falls victim of a government cloning plot.’

Praised as his best work in years, Oscar-winner Pedro Almodóvar’s 21st film Pain and Glory won two awards at Cannes 2019. Starring Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz, this semi-autobiographical narrative tells of a series of re-encounters experienced by a film director in physical decline, and his need to recover meaning and hope. Pain and Glory is Spain’s entry for next year’s Academy Awards.

Swedish documentary Push is an important film for the activists. It follows Leilani Farha, the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, as she travels the globe, trying to understand who’s being pushed out of the city and why. Commenting on how global finance is fuelling the housing crisis and making cities unaffordable to live in she notes: ‘There’s a huge difference between housing as a commodity and gold as a commodity. Gold is not a human right, housing is.’

The United Kingdom participant in this year’s festival is Official Secrets, directed by South Africa’s most celebrated director Gavin Hood, who won an Oscar with Tsotsi  in 2005. Based on true events, Official Secrets tells the gripping story of Katharine Gun (Keira Knightley), a British intelligence specialist who leaks a memo in which the United States enlists Britain’s help in collecting compromising information on United Nations Security Council members in order to blackmail them into voting in favor of an invasion of Iraq. Following its presentation during the festival the film will go on public release from 13 December.

Festival director and curator Peter Rorvik points out that “a central thread within all the films is the search for a sense of self and meaning in a world where things often fall apart around us, where systems break down, where that search becomes an imperative lifeline.”

The newly arrived European Union Ambassador to South Africa, Dr Riina Kionka, expressed her support for the festival, saying, “The European Film Festival is a showcase of recent award-winning films and provides a snapshot of issues and themes that inspire European filmmakers and audiences. As the many topical stories show, lived experiences in Europe are not that dissimilar from life in South Africa … or elsewhere, for that matter. Film is a cornerstone of our European cultural and creative industries and the rich diversity of European cinematic approaches on show will be a delight to critics and publics alike. Don’t miss out on this smorgasbord of great entertainment!”

See http://www.eurofilmfest.co.za/ for detailed synopses, trailers and links to the screening schedule and ticket bookings.

The European Film Festival 2019 is a partnership project of the European Union’s Delegation to South Africa and twelve European Member State cultural agencies or embassies based in the country. They are: the General Representation of the Government of Flanders, the French Institute in South Africa, the Goethe-Institut, the Italian Cultural Institute, the British Council, and the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. The project is organised in cooperation with Ster-Kinekor Cinema Nouveau and Cineuropa and is coordinated by Creative WorkZone

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 Action in Autism to  open Skills Transfer and Business Centre

Media Release

 Action in Autism to  open Skills Transfer and Business Centre

 

Action in Autism, the non-profit and disabled people’s organisation that supports and resource to autistic people and their families, has embarked on a new exciting, pioneering project, the Action in Autism Skills Transfer and Business Centre which will officially open on November 9, 2019.

 

This Centre will develop and provide skills and employment opportunities for people with autism and associated neurological conditions. The project will officially be launched at a special function on 9 November at the Action in Autism Centre in Parkhill, Durban.

 

The landmark occasion will include invited dignitaries, the Ningizimu Special School steel band, a musical performance by young people on the spectrum, and the creation of a commemorative artwork. 

 

“It is great to have such a centre opened for autistic people,” says Aavishkar Sewpersad, who is autistic and has worked at the Action in Autism Centre as a part-time administrator for the past year. “They will be empowered to learn skills that will make them feel valuable in society. Everyone has some potential to do things, all they need is love, guidance and perseverance, and this is what they will get at this Centre.”

 

In South Africa, employment for people with disability hovers around a paltry 1%. Included in the many reasons for this persistent problem are high and often unrealistic entry requirements, insufficient support and accommodation, and unfair workplace discrimination. “Following the guidelines derived from both our Constitution and the Employment Equity Act, No 55 of 1998, Action in Autism believes that the creation of a Skills Transfer Centre for autistic people will contribute towards finding practical, customised solutions to this dire unemployment problem for people with disabilities,” says Liza Aziz, the organisation’s Chairperson. “Autistic people have great potential to enrich any workplace through their unique perspective, their neuro-diversity and problem solving skills, their dedication, dependability and hard work.  It is their right to contribute to society, creating more inclusive working environments, a diverse market economy, as well as a more inclusive and humane society.”

 

Most people with autism are confined to home once they leave school. The vast majority are unable to access employment, in addition, these scarce job placements have only been available to those who have low support needs and are diagnosed with level 1 autism. The proposed skills transference centre will kick-start and accelerate autistic people’s entry into the formal economy and will include a modified workspace, a calming or downtime space, supervised, visual work schedules, skills assessment and training from an experienced Occupational Therapist, facilitators from specialised fields to provide expertise and skills transfer, and a work-integrated learning environment for ease of movement into the market place and maximum skills development.

 

Dr Adam Mahomed, benefactor and long-time friend of the organisation, funded the modification of the Skills Development Centre with the services of Natal Construction, and the organisation continues to work hard to secure further donors to equip and sustain the Centre. If anyone would like to contribute to this new initiative, or for more information about the Centre Opening, the programme and how the organisation can support adults with autism, please contact the Centre on 031 563 3039, or email info@actioninautism.org.za

 

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