Ikhaya Trust Center

The Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust  (GSDT) was established in 2002 by concerned individuals who wanted to help to bridge the economic and cultural divide between communities in Stellenbosch. An old beer hall that was previously destroyed in a fire in Khayamandi was bought and renovated. It became the iKhaya Trust Center, from which the Trust operates.

The Trust is a leading resource center and development cooperation organization in Stellenbosch.  It runs development programs to nurture children and youth, to assist and strengthen other community organizations, and to strengthen civil society. It also builds capacity through long-term programs to enable people to change their own lives.  The planning, monitoring and evaluation of results in these programs are also aimed to find ways that can be replicated elsewhere to assist the development of the country.

I joined Mpumi at Ikhaya for their annual Cape Classic workshop. This year a German string quartet came to visit, and played the second movement of Josef Haydn’s “Kaiserquartett” (quartet of the emperor), which became the German National Anthem. During this workshop, the children were taught the melody so that they will recognize it and possibly be able to sing the German National anthem one day.

Looking up – photobook

After finishing the 6 months project of visiting various non-profits around the Western Cape to capture ‘a day in their lives’, I decided to compile a photobook with the material that I got. From the beginning of the project, my approach was to display a more positive side of the work the non-profits are doing, and how people’s lives have improved. I called the book Looking up.

I’ve only printed one copy so far, with the idea of using it as a prototype/demo to get feedback from various people, and potentially fund a second project.

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Newlands Open Day – VWS

The Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) have been combating dangerous and often deadly runaway fires since 1999. With approximately 150 members at two stations (Newlands and Jonkershoek), the VWS has assisted the Table Mountain National Park and surrounding areas with some of the wildest fires Cape Town has ever experienced. Baptised by fire through the devastating fires in Cape Town during the year 2000, the VWS is now a highly organised Section 21 Company that continues to grow in reputation and stature.

I joined VWS at their Newlands Open Day where they demonstrated their training and equipment and created awareness of wildfires and their effects to the people of Cape Town. They put on a display of fire fighting, educational stands and awesome interactive activities for both kids and parents.

22 photos in total.

Art In The Forest – Light From Africa Foundation

Art in the Forest, a stunning art gallery and ceramics studio located in Cape Town, presented a group exhibition entitled “Passages”, comprising artworks by young emerging artists based in Johannesburg and surrounding areas.

The artworks – linocuts, etchings, screen prints, mono prints, collages – offer the artists’ reflections on the challenges and opportunities in daily life. “Passages” evokes transitions from one condition or place to another, journeys, openings and boundaries, pathways and gateways. It can imply progress, forward movement, and evolution; or movement from tradition to modernity, rural to urban settings, youth to adulthood; or the lack of passages, the impact of things standing still, staying the same.

All profits made by Art in the Forest will benefit the Light from Africa Foundation which generates critically required funding for South Africa’s vulnerable children. They aim to achieve this objective through fundraising as well as the sale of art and products at the art hubs and the creation of bright ideas for sale to the retail and wholesale markets.

19 photos in total.

Climbing The Farm

The weekend of the 23rd of july saw a group of climbers from all over the world (South Africa, Austria, France, Scotland) get together in a small town called Montagu, about 2 hours drive outside of Cape Town. It was the middle of winter and rather chilly, although some people (Hermie) wore shorts the entire time, even during the evenings.

The occasion was the ‘grand’ opening of a new climbing location, simply called ‘The Farm’. Complete with the cutting of a red ribbon. Thanks to Hermie, Andrew, and Andy Green, who spent the previous 2 months preparing and bolting the rock, there were more than 10 routes with various ratings to attempt. Despite a bit of rain sunday morning, it was an absolutely great weekend of climbing, camping and braaing.

24 photos.