2010 Philippi SAEP Arts and Environment Festival

Follow this link to check out photos of this year's Arts and Environment Festival.

The 2010 Philippi SAEP Arts and Environment Festival, funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, was a celebration of the work of township high school youth completed through SAEP's Arts and Environment Outreach Programmes. The festival incorporated learners' achievements in these programmes in a two day celebration of culture and community. The Arts portion of the festival included a showcase of the learners' paintings, sculptures and drawings, in addition to drama, song, and dance, poetry, and marimba performances.

The festival was held in the township of Philippi on September 24^th and 25^th and culminated with the unveiling of a life-size giraffe sculpture made out of recylced wire and plastic cans and bottles by the SAEP Environment Club. The event sought to bring energy, enthusiasm, and recognition of the arts and environment into township communities and to celebrate and showcase positive community development and the talent of township youth.

A Brief Background to the 2010 Philippi SAEP Arts and Environment Festival

The 2010 Philippi SAEP Arts and Environment Festival is an exciting extension of SAEP's current extra-curricular Arts and Environment Programmes available to learners at three township high schools on the Cape Flats in Philippi and Samora Machel: Zisukhanyo, Sophumelela and Intsebenziswano Secondary Schools. This year's festival was made possible through funding by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.

SAEP's Arts Programme provides weekly workshops at four high schools conducted by student volunteers from University of Cape Town, former learners from these schools, and some professional teachers and lecturers. The workshops are divided into drama, music, visual arts, film, photography, and poetry and creative writing. The 2010 Philippi SAEP Arts and Environment Festival and activities leading up to it are an expansion and extension of our current activities.

SAEP's Environmental Programme provides monthly hikes for over 15 high school learners (in partnership with the Mountain Club of South Africa and the University of Cape Town Mountain and Ski Club). Additionally, the programme takes a group of 30 Grade 9 students to the Goldfields Environmental Centre in West Coast National Park for five days. These clubs include workshops on environmental education and action in the townships, and learners contribute to the community by participating in the cleaning and greening of 'open spaces' in their communities.

Benefits to the Community

The 2010 Philippi SAEP Arts and Environment Project provides high school learners with a variety of educational input not available to them at school; for example: tuition in visual arts, music, film, photography, poetry and creative writing, drama, environmental issues and community action. Additionally, it offers a valuable range of skills; such as: public speaking, innovation, self-confident expression, English proficiency and knowledge of alternative career paths. All of the workshops attempt to provide learners with mentoring relationships with knowledgeable adults, an interest in self-motivated education and a space to explore specific talents. Parents, relatives, teachers and the rest of the community will benefit from the entertainment provided by the festival in the form of visual and performance art. The positive energy created by this event will benefit not only the community but all visitors to the area when they attend the sport field for games, and will boost Philippi's image within Cape Town.

To find out about other projects supported by the NLDTF, visit the National Lotteries Board website at http://www.nlb.org.za/nldtf.asp