Arts and Culture South Africa Project #59839

Improve lives of young Zulu dancers

by Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park, Environmental Rehabilitation Centre

Summary

3 out of 5 children in rural areas in South Arica face lives of poverty. Young underprivileged children between the ages of 6 and 14 years of age walk miles from their rural homes, to reach the area where they spend their day training in Zulu dance to perform outside Hluhluwe Wildlife Park. Often, they have no lunch, or shelter from rain. Our project will provide meals, and studio shelter for arts, dance, and conservation, to empower them to be leaders while expanding their talent nationally.

$5,000
total goal

$4,344
remaining

9
donors

3
monthly donors

3
months

Challenge

While watching Zulu children express their joy and talent through traditional dance and singing, it is difficult to believe that most of them are living lives of poverty, or that they have walked many miles from their rural homes to come to dance. Tourists who pass by often give them applause and provide small tips. This helps the children and their families with income, but their humble needs are so much more! They need shelter in rain or heat, food, and upliftment of their talent.

Solution

More than 80 dancers would receive nourishing meals and shelter to protect them from rain. Our expert game guide teaches them leadership skills and to understand how culture is important to conservation. We build their confidence to become Young Environmental Ambassadors and represent dance and deep cultural knowledge at National Arts contests outside their rural area. Although they had never performed on a formal stage before, they recently achieved "High Gold" in their first Regional contest!

Long-Term Impact

More than 80 children will be empowered to reach up from lives of poverty, with confidence and leadership, Their music, art, and dance skills will be optimized together with lessons about the management of the environment, leadership skills, and deep appreciation of culture. They will return to their schools to set up dance, art, and conservation clubs for their peers and share opportunities for them to broaden their world by participating in National and International art and talent contests.