Gift of the Givers Foundation and Agang Productions host mental awareness event
ALEX – Alex creatives urged to speak out.
Humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers Foundation and Agang Productions Company recently joined hands to raise awareness about mental health amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown that has left millions without jobs.
The organisations hosted a women’s mental health awareness campaign event at Gift of the Givers Foundation Logistics Centre in Bramley on 25 August this year.
The event that was aimed at providing mental support to creatives turned into a music festival when local artist and poet Refilwe ‘Fifi’ Pieterse from Alex shook the auditorium with her electrifying performance.
Volunteer at Gift of the Givers Foundation, Roslyn Toontab said the organisation has been providing support since Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were introduced in March this year. “Gift of the Givers Foundation has been working with people in art and sports industry for the past five months now, to give them different kinds of support. We understand the struggles that creatives and sportspeople go through during this time of lockdown. As an organisation, we understand that artists and creatives do not have monthly or weekly income like other working people, they depend on events bookings and that has not been happening since April.”
Toonab added, “Today we have decided to host this mental health awareness event to talk especially to women in the art industry since we are in a women’s month. We want to provide them with psychological help and show them love. The organisation has, up until today, fed more than 500 local artists including legends who have no means of income at all.”
CEO of Agang Production, Reshoketswe Maredi urged creatives to speak out and seek professional help when faced with difficulties in life. “I’ve been working with artists since 2010 to help them speak out about their daily struggles and challenges. This was after I realised that many artists were suffering from depression and some end up dead because they are afraid to speak out. I know that as our country and the world are going through a trying time, many artists have lost their income and are struggling to support themselves and their families,” Maredi said.
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