Watch this space with NPO
This upcycled container cinema in Hammarsdale aims to empower and uplift the local community through its various programmes.
AS a child, your excitement is nothing short of palpable as you sit in a cinema seat, the lights begin to dim and a movie takes up your full range of vision on the big screen.
Shap Shap Cinemas has adapted this idea into an empowering and educational initiative.
The non-profit organisation creates educational movie tutorials in isiZulu on a variety of subjects, which includes material for early childhood development, youth development and health. Movie tutorials are shown in mobile cinemas which are set up in creches, schools, clinics, gogo groups and community halls.
The first permanent cinema was opened for the Hammarsdale community recently. This cinema will show all of these movies at varying times so that there is availability for everyone to attend.
“City Logistics was the sponsor for this cinema and we owe them a debt of gratitude for sharing our vision for this rural cinema concept,” said the organisation’s Bianca Ivankovic. “We used a recycled shipping container to create this high tech and comfortable cinema which also doubles as an educational centre.”
The seating area caters for 28 adults or up to 45 children.
From the Cinema Centre, several upliftment projects are run for the community with a focus on basic education and skills development, youth development through to the promotion of business skills and health services.
Clinic
The diabetes and HIV/AIDS clinic is open in the mornings for the community to go along and learn about these diseases as well as TB and other relevant health topics. Patrons can have their blood sugar and blood pressure tested, get tested for HIV and receive necessary counselling for free.
Food security
The NPO has multiple projects lined up that are aimed at benefiting the dietary health of the community surrounding the centre. These projects include: Feed a Family, a healthy cooking show, a feeding scheme and the Moringa project.
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Youth development and tutoring programme
Educational support and skills development programmes run in the afternoons at the centre.
“Our entrepreneurship programme will not only help tackle the high rate of unemployment, but will create a catalyst for economic growth and stability in our country,” said Bianca.
Library
The on-site library caters to infants and parents are encouraged to take out books to read to their children. There is a rewards programme in place and readers are given prizes once they have read and handed in written book reviews. Prizes are awarded after three books, five books and 10 books are read and reviewed.
“Our NPO is currently looking for companies to come on board as sponsors for these various programmes,” said Bianca.
Show your support
Shap Shap Cinemas will host a fund-raiser Ladies Day in support of rural health and education for women at the Augusta Estate from 9am to 1pm on 18 August.
There will be a talk by Megan and Fay of Image Insured at 10am and a talk by Megan from Grassroots at 11.30am. There will be Miglio Jewellery and other beautiful brands on sale. Tea and scones with jam and cream will be served.
Tickets cost R45. Contact Bianca on 073 290 9816.
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