Former Sir Pierre student launches Ithuteng Art Festival
A mentorship seminar for Sir Pierre matriculants was also held on the same day
By Nolwazi Dhlamini
THE Ithuteng Art Festival was formally launched at Sir Pierre Van Ryneveld High School on Saturday.
The festival was founded by former Sir Pierre learner, Joy Matangari (21), as a platform for arts and culture to blossom in Tembisa.
“There aren’t a lot of schools which offer arts and culture as a subject or extra curriculum activity in the township. That is why we came up with this idea to awaken the arts at schools in Tembisa,” Matangari explained to EXPRESS.
“Ithuteng is an organisation that is keen to improve the educational level of learners in township schools through exposing them to the arts.”
The organisation will be working with 20 primary schools in Tembisa, mentoring, tutoring and guiding the learners in the field of arts.
They will also host annual competitions such as debating and public speaking.
“The first competition, for debating, will be held on March 17 at Sir Pierre Van Ryneveld High School. It will feature three high schools and three primary schools from Tembisa, which will go head to head to win the big title.”
Learners will be awarded certificates and prizes that will be sponsored by companies.
In August, the first public speaking competition will be held at Rabasotho Hall in Tembisa.
Saturday’s launch event was also in part a mentorship seminar, where Sir Pierre’s matriculants were addressed by former learners. The speakers gave advice on each of their own career paths, for example arts and culture, entertainment, sport and coaching, and business and economics. The learners heard about how far they had come in their respective fields and how they had made a success of their lives through what they learned at school.
“The launch was very successful, as all the objectives for the event were met and the vision was achieved. The mentorship seminar was also informative for the matriculants and we hope the knowledge, ideas and advice they received from the speakers and former Sir Pierre learners will come in handy for them in deciding which path they will go in their lives beyond school,” Matangari concluded.
