‘I have a dream…’ competition for learners: entries now open

The Ubuhlakani Project invites high school learners from Kempton Park and Tembisa to showcase their creative talents in a competition called ‘I have a dream’, set to start on February 15.

The project’s aim, powered by the Crazy Cupcake Children’s Foundation, is to identify and develop the youth’s creative spirit through performing arts and media, and teach them the necessary skills to further their careers in these areas.

Anton Posthumus from the foundation said: “Most of the youth currently in formal schooling will not be able to attend tertiary education due to affordability and the number of unemployment is rising in South Africa.

“By teaching them a variety of skills, they can be empowered to become self-sufficient and this will enable them to be productive members of society who can work towards making their dreams become a reality.”

He explained that the project intends to make children aware that they can create their own work and that an artist/photographer shouldn’t be dependent on a production house or agent to find them work.

“In order to help any artist/photographer to be independent they need to be empowered to think creatively and take that inspiring leap by producing their own work. The Ubuhlakani Project strives to instil this principle in our young candidates.”

Roadshow

For the duration of February, the foundation will be visiting high schools to launch the Ubuhlakani Project. Through the project, the ideas and objectives will be launched and the learners will be informed how to enter and be advised as to what to do in the respective areas.

Entries will be completed by the end of March.

Exhibition

What makes this fantastic initiative even better is that an exhibition of winning photos and performances of some of the submitted performing arts material by the learners will be held in April.

“This will give participants the chance to showcase their talent and to give recognition to those who have been selected to attend the workshops,” Posthumus said.

The competition

In the performing arts/drama portion of the competition, all candidates are expected to write and perform their own work. Material can be either a poem or a piece of prose with ‘I have a dream’ as a theme.

For Posthumus, the purpose is to stimulate young artists to think about their futures and what they aspire to be or do in the future, thus the theme ‘I have a dream…’ Every young child grows up having dreams and ideals.

The media learners will take a picture with their cellphones depicting an aspect of the “I have a dream” theme. They will post the photo with a short description of what they dream of on www.ubuhlakaniproject.co.za for adjudication.

Closing date for both competition submissions is the end of workday on March 6.

For more information about this amazing opportunity, feel free to contact Posthumus on 083 698 5371 or 087 822 2582.