African Bank has implemented an art programme at Mikateka Primary School in Midrand where volunteers from the bank will interact with the pupils every month.
Kennedy Dembetembe, African Bank’s national corporate social investment manager, said the bank adopted the school as a beneficiary to assist with its arts and sports departments which are in need of support.
He said creating art was a fine way for children to learn how to make decisions and solve problems. “Research shows that children that have greater exposure to art and the media, read and write better than their peers and excel in so many other ways,” he said.
The school principal, Mandla Sibanyoni said, “The programme, which kicked off in February, is doing well. Pupils have done everything from beadwork to scrapbooking and collages and there is a real passion for the project from both the children and the teachers.”
Sibanyoni explained that they welcomed the partnership and support from the bank as they noticed that Grade 7 pupils were lagging behind their peers when it came to hand-eye coordination.
A 10-year national study by Shirley Brice Heath of Stanford University discovered some interesting outcomes when young people are involved in highly effective non-school arts-based community programmes in under-resourced communities.
In comparison with other children, the arts pupils were:
- Four times more likely to win an academic award such as being on the honour roll.
- Eight times more likely to receive a community service award.
- Three times more likely to win a school attendance award.
- Four times more likely to participate in a math or science fair.
- Likely to score higher on their varsity admission test scores if they have been involved for more than four years of after-school arts study.
