Soweto schools and cultural groups celebrate Heritage Day with NESO
Some of the sponsors include the Diepmeadow Taxi Association, which provides transportation for the groups, as well as other local businesses.
The National Empowerment School Olympics (NESO) hosted their Heritage Day celebration at Funda Centre on September 24, bringing together various schools from around Soweto to showcase their skills in traditional dance, acting, and poetry.
According to NESO communications officer Nonhlanhla Ngubane, this year marks the 15th anniversary of the organisation celebrating Heritage Day and gathering learners from schools and local traditional organisations.
“It has been quite a journey for NESO. Today, as we celebrate this year, we have groups participating in various categories.
ALSO READ: Letsibogo Girls High celebrates Heritage Day with first annual magnet concert
“We also invited local sponsors from Diepkloof and the surrounding areas, and we are pleased to say that they showed up and supported us in making the event a success. For that, we are really grateful,” Ngubane said.
She added that although bringing schools and children together for such celebrations is close to their hearts, they still face challenges, including securing additional sponsorship beyond their current supporters.
“It has always been a hustle to get sponsorship, but we are really growing from the first event we held to this recent one. One of the main aims of the day was to engage children around Diepkloof on this busy day so that they have something to do, rather than roaming the streets or finding themselves in unsafe spaces.
“We also aim to teach them about good morals and to preserve their different yet beautiful cultures.
“We really appreciate everyone who came on board to make this day a success because if it were not for them, we would not be here today. We are happy to give the children of Soweto a sense of belonging.”
ALSO READ: Protea South seniors celebrate heritage with pride
Some of the sponsors include the Diepmeadow Taxi Association, which provides transportation for the groups, as well as other local businesses.
The groups that took part in the celebration included local schools, the Sinqobile Cultural Group from Protea Glen, which participated in the Umkhosi Womhlanga in KZN, and the Last Chance Dance Crew, which will represent Diepkloof in Cape Town at the Global Dance Supreme competition on 10 October.
“Each year, we are part of the Heritage Day celebration hosted by NESO because we believe it is really impactful for children in the area.
“It forms part of the local organisations that work hard to ensure that children are kept off the streets on this busy day,” said Thobile Dladla, founder of the Last Chance Dance Crew.
