Education through art and poetry

The annual Celebrate Durban festival was taken to local schools this year in an initiative to educate learners on the importance of the festivals highlighted principals: Freedom, Joy and Celebration. The Durban municipality has partnered with popular human rights advocates Art for Humanity (AFH) in creating awareness of the values of freedom of expression to school children.

The workshops featured fine-art students from the Durban University of Technology, which was chosen to participate, as the DUT is recognised as a creatively driven Institute that endorses the work of AFH. Several poets from the esteemed BAT Centre were also invited to facilitate the workshop. Together, these artists planned an exciting day of painting and poetry recitals for the designated schools of Addington Primary School, Durban Girls High, Durban Children’s Home and Umthombo Children’s home.

In the light of Women’s’ month, the focus was on celebration of women as well as the voice they uphold in society. In the workshops learners were requested to create artworks of images and poetry centered on women and children’s rights.

“Children must have fun and enjoy their lives” said Nonhlanhla Davis, a learner from the Durban Children’s Home, holding up her painting of The Right to play- a picture of a playground.
Another learner, grade 7, Ntokozo Moya, stated “Children have the right to see the beauty of life.”

Many children in the workshop had a positive reaction to children’s rights and were interactive in poetry recitals. “I love poetry. It is a great way to express yourself.” said Babongile Nzuzu, Grade 10, Durban Girls High learner, who is also part of the schools poetry club ‘Rhymecite’.
The Celebrate Durban project was successful in developing artistic creativity and appreciation of the arts, but also much needed creative and reflective thinking skills and confidence in self expression.

The workshop also encourages teachers to get involved with advocating serious matters through art by initiating the concept of freedom of expressionOver time, it is anticipated that the values and the creative process of producing and reflecting on art – their own and that of professionals – become part of the personality, thus influencing and enriching the character of the person, and in turn the quality of the community.

Images from the Workshop

The ‘Women for Children’ banner was erected at the Bat Centre for the workshop

DUT 3rd year Fine art students: Zama Mthiyane, Pakisa Tsekiso, Katherine Symons and Stephanie Balkisson coordinated the art workshops

Busiswa Gqulu, a vivacious poet from The Bat Centre, performs poetry to her audience

Cara Walters from AFH addresses the learners on the significance of children’s rights in society.

Learners and teachers work together to create a work of art.

Intriguing, unique and thought-provoking, were the artworks produced by Durban Girls High.