Students from the Global Pact’s Kholwa (believe) Project hosted an art exhibition on behalf of children from the Raglan Road Multi-purpose Centre at the Cathedral of St Michael and St George last Sunday.
Students from the Global Pact’s Kholwa (believe) Project hosted an art exhibition on behalf of children from the Raglan Road Multi-purpose Centre at the Cathedral of St Michael and St George last Sunday.
This is after they saw the need for something positive to take orphaned and vulnerable children’s minds off their plight and allow them a chance to express themselves and tell their stories.
"We came up with art because it’s a skill that they can use as a profession and a form of expression," said Michelle Goldberg, one of the five members of the Kholwa project.
The project came about through four students from North Eastern University in Boston teaming up with a Rhodes student from Zimbabawe, Farai Mkaka to help the children at the Raglan centre.
The exhibition showcased paintings, drawings and captions which told each children’s story and what they wish to become one day. The students and the children made some colourful tie-dyed T-shirts which they sold for R150, managing to sell a total of 18 t-shirts and raising R 2 700 for the centre.
Resident Ann Berning was impressed by the work and said "I’m grateful to these kids, but I wonder why we are not doing it ourselves? Why do we have to wait for people from America to come and help us?"
The exhibition was visited by members of the Cathedral congregation as well as the friends and professors of the Kholwa project students. Prof Helen Delfeld from thr USA said "it is a creative and powerful way to engage the community in the lives of the children at Raglan".
The children’s paintings and drawings were not for sale as it was their first attempt but they promise to sell their next range of artworks. They also stand a chance to showcase their work at the National Arts Festival next year were they intend to sell the artworks.
The students wish to sell the t-shirts to their friends and families and try to sustain the project even after leaving South Africa and Grahamstown.
"The money will help with school clothing and feeding the children they come from disadvantaged homes" said Nomaphelo Belwana, a community development practitioner at the centre.
The children could not come to the exhibition because of lack of transport,"but they looked happy and they expressed themselves in their artworks" said Mkaka.
