The Cape Heart Community and Educational Theatre Company – selected by Tracey Lange
The Cape Heart Community and Educational Theatre Company is an organisation that seeks to address socio-economic issues through educational theatre. The organisation uses ‘non-threatening’ and ‘non-intimidating’ techniques in creating a dialogue through theatre at schools in both the Western and Northern Cape regions. It was founded in 1997 and has been running programmes for the youths in school.
The theatre tours different schools and offers programmes that are in line with the Department of Education’s OBE system. Actors or facilitators involved, use a collection of Shakespeare’s stories, that are already taught in the schools’ curriculum to have a dialogue with learners. Learners are then challenged to engage, debate and discuss themes, characters and content related to each programme offered at the time.
Due to the increasing numbers of youths infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, the theatre undertook a project to educate youths in the Woodstock area. The project accommodated 17 people at a time. The theatre’s educational aspect mainly focuses on AIDS Awareness and issues concerning the school syllabus for grade 12 learners. The theatre also offers programmes on nature conservation, tolerance, racism, sex education and more.
In 1999, the Cape Heart merged with the AMASA UBUNTU, an emergency accommodation and care centre for HIV/AIDS patients. Amasa is a Hebrew word which means burden and Ubuntu, a Zulu word referring to humanity. This merger birthed projects to educate communities and create awareness on issues of prejudice, ignorance and rejection faced mostly by people living with HIV/AIDS.
The theatre’s projects and workshops reach over 200 000 learners annually.
To be part of the change and raise funds for this charity, join LottoStar and KFM in the May Money Madness competition.
LottoStar | Kfm update: 03 June 2019
The total amount contributed to the Cape Heart Community and Educational Theatre Company is R56 000
