The arts can play a valuable part in a kid’s life and a community of volunteers in the Maboneng Precinct in Johannesburg CBD is ensuring the kids in their area are kept out of trouble and are learning to express themselves.

“These initiatives have stemmed from a need to engage with kids from the local community by members of the Maboneng neighbourhood who have identified a need for community interventions,” says Shruthi Nair, Maboneng Community Developer and Retail Curator.

For the last four years the number of initiatives has blossomed into an array of exciting and educational activities that is no doubt uplifting the lives of 40 – 60 children.

“Aside from the daily engagements the current programs are the side walk sessions (guitar lessons for young girls), dance classes via POP art theatre, art classes with Alexandra Cunningham, and film & school which is facilitated by the bioscope”.

These initiatives are allowing the kids to be kids while learning, “They have been given systematic access to resources, spaces and projects that aim to not only educate but initiatives that provide the kids with some form of recreational opportunities,” Nair says, “They also have a safer urban environment to hang out with each other in Maboneng.”

Each of the programs relies on sponsorship and volunteers based facilitation to run. “People need to give more time,” Nair says, “We have a wealth of resources that are underutilized as we don’t have concentrated energy running these projects and educational institutions.”

“If corporates could stop spending money on truck loads of toys and books and kids resources and spent half of their CSR and CSI budgets on putting teachers on their payrolls instead we would be assisting existing schools and crèches and community centres by giving them qualified teachers and educators,” Nair says.

This is the Maboneng Precinct’s story of help.

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If you would like to help:

Email: info@mabonengprecinct.com

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Tags: Art classes for township, Maboneng Precinct