"None but ourselves can free our minds.." Bob Marley
It's safe to assume, I think, that we are all heartily sick of seeing people die of AIDS because they simply don't know or believe that ARV's can give you the chance to see your children grow up.
We are just as tired of people struggling to access services which are their constitutional right, and which are essential for survival, such as water or health services.
The third issue we're taking up is the loss of jobs, health and sustenance because of self destructive binge drinking.
It sounds like a lot for one project, but the most wonderful thing about drama, is that it can examine, explain or even laugh at any subject it likes.
The Masakhane Drama project was born out of the need to share basic information with a large group of people quickly and effectively.
The methods we use are interactive, giving our audience the opportunity to find their own sollutions to the difficult situations they deal with every day.
We know that it is difficultto change one's behaviour , and the only way change will happen is if one takes part actively in the learning process.
Our actors all come from the Masakhane village and are at present recieving Life Skills Training courtesy of SAB Miller. Before our show hits the road, they will also have been trained as HIV Counsellors and they will be able to do on the spot HIV testing. Sam, our drama director, is also a social worker, and she will be enriching the counselling training with further general counselling skills.
We have many friends helping us in our own learning process such as:
- Magaliesburg Clinic
- Koster and Swartruggens Hospitals and ARV clinics
- Home Based Carers from Magaliesburg and the kgetleng district
- Kgetleng district health department
- The people of Masakhane village
- Dr. Molephe Pheto (well known activist, musician, dramatis persona and pig farmer)
SAB Miller South Africa have been supporting the Masakhane Village Power Project with training, water provision and lots more. We are hoping to present them with the Drama Project proposal within the next few weeks.
Thankyou very much for your support thus far!
We have started rehearsal in Masakhane and we have made contact with most of our target communities. We will be working in rural squatter camps, on farms and in factories and we hope to reach exactly those people that are out of bounds to the noisy city media machine.
Love and light
Sam Savage
Bravo! Encore! What a briliant show you guys!
ReplyDeleteLove you all!