Using Theatre in Education – The Sedibeng Committed Artist Experience

Happy Lovely Yende writes about the SCA which has used recreational methods of education for reaching young people in Small Farm to return used educational materials to their schools.

The Small Farm Community Crisis Forum (SCCF) is a community-based forum, which was established in 2002. It is an afﬁliate of the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF). The SCCF was formed to combat the problems faced by the 176- year-old location.

THE SEDIBENG COMMITTED ARTIST

The Sedibeng Committed Artist (SCA) is a brainchild of the SCCF and it specialises in the performing arts. Its main focus is education through art by using poetry, drama, traditional music, gospel and traditional dance. These various art forms are used to educate and change the Small Farm youth on critical matters that affect our area. This is achieved through educational pamphlets, monthly newsletters and performances such as the

‘Twasa’ play. The play is on educational rights and was created, written and performed by the SCA members for numerous schools in the region.

We have performed for many schools in Soweto and Small Farm, and for the Soweto Electricity Crisis Forum. We also held performances in Potchefstroom, Vosloorus, Johannesburg City Hall and at a funeral in Orange Farm. All the performances of the SCA were well attended.

The organisation’s main objective is to encourage people to return textbooks and other learning materials they have in their possession to be re-used in our schools. Another objective is to struggle for free education. We focus on fundraising activities so that our schools can provide school uniforms, textbooks and ﬁght for learners’ rights.

The Sedibeng Committed Artist is no longer as visible as before due to the failure of the APF theatre/cultural group. However, the organisation is continuing to perform and it has its own programme within the SCCF. We are also involved in doing food gardening, which plays an important role in our community in dealing with poverty alleviation.

We hope that parents will motivate their children to come and join our organisation. What we are currently seeking is to take children off the streets and turn their minds away from crime. In order for the SCA to succeed we need the support of the community so that children are encouraged to reconnect with their heritage and traditions. The group has rehearsals every afternoon afternoon at Mosia primary school, Selbourne Road, in Small Farm.

The following are names of the16 twasa play shooters: