Learn More About MUSICWORKS
Learn more about what MusicWorks does, and our programmes. This collection of short films showcases the programmes and the impact we have on vulnerable children and young people in local communities.
Programmes
Social Innovator in Arts and Culture Award
We are thrilled to share with you that at an award ceremony at the Artscape Theatre Centre on Sunday 10 November 2019, MusicWorks and our Music for Life programme was announced the winner in the category: Social Innovator in Culture and Arts. The award formed part of the Community Chest Social Innovations Awards. Out of 200 entries from across South Africa, only 14 organisations were selected as winners in their various categories. For MusicWorks, an honour and an endorsement such as this is immeasurable. The Music for Life project is targeted at communities on the Cape Flats where high levels of violence, gangsterism and poverty negatively impact the well-being of children growing up here. For these children, the risk of early school drop-out and becoming involved in destructive activities such as gangs and substance abuse from a young age is extremely high. The Music For Life project unlocks the potential in children so that they become resilient, creative beings; able to dream; and capable of positively contributing to society. And we do this through music – a resource that is still thriving in our communities, in spite of, the challenges and adversities they face. We are very proud of the whole MusicWorks team and especially the… Read More »Social Innovator in Arts and Culture Award
What it is like growing up in Lavender Hill
It’s not easy growing up in Lavender Hill. Young people in this community are exposed to violence and crime on a daily basis and often don’t have positive role models or a healthy way to express their feelings. Our Music for Life team has been offering marimba and gumboots dance sessions in Lavender Hill for the last three and a half years to help these young people cope with their difficult circumstances. We spoke to some of the teachers, parents, community members and Music for Life participants to find out how the programme is helping the youth in Lavender Hill. A headmaster at a local school told us that the youth of Lavender Hill have “abnormal childhoods” and are “prisoners in their own homes”. They can’t play outside because of the danger of gang violence. They feel frustrated and angry, but don’t have a healthy way of expressing this, so they end up ‘acting out’ at school through bullying and distracting or withdrawn behaviour in class. They see school as a place to play and be children, and the teachers struggle to keep them focused and work. The Music for Life team helps the young people grow in positive ways, by giving them a space… Read More »What it is like growing up in Lavender Hill
UNPACKING MUSIC THERAPY
Even in the face of trauma, every person has a healthy and creative core which music has the power to unlock. Music provides a non-verbal outlet for strong emotions associated with traumatic experiences. When a child makes music, she is saying something about how she views herself. This is why music therapy can play a significantly healing role. The music therapist listens to the musical sounds made by the child and reflects them back so each session creates and builds on an interpersonal relationship. Young people attending the MusicWorks Music Therapy programme individually or in small groups, experience a safe and caring space. This is the first building block to help a young person change his or her perception that life is about survival. In this short film, music therapists Sunelle Fouché and Karyn Stuart explain how music enables communication and emotional expression for children facing adversity.
Sizwe’s Lullabies
A few years ago, MusicWorks ran a programme at Nomzamo Place of Safety in Langa. Nomzamo offered a temporary home for young children who have had to be removed from unsafe home environments. [gap height=”20″] The centre had sunny rooms, colourful walls, and a wonderful group of caring staff. It offered a haven to children who had experienced unspeakable trauma. MusicWorks ran a weekly programme at Nomzamo, consisting of individual music therapy sessions, as well as music sessions with bigger groups of children. Sizwe Lubengu worked as Community Musician on the MusicWorks team at the time. His music sessions where the highlight of a Tuesday morning. Staff would often pop in to the room where the music was happening to witness children laugh, play, sing and dance – as if they had not a care in the world. The staff’s positive feedback on the children’s response to the music sessions made Sizwe think about how music could further permeate life at Nomzamo. He decided to record lullabies that the nurses could play while the children were getting ready for bed at night. With the help of Jo Edgar, a Scottish music therapist volunteering with MusicWorks, Sizwe recorded lullabies in both English and isiXhosa. Parents sing lullabies to their… Read More »Sizwe’s Lullabies