Avery on Africa Acts Out

I am so excited to finally be starting my activist project.  I came up with the idea to start a creative expression workshop after seeing the talent show in Ocean View and how the children reacted to the talents of their older peers- seeing their eyes light up and their excitement to try what the older kids were doing was so heart warming. I knew I needed to help bring out the talent that is hidden within the townships where the children are naturally blessed with outstanding ability but lacked the resources to let themselves shine. With this in mind, my idea is to have an eight-week series in the following sectors: Creative Writing, Acting, Voice, and Dance. Each of these sections will lead up to a final production where the students will get to show off their work for everything they have learned and the acts that they have been practicing.

           

When I first spoke of this idea to Zoe, a head coordinator at Africa Unite, I had little expectation that such a lofty vision would take shape so quickly. After one meeting last week we decided on meeting times, space and planning schemes. Today, I found myself bouncing in the back of the Africa Unite van on the way to Nyanga to present to children from different schools about the possibility to come together and create.

           

Thankfully, I was not alone because when we arrived we were greeted by nearly 60 kids from the afterschool program ready to start. Brianna will be teaching Voice, Larissa will be doing the dance portion, Jerard has creative writing and I will be doing Acting/Comedy.  Admittedly today was slightly disorganized but tons of fun. We played group games; name games and warmed up to one another. The language barrier is at sometimes frustrating but half of working with kids is being flexible and adaptable. I am learning to adapt to the fact that my own language is not the most common in the Townships. I speak absolutely no Xhosa, I rely on the children to interpret my words and hope that they understand directions. I must re-explain myself in English until my directions are clear and they are able to comprehend what I am so excited to say. Language will definitely be a challenge but in no way will it stop me from achieving a level of skill with each of these kids. My goal is that each of them finishes this project with a new passion for expressing themselves in creative ways rather than seeking refuge in drugs or gang life. I want there to be an outlet- an escape, a open door to the outside community instead of a constantly locked one. I want them to see their potential and worth, to know that the world hasn’t left them behind. I understand that many of them may never reach college, or finish high school. My heart breaks to see the ones that stand on the street corners kicking cans in torn clothes rather than school uniforms. No child should be denied the resources and the chance to succeed.

           

I hope that by the end of this workshop series we have made a difference to at least a handful of children. That when the show is over they keep seeking opportunity to express themselves- that they look for others within and outside of their community that inspire them to create and explore their own identities, and most importantly their futures. 

            

We named the group Africa Acts Out, in the hope that not only are these kids acting and creating while we are here- but that they continue to practice in their communities and defy the expectation that they will continue to live in the cycle of poverty. I want them all to exceed the country’s expectations. I want them all to act out.