New Organizational Promise

Building a music school in the heart of a township in post-apartheid South Africa is inspiring. More importantly, it promises a new future for those willing to dream.

Conducting research on the legacy of apartheid in South Africa did not adequately prepare me for the lifestyle of people in the township. Newspaper articles analyzing social and physical limitations for residents’ were merely a glimpse of reality. As the eleventh largest slum globally, the Cape Flats is 15km from a wealthy city. The stark contrast is shameful.

This was my belief when I boarded a flight to South Africa July 20th, 2010. Today, three months later, the reality of township lifestyle and way of thinking forces me to write a new chapter. As a community organizer at Ntonga Music School in Guguletu, I must learn to collaborate with a different set of beliefs and values. While challenging, I have learned more in three months than all of my earlier studies and living.

To my excitement, I took part in a successful committee and teachers meetings this past week at Ntonga Music School. Both encouraged communication and solidarity building. The meetings made clear the aim and intention of the school.

At the end of the day, it is about the kids.

Working at Ntonga involves a steep learning curve for me. While there is much progress; productive meetings, increase in student numbers, the formation of a youth ensemble and venues for getting the youth performance opportunities outside the township, the school still lacks the necessary organization to run smoothly day to day.

Dave Robain, the saxophone and flute teacher, offers new organizational promise for the school. He was elected by the Ntonga Music School Committee as head of Music and facilitator for teachers meetings. This past Thursday, Ntonga Music teachers met and agreed more organization and discipline is key to the schools continued progress. Friday, these agreements went into action. Each lesson time was designated to a specific private room, students not studying were guided away from disturbing those receiving instruction, and teachers were checked for promptness. Following ensemble rehearsal from 4-5:30p.m., Dave and I, with the support of David, Pokie and Sticks, spoke to the youth about the new plan. Starting Monday, a notice board located in the main room at the school will clearly indicate what music classes are occurring on that day and where the classes will be taking place. As a team, we expect students to be ON time to their lessons and sign a registration form to show their attendance. This new organizational collaboration is a breakthrough! Together our teachers, board members, volunteers, and students better understand their roles in helping the school run more smoothly

Stay tuned, Ntonga Music School.

To return to PFCF main page or make a donation, click on the below link:
www.playingforchange.org

The Power of Choice

Magadien Wentzel is a celebrity in Manenberg Township today. Yet things were not always this way. His story is one of spiritual and psychological transformation. Born during apartheid and given away at birth, he became a gangster.

This past Saturday he came to the life skills course at the Ntonga Music School to educate the youth about making choices. Raised in District Six, a mixed race suburb outside Cape Town, as a youth, the gun was all he knew. Outraged by the white man and apartheid regime at age 20, he CHOSE the life of a gangster becoming a member of the 28's Gang. He became one of the most powerful and feared gang leaders in South Africa. In August 1999, a tornado on the Cape Flats destroyed his home but spared his son. This moment changed his mindset. He realized God was watching over him giving him a second chance in life. He chose to leave the 28's Gang and give up everything, including his wife who left him for another 28's Gang member.

His intention at Ntonga Music School on Saturday was to support and educate youth to make the right life choices.

He told the Ntonga Youth that everyone has the right to make their own choices. The stick you wielded yesterday will be a gun today and a prison cell tomorrow. "I chose prison, a 25 year sentence. The truth is, jail is a waste of time." Unfortunately many people dont know what they want, and make the wrong choices. He then asked certain students "who are you and what do you want?" These questions invited the students to think and reflect for themselves.


He believes the key to life is knowing oneself and having love and respect for the self. A person with self respect will gain love and respect from others. When speaking to youth he asks questions to encourage youth to take responsibility for their lives and define for themselves right from wrong. Following his release from prison in 2003, some wanted him dead. His commitment to projects like Fatherhood Project, has granted him respect within his community. Today he is committed to supporting youth in turning their lives around. Using his life as an example, he advises youth seeking guidance, to find an alternative to guns and drugs.

The Ntonga Music School hopes to collaborate with Magadien in equipping Ntonga Youth and the course facilitators with skills to expand and enhance teaching. Educating youth educates a community and empowers the next generation of South Africans.

More to come, stay tuned.

To return to PFCF main page or make a donation, click on the below link:
www.playingforchange.org

New Ensembles and Parental Support at Ntonga

Working with and teaching youth at Ntonga Music School has been one of the most inspiring and rewarding life opportunities. Coming to work in a township after graduating from college has offered a completely new perspective on life. It has both redefined my way of looking at the world and my own goals and ambitions.

Last Monday, the Ntonga Music School Committee and teachers held their second meeting. It was valuable to have teachers share what they see working and where improvements are necessary at the school. Space and privacy for individual lessons remain an immediate challenge. While class organization and assessing student progress has yet to fall in place, Dave Robain, a hard working organized teacher, is spearheading a teachers meeting to address these issues directly. This way teachers are encouraged and trusting in resolving current challenges.

The formation of an ensemble two weeks back has given wings to students and new energy to the entire school. Organized by Dave, and Pokie, the ensemble meets Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons encouraging students to collaborate and find their sound in an ensemble. The youngest member, Mphumzi, age ten, plays percussion with energy! Luyanda, a fourteen year old trumpet student, has found his sound and surprises himself each rehearsal with his ability to improvise. This ensemble gives all involved new confidence and invites youth to admire and draw inspiration from their peers.

Last Saturday, October 16th, the ensemble participated in Africa Day in Stellenbosch. The Ntonga Music Ensemble performed on a stage in an amphitheater. The ensemble made Ntonga proud! Performing four songs, the audience of youth and adults were enthused and entertained by their energetic sound. Most importantly, the ensemble members had a blast and asked during the drive back to Guguletu, "when is our next performance?!"

Monday was a parents meeting. Five parents showed at 6pm. Each member of the Ntonga Music School Committee and the teachers who were present spoke to the parents. We told them this school seeks to give youth an alternative to the allures of the streets. The meeting served to clarify this school is a safe space where their children can come and learn an instrument of their choice and get the opportunity to study with great musicians. We also called on them to encourage their child's attendance and be involved in the school in a way that works for them. Each parent responded with appreciation, understanding and gratitude. We hope to have frequent meetings to connect with the parents. This will help make our school a sustainable community space producing a future of talented, confident individuals that can serve as role models for their community.

To return to PFCF main page or make a donation, click on the below link:
www.playingforchange.org

Knowledge is Power

Last Saturday members of the Ntonga Music School Committee shared what they considered to be necessary life skills. It was invaluable to hear the perspectives of a different generation of black men and women.

Derrick, an Ntonga Music School Committee member, emphasized the importance of role-models. He spoke about how the township lacks role models. The current generation of youth are sorely frustrated. Lacking reliable teachers and supportive parents and guardians, youth turn to gangs for acceptance and drugs to heal inner pain and frustration. While the situation is much more complex, the fundamental problem is youth dont take initiative and older generations remain in an apartheid mindset, disillusioned and hopeless.

The life skills course encourages youth to become agents of their own destiny through self reflection. Through awareness youth are invited to recognize they themselves are the change they have been waiting for.

David, another committee member, spoke about the issue of abuse and what it means to "cross the line." The life skills course is designed to raise awareness about the concept of abuse. As facilitators we do not seek to tell youth what to do. Rather, we aim to equip youth with the necessary knowledge to make educated choices.


Today, I was asked to facilitate the life-skills course in Sam's absence. The topic of the day, was the "Pursuit of Happiness." After spending considerable time gathering a group of fifteen, I encouraged the youth to define what happiness meant to them and share their methods of cultivating happiness in their own lives. I opened the session by asking, "who seeks happiness." Most hands quickly shot up. I then asked, "what do you do to attain happiness?" I was grateful to find several students name playing an instrument as one means to attain happiness. While the younger students remained quiet throughout the class, a few teenagers shared personal information opening to their peers about their weaknesses, life struggles and how they are dealing with these issues. One student admitted to seeing a counselor and being unsure of the means to maintain happiness. Another student expressed feelings of uncertainty in dealing with feelings that are too difficult to confide in a friend. This openness created a dialogue of understanding and greater trust. It is good to see students receptive to, and participating in, this course.

A guest speaker is scheduled for next Saturday, so stay tuned.
Ntonga Music School, Guguletu!

To return to PFCF main page or make a donation, click on the below link:
www.playingforchange.org

Visions Aligning

Every structure requires a foundation.

Since coming to Ntonga, implementing a solid structure has been a primary focus. I am excited to report the schools foundation is structurally progressing and its participants visions, aligning!

In the past two weeks, key persons in the Ntonga Board have taken new steps enforcing student sign in sheets, and teacher signatures, to maintain concrete records of music classes in progress.

To my excitement young new faces walk through the doors of Ntonga Music School daily. A recorder class was launched three weeks back now thanks to the ideas and encouragment of two American music teachers, Nellie and Karmella, who visited and assessed the needs of the school. This class gives youth the opportunity to pursue an instrument and explore their own musical sound.

While there is no piano teacher in place currently, youth show up each day giving the teachers and me hope and inspiration. In the afternoon, students wait in line to teach themselves on the piano and keyboard with assistance from Pokie and his daughter, Onke. Since the Ntonga Board assessed CV's, two new teachers, Sticks on percussion and Dave on saxohpone, have started teaching weekly. Their energy adds a new element of inspiration, dedictaion and humor (at moments) to the school.

The third "Life-Skills Course" took place last Saturday. Each week new faces join and new ideas circulate. Student participation brings life and meaning to each session and encourages engagement and new levels of learning and understanding.

A Ntonga Board and teachers meeting is scheduled for this coming Monday.

New ideas, hope and inspiration continue to emerge as the school progresses sustainably forward.

More soon, Guguletu.

To return to PFCF main page or make a donation, click on the below link:
www.playingforchange.org

The Meaning of Life:

Last Saturday, youth at Ntonga convened for the second life-skills course. This meeting connected youth in a circle of sharing. To my excitement, the number of students attending doubled from the first session. With a confident facilitator, each class encourages youth to share feelings and thoughts and interact with one another.

This week the course focused on defining the words life and skills. Sam asked each student to contribute his/her thoughts. Hearing their answers inspired me. Honesty, understanding right from wrong, and knowing what and who you are were some ideas presented. While many youth taking this course are using drugs and some are involved in local gangs, their ability to acknowledge and formulate their own opinion on what “life” means to them, is central to making real change.

Sam defined skills as, having a mode of self-expression. For youth dedicated to learning an instrument their discipline and focus at the school is central to their life success! With a skill, youth are on the path towards self-agency.

Youth seek role models to inspire them. When asked to share my thoughts I reminded each student, that they are ultimately the agents of their own destiny. It is too easy to fall victim to the streets in an environment where opportunity is sorely lacking. I therefore feel tremendously grateful to help facilitate this course. It is a step in the right direction inspiring and empowering youth at the source of the problem.

Stay tuned, Ntonga.

To return to PFCF main page or make a donation, click on the below link:
www.playingforchange.org

Life Skills Course-Building a Sustainable Future!

Youth are the foundation of the future. Sadly, in South Africa, education is not a priority leaving thousands of youth feeling hopeless and frustrated. At the Ntonga Music School, Pokie and Sam, two board members, are taking action to empower teenagers.

This past Saturday I participated in the first "Life-Skills Course." Sam the creator and teacher has travelled internationally and feels thankful to have the chance to offer youth of his own country the same skills and knowledge. Being present at the introductory meeting, it was incredibly rewarding to see teenagers from Guguletu interested in this course and committing to making changes in their own life. Living within a post apartheid environment and mindset, youth seeking happiness and belonging join gangs and use drugs. Sam used the introduction time to remind youth, that these external stimuli bring BRIEF pleasure with negative consequences. Those present nodded in acknowledgement. Each teenageer was asked to make a verbal agreement to pursue music as a mode of seeking happiness and working towards a healthy and sustainble future for themselves

Sam asked me to speak briefly after introducing the course himself. This was an incredible opportunity to let these teenagers know that we are all in this together --drugs, gangs and life challenges are not confined to one nation or one skin color!!

I felt my contribution mattered and everyone in the room came closer to understanding themselves, recognizing the vulnerable environment they live in and that they are the agents of their own destiny.

Hope and love from Ntonga, Guguletu!

To return to PFCF main page or make a donation, click on the below link:
www.playingforchange.org