By Buziwe Nocuze
- Phelo Kwakwishi of Uphawu Community Development in Samora Machel says the organisation stopped outings after free accommodation, meals and volunteer cooks all fell away.
- Tina Ntsipho, 19, is still in the programme and says the camps taught her how to hold a conversation, socialise and be a better person.
Phelo Melokuhle Kwakwishi used to reach into his own pocket to make sure children got to their camp. He cannot do that anymore. And so the outings have stopped.
Kwakwishi leads the arts side of Uphawu Community Development, an organisation in Samora Machel in Cape Town that has been running since 2015. It keeps children off the street by teaching drama, music and dance to those aged 11 and older. A separate reading club runs for children between eight and 12.
During the week, the children rehearse. On weekends, those in the arts programme perform shows and visit theatres including Artscape and Magnet Theatre. The outings, held during school holidays, were where children went further.
“We last went on an outing last year,” Kwakwishi said. “We were separating boys and girls, but now when we do go, we combine them. If we had money, we would love to continue separating them.”
The model that made outings possible no longer exists. The organisation used to secure free accommodation. People volunteered to cook at no cost. Parents contributed R50 each for transport, and when some could not manage that, Kwakwishi covered it himself.
“People who were cooking for us for free — none of that is happening now,” he said.
“We cannot afford to pay for accommodation and food in this economy. The parents don’t have money, and I had to pay for transport out of my pocket, something I cannot do anymore.”
He is not looking for someone to blame.
“Everything is expensive now,” he said.
“We get funding but not always. We need help with books for our reading club, material for those doing arts, and food for the children to eat after rehearsing.”
Tina Ntsipho, 19, has been part of the programme for years and is still in it. She remembers the camps clearly.
“I am sad that there are no camps anymore,” she said.
“It was exciting knowing I would be out with other people, learning how to behave, socialising and seeing different places. I am a better person because of the teachings I got from the outings.”
Pictured above: Uphawu Community Development in Samora Machel in Cape Town has stopped doing outings because of financial problems.
Image source: Phelo Melokuhle Kwakwishi
