Art with heArt Africa (AWHA) is a non-profit organisation based in Gauteng, South Africa. Our main aim is to reach out to disadvantaged communities throughout Continental Africa, with its immediate focus on South Africa. We believe that we can ‘Ignite the Human Spirit through Art’.
In December 2010, AWHA adopted a school in the village of Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga; located in the region of KwaNdebele. The art of the Ndebele is what inspires us to work with the gentle-natured children and women of this ethnic group, apart from the fact that this is deeply poverty stricken environment. One of our purposes is to get Corporate South Africa involved in donating books, sporting equipment, clothes, toys, learning tools, etc to this needy community.
Preservation of culture is another principle that AWHA upholds – it is imperative that we keep alive the cultural traditions of our peoples throughout Africa. Poverty alleviation and enrichment programmes will be implemented, in conjunction with music and dance as this is inherent in the lives of our people.
Vivienne Aliveriotis, the Art and Creative Director of AWHA, is the custodian of this Project. She will be travelling once a month to facilitate and manage the Project in Siyabuswa along with the support of the Nkosikazis (Queens) of the late King Mayisha the 3rd and the Principal of Hlanganani Senior Secondary School.
We will soon be having women’s sewing groups producing ‘high end’ products for the international and local marketplaces; this is our income generator programme. A literacy programme for adults and a special programme called ‘Akani-Youth of Light Project’ will be given to the children and youth, with the objective to teach them about various life skills, e.g. sex education, HIV and Aids programmes, eco projects, etc with the emphasis on fun through application of various art methodologies and hopefully sport.
Art definitely heals, it creates a sense of freedom and escapism, it’s liberating! Our Project is interdenominational, though rooted in Christian principles. We invite our Refugee Brethren to participate in all our programmes. Our big dream is to build a Library, Children’s Art Gallery, and park. We have visions of a mobile art gallery and offering art classes in the rural areas of Mpumalanga.
FOCUS ON ALEX 2012 – WATCH OUR SPACE FOR AN ART ATTACK!
Art with heArt Africa is proud to mention that we will be actively involved in the Alexandra Centenary Festival in 2012 – we plan on painting houses and buildings on the Tourist Route in Soda Pop colours, now can you imagine that – the theme is Alex is Wonderland! We are looking for paint sponsors and we will get our kids from school involved in the Project!! Just cannot wait to work with our five high schools that we are adopting.
The Art and Creative Director, Vivienne Abrahams-Aliveriotis is also Head of the Global Zone an organisation that is bringing the Youth Global Warming Summit to South Africa next year in October / November.
Abrahams-Aliveriotis is also PR / Media Liaison and Communications contact for Emerging African Artists Alliance, EAAA – we create a platform for all art disciplines, we will be commencing Classical and Jazz musical soirees in December at the Johannesburg Art Gallery – we will be showcasing many other Art forms through 2012.
Big Media has generously provided AWHA a spot on their website, I will be sure to update all our viewers with the link details very soon, in addition AWHA is going to be documented by the same Company – a journey that we will captured from inception – watch out for our own doccie, that’s so fabulous!
Keep watching our Space for an art attack!
Igniting the Human Spirit through Art!
Operates in: Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga
Established in: 2009
Non-Profit Organisation Number: 081-443
Public Benefit Organisation Number:
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:
Contact person: Vivienne Aliveriotis
Phone: 076 340 0911
Fax:
Email:
Website: www.charitysa.co.za/art-with-heart-africa.html
Physical address: 22 Blenheim Street, Johannesburg
Postal address: 22 Blenheim Street, Johannesburg
