“UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITY, ONE CHILD AT A TIME, THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS”

Amoyo helped me with self confidence, self esteem and helped me to make sensible choices that have impacted my life positively, even after matric I used the ‘life lessons’ that Amoyo gave me. Amoyo developed my strong work ethic and core values. The Amoyo tools about core values, work ethic, mindset and situational awareness have really empowered me, I am a proud Ambassador of Amoyo and recommend Amoyo to other children in Hout Bay. Amoyo has helped prepare me to cope with the demands of tertiary education, I am so grateful for everything I experienced at Amoyo.

Almost five years ago, I was moved to reach out to Kim and ask her how I could help Amoyo. My reasons for being involved in the foundation are the same now as they were then. I believe that the next generation of South Africans needs a rounded education. Although STEM subjects are incredibly important, I feel like they are being focused on, to the exclusion of everything else. Will we cut out language learning, drama, the arts, music, and even physical education in favour of STEM? Will we forget our history and culture, and lose the ability to tell our stories so that we can try to catch up with far better-resourced and experienced countries? We need young South Africans who can communicate effectively, to come up with a dream worth fighting for, and sell that dream to the world. We need to bring African culture and history to the world. We need a generation who can iterate their own culture and who can update it, revise it, and add to it, not just tell the stories of generations past. That’s what Amoyo offers to the world. It is giving children the power to tell their stories. Children who are growing up in conditions that would make your hair stand on end. Children have started their lives at the very bottom of the ladder, in one of the poorest, most challenging environments on earth. When they triumph, as Amoyo students have, things change. The community sees that better things are possible. These students carry the stories of their hardships and their glories beyond Imizamo Yethu’s dust, trash, and splintered-glass streets. The challenges, the triumphs and the sacrifices that Kim and her team have made to help these children, how they have risen to the occasion and performed as amateurs and professionals, how they have grown, and the impact their growth has on their community is incredible. To get to the point, the Amoyo Foundation needs financial support to survive and thrive, and I want you to consider getting involved. If you or your company value creativity, communication, and self-expression, then I hope we can convince you to put your money where your mission statement is.

“Amoyo Performing Arts Foundation is an organization which goes much deeper than the dance. The teachers are truly invested in the wellbeing of their pupils and strive to address the additional life challenges these young performers bring with them to the stage. Amoyo works in collaboration with many organizations and strives to provide a full timetable of activities across our community for a wide range of age groups and disciplines. They are bridging divides through a common appreciation of self-expression while upholding strong organizational values and governance to maximize the benefits they can bring to their beneficiaries and our community as a whole.”

“We at Musical Theatre Workshop are incredibly impressed by the talented kids of Amoyo. In the midst of certain adversities, these children and teenagers have managed to acquire a passion for the arts, and it is without doubt a result of the love and care they get from their teachers and facilitators at Amoyo. These amazing people are inspiring a whole community and new generation of performing artists and their families. What they achieve, with the limited resources they have, is incredible and needs to be recognised and applauded. Amoyo is more than just a Performing Arts Foundation; it is a ‘home’ to a whole group of kids who have found a new ‘family’ of support, love, encouragement and kindness.”

“It is wonderful to see the experience and knowledge Nandipha has gained, coming from the background she did, and now being such a great role model by giving so much back to hundreds of children through this wonderful organisation, the Amoyo Performing Arts Foundation. Amoyo sits perfectly in the area it represents, empowering the children and youth of Hout Bay. I must compliment Amoyo on the wonderful work it has done to date and I fully endorse it for all the support it can get in future.”

It’s amazing what you’re doing at Amoyo. I look forward to visiting when I’m back in Cape Town soon.