Africa must continue to rediscover and tell her own stories

Dear Storytellers and Colleagues,

With the passing of Nelson Mandela, there have been many articles about South Africa past and present. Some of them have talked openly about how his vision for South Africa has still not been realised: 40% unemployment in the townships, the huge gap between the richest and poorest, racial discrimination still operating, crime and violence against women on the increase, corruption in all areas of political life. At the 14th annual Steve Biko Memorial Lecture held in Cape Town in October, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the 1st woman to head the Organisation of African Unity, said, “Africa must continue to rediscover and tell her own stories” which is a call which goes right to my heart.


Ashley and I have been pioneering the work of the International School of Storytelling in South Africa since 2009. We have offered 100% bursaries to students from the townships who still sometimes struggle to find the money to get to the venue. Students from past courses have gone on to tell stories about the pre-Apartheid era in schools, set up country wide literacy projects with government money, founded reading clubs in the townships and worked with teenagers in drama groups. We have also fostered a close relationship with Clowns Without Borders South Africa, to help their staff train in storytelling. They work with children orphaned by AIDS and the grandmothers who are left to care for them.


The bursary funded students have consistently told us how important and life changing not only the content of the course has been, but also the experience of being treated as an equal with the other South African and international participants. This sense of inclusiveness, of everyone under the sun being equal, is a vital part of our way of working.


We have a 5 week course called, The Storyteller in the Community, starting on January 26th and have already awarded the 2 full bursary places. We know of other individuals who we are unable to assist at the moment because of lack of funds. If you would like to donate to help people from the poorer sections of South African society make a breakthrough for themselves and their communities through storytelling, please go to:


www.schoolofstorytelling.com/south-africa-bursary-appeal.html


Thank you in advance for ANY help you are able to offer. Have a very peaceful and happy Christmastime and may 2014 start well for us all.


Best wishes from Sue Hollingsworth

On behalf of the  International School of Storytelling

The International School of Storytelling Ltd
9 Posthorn Lane Forest Row East Sussex RH18 5DD England
Company number 7506833
Registered charity number 1143285