The founder of Soul Clap Sessions, Tandeka Vabaza, had called on all high school learners in the OR Tambo District Municipality who are interested in poetry to register to be part of the High School Poetry Challenge workshop, an annual youth initiative that started in 2019.
This year’s workshop will be held at the Mthatha Community Arts Centre on March 19.
“Our aim is to encourage the youth to use poetry to contribute to social solutions and to develop a new narrative of the racial complexities of South Africa,” said Vabaza.
He said their mandate was grassroots development in previously disadvantaged communities, with a special focus on youth development and female participation.
Vabaza said the aim was to develop spoken words and poetry at school level. He added that they understood that poetry played a major role when South Africa was fighting for its freedom.
“It played a big part in liberating people of South Africa.
“This skill is very important in solving social problems. The country was still facing a lot of challenges, like drugs and xenophobia, so poems can be used to challenge people to change their behaviour.”
He said using the voices of young people could change this country. He confirmed that they were expecting learners to travel to the event from the OR Tambo District Municipality.
The registration fee is R50 per learner and prizes are R1 000 for first place, R500 for second place and R250 for third position. For more information, contact 068 589 9933
