Choirs to Improve English Literacy of SA Children

Sakha Umphakathi (Building community) Through Singing

By Marco Coetsee - Greytown Project Manager

The Sakha Umphakathi Legacy Project is very successfully building the community in Greytown through music. It is said that music transcends culture, language, class and brings peopleof all walks of life together. This was all too evident at the first Greytown Siyacula Choir Festival held in October 2023.

Four rural schools from the Greytown area came together to sing, compete and learn, together with the choir from the well-resourced Wembley College. The purpose of the day was to give an opportunity for the children and staff from less-resourced schools to learn from leaders in choral music from the local area. To do this, 3 workshops were presented.by Wembley College staff and colleagues.. on movement within a choir, vocal excercises and walking onto- and off the stage.

The true excitement came in the form of the competition held to see who would be the Champion Choir of the Sakha Umphakathi Legacy Project Siyacula Choir Festival. It was a fierce battle with each school singing two songs in an attempt to gain the highest points from the judges. Trainee conductors drawn from staff of the various schools were also awarded points for their participation in the workshops as well as for their efforts throughout the year. It was a tight competition but Macongco Primary School conducted by Mr. Happy X came out on top, to claim the trophy.

Ultimately the success and highlight of the entire year's work and of that day were the mass choir songs. All four choirs shared the stage to sing a song of hope, and a call for people to look after our planet. This song was the talk of the town. Singing and music bridged the gap between schools and children from different homes. It was a glimpse into the beautiful community that can be forged through song, when seemingly disparate groups work together. 

Thank you to all the donors (you reading this mail) for making this possible. Thank you to Wembley College, Mr. William S and Mrs. Lizet v/d W. A MASSIVE congratulations to each teacher-conductor, who, with hard work and initiaive, skilfully guided their choirs to reach the final destination of the Festival. 

As a final note, two amazing opportunities have been realised through this project. Firstly, two girls have been identified through their voices and involvement in the Legacy Project Choirs, to receive a Scholarship and Leadership program funded by The Beast Foundation. What a privelege and achievement!! Our heartfelt congratulations to them, and sincere thanks to The Beast Foundation. These girls will be attending Wembley College (Cambridge Curriculum) from 2024 until they finish their final year at school, five years from now. Secondly, one of the four choirs will be collaborating with a local South African Artist to record a song for a local agriculatural (seed)  company in the coming months. 

All of this is only possible through you, our generous Legacy Project DONORS.Thank you, time and again!!