|
|
|
|
SMYLe Home
|
General Overview
|
|
|
The Soweto Marimba Youth League (SMYLe) project is a musical outreach programme
that seeks to offer under-privileged children living in the Dobsonville area of
Soweto an opportunity to overcome adversity, work towards a common goal, and to
reach the pinnacle of the success they choose for themselves.
|
|
The initial intention of the project was to create a music programme in an area
where schools are either ill-equipped or technically unable to provide learners
with an opportunity to study music as part of their academic growth. Even today,
the SMYLe project is one of very few music programmes for school learners in Dobsonville,
with the SMYLe team representing 5 of the 7 area high schools, of which only P.J.
Simelane has a music programme.
Without a formal music teacher in the area, the job of teaching the learners how
to play their music fell onto the shoulders of the multi-talented Johnny Hlaba:
the gardener of a primary school. Johnny works with the band on a daily basis, teaching
the learners how to play each of the instruments using his immeasurable ability
to translate the songs he hears into his own ‘African’ versions. More
importantly, Johnny has taught ‘how to teach’ to many of the older members
of our band, such that he can now call on many of the senior members of the project
to help teach new learners.
The hope has always been that the SMYLe project would be a means for encouraging
the youth of Dobsonville to avoid the daily hazards of drugs, crime and teenage
pregnancy, while acting as an assertive reminder that ‘Education is the Only
Solution’.
|
|
|
|
Our Proud Sponsors
|
|
|
|
SustainabilityServices.co.za
Two of the 8 trustees on the SMYLe Trust Committee
are the partners of SustainabilityServices.co.za and their involvement in the project
is ongoing. Contributions to the band are in the form of website design, development
and hosting; overall project management of the SMYLe project; financial contributions
and loans, etc.
|
|
|
|
Spoor & Fisher Attorneys
(SFA) SFA has kindly supported SMYLe through pro
bono services, particularly the registration of all of the band's intellectual property
(logos, icons, etc), and naming rights.
|
|
|
|
PUMA 'Charity Cat'
Charity Cat kindly provided a cash donation that converted
to a set of drums (the heartbeat of the band), a baritone and a trumpet. This kind
donation has given great depth to the band’s performances.
|
|
|
|
MacPherson Kruger Attorneys
(MKA) MKA has kindly supported SMYLe through pro
bono services, particularly the compilation and submission of all documentation
required to legally register the Trust, and to obtain the necessary tax and Public
Benefit Organisation status documents.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our Core Values
|
|
Overall Impacts
|
|
Our Immediate Aspirations
|
|
Partnership Opportunities
|
|
Conclusion
|
|