SMYLe Home
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General Overview
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Our Core Values
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Overall Impacts
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While we still believe we are in the early developmental stages of our musical outreach programme, we cannot ignore the fact that the SMYLe project has been able to have significant impacts in our community. In short, these include:
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Creating a ‘pseudo-family’ in which values and self-respect can be learned by children living in a high-risk under-privileged environment. Of the 36 band members who have travelled to Canada, none come from homes where a family member has travelled outside South Africa and 18 of them come from homes where at least one parent has died as a result of crime, HIV/AIDS or a tragic accident (one electrocution at work, and 2 taxi-related accidents).
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Creating a mechanism by which band members can potentially reach their career aspirations.
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Creating a culture whereby band members remain in school to the point of Matric completion. Thus far, only one former band member (a 2006 tour participant) has dropped out of school before successfully completing their Matric. On the other hand, one band member – Paul – proudly recounts how the band turned him from a life of poor behaviour and crime, and encouraged him to complete his Matric (aged 22).
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Creating a community awareness – throughout Dobsonville and the surrounding areas – of how the band (including the dance portion of our project) – is having a positive impact on the lives of several learners. This awareness has created a need to expand the project, thus resulting the SMYLe Trust, with nearly 60 current participants, and plenty of potential new recruits (awaiting increased investment from our sponsors).
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Our Immediate Aspirations
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Partnership Opportunities
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Conclusion
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