In March 2011 we ran the second Iziko Labahlali program in the Cradock community in the Eastern Cape. Iziko Labahlali means “Hearth of the Community”. The program takes structure and lessons from the history of African and aboriginal tradition and the transfer from one generation to the next of knowledge and culture by the elders of the community through story telling. In many instances this took place in a gathering around a fire. The story telling involves the spoken word and the expression of events and emotion through pictures and art to create a picture of the whole that is evokes emotion, acceptance and understanding and approach to the future that comes form the heart.
The Iziko Labahlali program consists of a 4-day intensive and a 6-month collaboration and growth strategy. It is a mindset program designed around our primary sponsor Manzimvula Ventures’ Integrative Strategy Approach.
The experience is made up of the three parts:
- Past experiences and events – My Journey
- Current State – I am a Whole Person
- The Future – Growing my Community and myself
In the transition from the past, to present, to the future we move the individuals who are typically part of a highly disadvantaged community, from their bellies (a thinking process around food) to their heads (igniting thought and understanding) and into their hearts, crating a thought process centered in understanding, compassion, acceptance and a love for themselves and their community.
In the posts over the following weeks that will follow this post, we will take you through the groups’ journey through a series of stories, pictures and video clips.
