IN what could be a first for Port Elizabeth, a youth care centre is using music and dance therapy to heal and reintegrate street children into the community.
The Siyakatala Care Centre in Korsten‘s Hiles Street is taking care of 11 boys and two girls. It started the initiative last Friday, teaching music and dancing skills to the children.
Formex Industries donated R100000 towards the projects. Musical instruments including guitars, drums and studio equipment have been bought.
The care centre‘s supervisor, the Rev Kenny Robertson – whose duties include “working with the kids, disciplining them and making sure they‘ve got a place to stay when they leave the centre after six months” – said: “The idea behind the music and dance therapy sessions is to make the kids understand that life doesn‘t end in the streets.”
Before taking the children under their care, Robertson said, “we first establish a profile as to why they are on the streets and we take it from there”. Peer pressure, poverty and abusive homes were among the factors which drove children onto the streets, he said.
At the second therapy session, held yesterday, the children were taught African drumming because “we want them to know what the black culture is all about and why the culture boasts many different dances”. “We also teach them music skills such as rhythm and beats. We use music as a form of therapy because music has lots of impact on the youth of today.”
He said music was also used to take the children “out of their frustrations, anger and disappointments”. They had been telling the children just to walk away when they were angry and to try not to argue, and this strategy worked. “They are loving it.”
Besides the therapy sessions, the children were also taught basic computer skills, among other things. “Some of the boys are also good artists. We give them a platform where they express themselves. “Every country needs artists because they make you see life for what it is,” Robertson said.
The centre holds two sessions a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, for two hours. Dance teacher Florence Mtengwana said: “We started only last week and the kids are promising. “They‘re catching the rhythm and they‘re disciplined too. Soon we‘re going to have a dance story on stage.”