Zip Zap Circus School knows their students cannot do virtual classes without data, so they are raising funds to supply them.
Cape Town, South Africa (24 April 2020) – Zip Zap is a social project that was founded in Cape Town in 1992, to inspire young people and help build a new culture of peaceful coexistence in South Africa. Working with a diverse community of children from all backgrounds, Zip Zap helps kids to ‘dare to dream’ and learn to make those dreams a reality.
Zip Zap’s programmes are all free to participants, with financial and material support coming from individuals, organisation, corporations and foundations.
In South Africa and the world, Zip Zap is recognized across Governments, Ministries of Education, Tourism, Arts and Culture and private societies, as a major contributor to the development within the iconic ‘Mother City’ and providing sustainability of the circus arts in South Africa.
Zip Zap is a much-loved national icon on the South African performing arts landscape. They have taught thousands of students’ circus skills for the past 28 years. Equally as important are the values taught through their life skills training. Values of perseverance, courage, joy and positivity are at the foundation. In extraordinary times like these, students and staff are applying these with optimism and in real-time – because as in every Circus – the show must go on!
Virtual Travelling Circus
Zip Zap beneficiaries need inspiration, more now than ever before. That’s why they launched the first-ever Zip Zap Virtual Travelling Circus led by ringmaster Lionel Chanarin and his merry troupe of instructors. The team is hosting daily exercise classes on WhatsApp groups, sharing ‘boredom busters’ while in lockdown, messages of inspiration and hosting circus masterclasses on social media.
The challenge of data costs
While researching the suitability of the online platforms for keeping the ‘show on the road’, it was evident that many students felt left behind and listed the cost of data as the primary barrier to staying connected to their circus family. Most of Zip Zap’s students reside in the poorest socio-economic communities and don’t have the luxury of Wi-Fi or high-speed fibre connectivity. In response to their needs, Zip Zap has initiated a BackaBuddy campaign called #RaisingDATA for beneficiaries to be able to gain online access to their series of fitness and curriculum challenges.
“We cannot underestimate the true value of human connectedness. As a social circus, the promotion of ‘social cohesion’ is at our very core. Now we are calling for ‘physical distancing’ as a way of showing our love. Being apart doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t still connect. We needed to respond with compassion, listen to our students’ needs and ask the public to help us keep them connected and inspired. It’s imperative at this most vulnerable time.” Comments CEO, Laurence Estève.
They aimed to raise R50 000 to connect 250 students with 2GB of data each for the next few weeks. Already, they have managed to raise R30,000.00 towards their goal.
The students will have the opportunity to join in and be a part of the lockdown classes. Below is a video of one of their talented beneficiaries, showcasing his juggling skills and explaining how Zip Zap has changed his life.
Visit their BackaBuddy campaign OR you can SMS ‘zipzap’ to 42030.* (*SMS cost R30 and network & admin fees apply.)
by 