Art
Photo Credit: Eston Outreach

Four rural schools in the Eston region of KwaZulu-Natal have been benefitting from art workshops each term, which have brought great joy to all involved.

 

Eston, South Africa (09 August 2023) – Eston Outreach was founded by the wives of farmers in Eston, KwaZulu-Natal, as a way to give back to the local community and give local rural primary schools, the opportunity to receive art classes.

Each term, they do an art workshop at the surrounding schools and use waste items to encourage the “reuse, reduce, recycle” principle. These surrounding rural schools do not have any art on the school curriculum, so being given this opportunity to get creative, is a highlight for every child.

A total of 25 wives have joined the outreach. One of the wives is an ex-school art teacher, and she comes up with incredible project ideas and then teaches them to the coordinator for each school’s group of volunteers.

The pupils have made lantern pufferfish, bottle beetles, wooden crocodiles and so much more! Every project has brought them joy and helped them express their own creativity.

At present, the women are working with Hope Valley Primary School, Fairleigh Primary School, Thorner Primary School and Cosmoore Primary School. They hope to expand the project to reach even more.

When it comes to art supplies for the workshops, the pupils are invited to join in on collecting the waste items needed for the projects. Other supplies have been fundraised or donated by surrounding agricultural businesses.

“We collect recycle materials (and ask the children to also collect for us) eg polystyrene meat/veg trays to put the paint in, yoghurt tubs for water to wash paintbrushes, plastic cooldrink bottle lids for using as eyes on creatures, plastic bottles to turn into creatures.

We are a sugarcane farming district, and our local Illovo Sugar Mill has supplied us with funds to purchase paint, brushes, glue, kokis, scissors, and extra art supplies we need for a particular project.”

To make the art workshops even more special, the artworks have been kept and will be placed on display at the upcoming 69th Eston Agricultural Show at the end of August. The display will also act as a way for the Eston Outreach to raise funds to grow the project.

“The [art competition] was traditionally entered by pupils at Eston Primary School (each grade had a theme and prizes were awarded). Since Eston Outreach began we have had some wonderful art produced by the children at the schools we visit.

We decided to include them this year in the art competition and display, by selecting the best art from the 4 schools we work with. It will also platform as a fundraiser for Eston outreach so we can continue to grow this project . An Art exhibition of talented artists, Craft workshops for the kids and a paint off will be run.”

The women involved in this project have all seen the good that has been borne since its founding. It has fostered a good working relationship between the school Headmistresses and teachers, along with the volunteering farmers’ wives.

“We are getting to know each other! The children, too, have become more relaxed and engaged as they become familiar with their regular “art teachers”

“We know that when you are surrounded by art and fun at school everyone is happier. Thorner school was looking very sad and run down so we painted a mural on the entrance wall and everyone’s spirits lifted.

We like to recognise it when children go that extra mile, like maybe helping unpack the materials, assisting a friend, persevering and completing a difficult project and saying please and thank you. Learning these skills will make them stand out in their future and we reward them with something special for this behaviour when they least expect it.”

After

One of the non-art-related highlights this year was MrBeast an American YouTuber and Philanthropist through www.bafefootnomore.com, collaborating with the Eston Outreach to supply them with school shoes.

“All the children in our project schools will get a brand new pair of school shoes. These shoes we hand fit and placed in a bag with their names on and put it on their backs, so they feel super special. Their shoes are made from plastic and the children are taught the importance of not littering and collecting plastic to bring to school for recycling. That plastic bottle will be used to make a new school shoe for their future. It is not waste.”

You can follow along with the work being done by the Outreach via Facebook.


Sources: Supplied
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About the Author

Tyler Leigh Vivier is a writer for Good Things Guy.

Her passion is to spread good news across South Africa with a big focus on environmental issues, animal welfare and social upliftment. Outside of Good Things Guy, she is an avid reader and lover of tea.

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