A note from the Founder of the Dare To Dream Leadership Through Art Programme – Paul Modjadji Launching the Dare to Dream mentorship programme last year with 45 young shinning stars has without question been one of my life changing and enriching experiences. Almost from the start I had a feeling that our work would reap great rewards. Here were young people with stars in their eyes but living in a world where you could say they were forgotten. In this part of the world, there are no formal dance studios, arts centers or auditions for big TV or stage shows. Basically Kids or youth to take it that far hardly have platforms to explore their creative sides. This invariably means a society where recreational activity is a word that only exist in that form, as a word, not a reality young people can access. I saw and still see the programme as a way, albeit once a week, to try and engage young people on a different level than that being achieved at school, and to create a recreational programme that would be geared towards preparing them for the future. Through the programme young people would come together once a week to act, dance, sing, but most of all to learn to access the part of their brain that allows them to dream, to be creative and to lead. The programme from the start was conceived with the idea of sharing tools that great leaders are often known to have cultivated. To learn about the power of being visionary, disciplined, focused, hardworking, strong, prepared, educated, trained, and striving for the ultimate virtue of perseverance. As they gather week after week and put through various tasks and classes the participants have an opportunity to expand their brains and to build their character. I have observed with great pride as progress in the areas of personal development has taken place with participants. I have also gone home many a time with sadness in my heart, as we’ve had to let go of some of our participants due to the programme being strict on commitment. The aim from the beginning was to raise the bar on personal commitment front with the youth. The programme which is run freely has one major expectation, that can and may be considered as at the only price participants have to pay, full commitment. Participants have to be 100% committed to the programme as they are to their academics. In fact we have had to let go of some of our best creatives due to their academic results having dropped. The truth in that lesson is that in life they will be expected to show up in all areas of their lives. They will be wives and husbands, fathers and brother, sisters and mothers, yet they will still be expected to show up at work and be CEOs and captains of their industries. The notion that one area has to suffer in order to breath life into another is a myth we try and dispel in our programme. We simply believe we are all given the same 24 hours, therefore it is one’s commitment to excellence that allows one the privilege of enjoying a life of excellence in all areas of one’s life. As we say goodbye to some of our 1.0 Dreamers the time couldn’t be more suitable for a little moment of reflection. As we look back at a year that was and usher in a new year with new stars. Please allow me to recount some of our milestones and reminisce on some of the memorable moments and events. 1) Let me start off by applauding all of us for the time put in. Together we have achieved over 140 hours of leadership and mentoring time. 2) We had intense workshops focused on Musical Theatre as a genre within the arts. This week of intense workshops included a day at the cinema, watching musicals from way back in time to recent musical theatre hits. Participants, whom some had never been to the cinema before, had a filled day where all they had to do was show up and be prepared to be catered to and to learning. 3) Of special mention are the many keynote addresses and industry experts we had the privilege of hosting. Top of that list is a day spent with South African entertainment industry personality and young business leader Thami Kotlolo. Who gave a powerful presentation on taking ownership of your dreams. Then of course there was Bisi Bangiwe from Walt Disney’s Lion King, who gave an intense workshop that was part talk (on making it in the performing arts business) and part dance. Bisi taught us what is known as Brazilian traditional dancing fused with African contemporary. 4) Together with 1.0 Dreamers we launched the “Dare to Read” campaign, that saw Kelly Khumalo and author Sarah Setlaelo visit us to talk about books. The event was so empowering on many levels and saw our dreamers walk away with books and the opportunity to interact with music star Kelly Khumalo. Perhaps even more powerful was the opportunity for the young people to learn about the evil lures of the entertainment business from a woman who is potentially one of South Africa’s top 5 powerful voices. 5)The programme also attracted a good share of media attention, allowing our participants the platform to shine on both local and national media platforms. Shows such as “Against all odds”(etv), Limitless Youth Show (SABC 1), Sunrise (etv) and newspapers such as the Sowetan and The Daily Sun covered some of our participants. Giving some of them first time national exposure. 6) With all of the fun things and impactful people we had the honor of growing from, it was also the 1.0 Dreamers who shined the most. Take for instance Katlego Moela, who first made history by winning an online competition judged by a panel of international judges, then being invited on Morning Live to share the good news, then as if that was not enough Katlego went on to winning the hip hop world champion title in Croatia, in May 2013. Katlego who is in matric is one of our dedicated members who remain committed to his matric studies. I continue to marvel at what this young man continues to show me as I get to learn about his character. As his trainer for the World Champs I was highly impressed with his level of dedication and his commitment to the competition and the opportunity afforded to him. We trained day and night and right through weekends and after school. Yet when Katlego came back with gold from Europe it was once again his approach to his priorities that would affirm the true leader he was. Short of his return from Europe Katlego was invited to be on a national television news show but due to his matric exam Katlego declined the invitation citing his studies and the importance of him passing his matric as a reason. Katlego then went on to turning down two other TV interviews due to his dedication to his studies. Another leader I have had the privilege of observing is Percy Moeketsi. A young talented man, who can sing, dance and act with equal excellence. It was his talent that in part inspired the writing of “Rorisang” in the musical Rorisang & Julie. Percy joined the leadership programme as a participant but his leadership has over the past year propelled him to assistant director and assistant-facilitator. Percy’s leadership is the glue that helps to keep the organization running and serves as a great link between his fellow programme members and the mentors. Percy’s talent has also seen him impress a panel of judges during the South African rounds of auditions for the Lion King. Besides all of this Percy was also selected as dance captain for NYDA’s national tour of the Limitless Youth Campaign that toured South Africa. Then of course last but certainly not least there’s Rose Malepe, who is the embodiment of the word commitment. Rose is the only member to have achieved 100% attendance since the inception of the programme. Like Percy she is a great help to the organization and often seen as a mentor by other members. Rose’ s commitment to her character, Julie, in the musical “Rorisang & Julie” has earned her respect and admiration from all. Rose is the quintessential poster role model for a Dare to Dream leader. She understands and teaches all of us the true definition of leadership “it starts with being in control of you”, Rose lives her life in such a way that we can all learn from watching her not hearing her. She understands what Marianne Walliamson talks about when she says “All lives are a platform. We can all make a change in our respective places of influence.” 7) Last but not least I would like to humbly acknowledge all the important key people who continue to dedicate their time towards facilitating and mentoring the programme. Phindile Mahlangu, Harriet Manamela and Nombuzo Mahlangu. Thank you for always taking time out of your diaries to come and share. What you share will make impact for generations to come. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, expertise and most of all your heart, so freely and without expectation, for your investment I honor you and wish you nothing short of many blessings. Congratulations once again to all the 45 successful applicants of the 1.0 cycle. You were each selected because something shone bright in your eyes, keep that light blazing!! To the new members and the old ones that are continuing this journey with us I look forward to a brighter tomorrow with you. Welcome to a new chapter of your life. Fasten your seatbelt it’s going to be one life changing experience (if you let it)! With love and hope Paul Modjadji
Posted on: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 06:37:09 +0000
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