COURAGE AND RESILIENCE
DURING COVID
In 4 days’ time it will be 4 months ago that South Africa entered its Covid19 Lockdown. There is nothing Kronendal Music Academy does better than cope with a crisis. This has been seen over and over again, for example the terrible fires of 2017 – housing, feeding, clothing and relocating 100 destitute people in our KMA home. As soon as it was possible, we partnered with food distribution programmes, reached out to our supporters for funds to cover medical and psycho-social assistance, and kept in touch with our pupils via WhatsApp lessons, providing data on a daily basis.
This very sobering article by John Scott, whilst painting a realistic picture of the challenges we are up against, also makes it very clear to us just how important our work is right now, as we prepare our young people to think out of the box, use innovation and improvisation to find creative solutions to challenges, and dig deep into their natural resilience. The NGO sector is uniquely positioned right now to reach the countless millions of youth whose shoulders it falls upon to lead us into a re-new-ed future. The children of the present are the custodians of the planet – and of our own beautiful country – and the new reality they will face is going to need brighter, happier and more confident minds and hearts. At KMA, we believe we are a gateway to achieving just that.
Music is healing and reaches far into the hidden gems that are at the centre of every individual. Now is the time to pave the way, dig the trenches and build the foundations upon which this planet will rely.
What we do
Since 2007, Kronendal Music Academy has offered the universal language of music as a stepping stone in the lives of impoverished children from Imizamo Yethu informal settlement and Hangberg fishing village. As the only fully-fledged music school in the valley, at any given time we have well over 100 pupils in lessons and ensembles, and regular performances and external qualifications complement our teaching model. High standards ensure that our core humanitarian values are maintained. Our award-winning programmes not only foster racial and social integration in our community, but also guarantee enriching opportunities for all our children, developing important cognitive skills while exploring previously unavailable horizons.
KMA is an organisation dedicated to giving children with few or no advantages in life, the opportunity to discover and exploit any musical talent they possess.
But we also care about each child’s well-being. We go the extra mile to ensure we contribute to developing happy, healthy, and confident future South Africans.
How it all adds up
Our key focus areas
Why is music important
Singing our praises
“I encourage all others, who have created their wealth by learning of their own business talent and exploiting it for personal success, to support KMA and give an opportunity for the children of this community to build better lives for themselves.”
“You have made my dream brighter than it has ever been. Thank you for making me believe that music is life and can take me far.”
Working at KMA has made me reimagine the possibilities of music education in South Africa. It is a constant platform for young people to be exploring their musical creativity with a high level of mentorship and it is a second home for many. This is a project that is worth getting behind!
“To see our contribution create a better future for others is personally very rewarding. Making people feel good about themselves and become positive members of their community is exactly what Hout Bay needs. “
Awards
Hout Bay Lion’s Club Louis Volks Humanitarian Award
Inyathelo Award for Philanthropy in the Arts
Best Community Choir Cape Town Eisteddfod 2011
Department of Social Development: Ministerial Award for Afterschool Programme Excellence
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport: Ministerial Award for Outstanding Achievement of Youth in the Arts (Music)
