About the Imibala Trust
The Imibala Trust was founded by Gaynor Rupert in 2002 with the vision to support, nurture and develop vulnerable school children from underprivileged backgrounds in the Helderberg.
Her support creates the platform for the development of a holistic, whole-child pipeline.
The value of strong partnerships is an integral part and provides a firm foundation for the effective implementation of the Imibala programmes. The enormous collective effort and support of like-minded individuals, organisations, donors, a core of highly motivated volunteers and the 21 partnering schools enable Imibala to grow organically.
The current key focus of The Imibala Trust are:
Sponsor-a-child
The initiative provides a basic school uniform to vulnerable children from challenged backgrounds with a current cohort of 2 500 children per annum from 21 schools in the basin and ten schools in Graaff-Reinet. As part of responsible corporate governance, the Trust conducts an annual verification process to determine the child’s current status. New children are identified and adopted on the programme as part of the continued effort to support parents facing extreme financial and social restraints.
Creative and Performing Arts
Art, cooking, pottery, drama, music, dance, needlework and ballet classes develop and teach essential skills to 450 children, promote creative expression, help them feel valued as people and raise their self-esteem.
Learner Advancement
The Imibala Computer Lab provides online curriculum based mathematical classes to Grade 5 – 7 learners and mathematics extra classes for high school learners.
Smart lead: A programme to prepare High School learners for the world of work.
Safe study: A support programme for Grade 11 learners during the school holidays to prepare them for their year-end exams.
Life skills: Orientation classes to support emotional development.
Coding
Computer Literacy
Lego play: Weekly interactive sessions at the Rusthof LSEN School for special needs children.
Literacy: Weekly interactive sessions for children struggling to read.
Play therapy: Weekly interactive sessions. Play Therapy is regarded as a well-researched, evidence-based, trauma-informed method of counselling for children aged three to 12 years old. It is a specialised approach that is effective for a wide range of childhood emotional, behavioural, developmental, social or psychological concerns. Play-based therapy assists positive childhood behaviour and helps them to find healthier ways of communicating and develop a greater sense of identity and self-esteem while increasing their emotional intelligence and resilience.
Golf development: 16 learners per week in one class from Silukhanyo school.
Excellerate and Wellness garden: There are two False Bay Primary school classes where we teach the children with the skill-set and assist with extra lessons.
With an imported sprung floor, expert acoustics, a double barre and walls of mirrors, the ballet studio at the Imibala Trust village in Bright Street, Somerset West, offers disadvantaged children the opportunity to learn and practice dance in a brand-new facility launched late last month (November).
Currently, 80 learners participate in the Imibala Trust ballet programme. These children come from a network of five schools in the Helderberg and are taught by established ballet teacher Gail Hattingh twice a week.
“Previously the children practised in a local church, but this burned down,” explained Theo Willemse, CEO of the Imibala Trust. “It was the dream of our founder, Gaynor Rupert, to build a professional ballet studio for our learners.”
Ayabonga Mani, a dancer who has been part of the Imibala Trust dance programme and is now on a dance scholarship in New York, said: “The inspiring work done by Imibala is about creating dreams, and changing the hearts and minds of those it touches. There is no doubt that by integrating art and creative education at a grass-root level there is an impact on all the children that take part in the programmes. I am very proud to have been a part of that, and hope one day to be able to give back to the trust and the next generation of Imibala children.”
Speaking at the opening of the all-new ballet studio on Tuesday 29 November, Rupert said: “My first love is classical ballet, but at Imibala we also teach other forms of dance such as modern, Latin American, hip hop, traditional and whatever else the children might enjoy.
“We teach all art, music, pottery, coding, computer skills, cooking and any other extra mural activities that will give a child joy. That is our sole purpose – to try to make children’s lives happier.”
Alongside the opening of the ballet studio, the Imibala Trust has entered into a mentoring partnership with the Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB). This involves guest instruction given by professional ballet dancers of the CTCB, monthly visits to CTCB rehearsals, trips to the theatre and other exciting dance related experiences for the children.
“CTCB is delighted to make a meaningful and inspiring artistic contribution to the lives of the youngsters at the school who show a keen interest in classical ballet and dance,” said CTCB CEO Debbie Turner. “Being exposed to what is possible through dance, and by seeing a professional company at work, on stage and behind the scenes, is an invaluable experience for all.”
Willemse said the trust is privileged to enter into the partnership with the CTCB. “The children have never had the opportunity to be exposed to ballet, and now through this alliance they’re able to get first-hand knowledge of the possibility of dance and a creative career path,” he concluded.
