Thirteen artists taking part in the 2022 Noordhoek Open Studios, have worked together on a collaborative piece that will be auctioned to raise funds for MasiSports.
The annual 2022 Noordhoek Open Studios, which takes place from the 8th to the 10th of April, where members of the public can visit artists in their home studios to see them creating master pieces, have added the new collaborative piece to the offering as a creative way to raise additional funds for MasiSports.
“While all of the entry fees are donated to MasiSports, we wanted to do a little something extra this year,” says artist and event organiser, Aimee Kruger.
Each artist was asked to add their specific style to the canvas, making it truly one of a kind. The artists who have collaborated on this piece are, Karin Kruger, Thomas van Glyswyk, Francoise Viglietti, Alison Faraday, Ingrid Altmann, Isabelle Webb, Andrew Hart, Aimee Kruger, Gavin Thomson, Nola Muller, Cherylee Powell, Rebecca Lane and shaneen Wallace from Oclaysions.
MasiSports was launched at Ukhanyo Primary School in Masiphumelel in 2017 when the school had only one sports and physical training coach, one netball court and a short sprint track, no school kit or proper equipment and only netball teams played inter-school matches. Now all 2000 learners have a PT lesson once a week. There are currently 19 coaches for the school’s 19 teams, which play official school matches in school-branded kit. Netball, cricket, rugby, soccer, cycling, basketball, athletics and chess are thriving.
When headmaster Michael Tyhali arrived at the school in 2000, there was no sports field. But thanks to the passion of Tyhali and his team, and the support of MasiSports and a network of non-governmental players, Ukhanyo now has a different story to tell.
These days, the school grounds are a frenzy of happy activity after school as boys and girls participate in a range of sports. Overseeing the activities is a squad of coaches, who also act as mentors and life coaches.
Key to this transformation has been the work of MasiSports, along with NGO partner Masicorp; life-skills partner Coolplay; and cycling partners CTCT, BenBike, PedalPower and Qhubeka. The project also extends to Masiphumelele High School, where two netball courts were constructed and netball, soccer, chess, rugby and cycling were introduced.
Cricket legend Vince van der Bijl is the driving force behind MasiSports’ work at the school. Over the past five years he has worked closely with Ukhanyo to ensure that its children have improved access to both of these.
“Sport and life skills have been a game changer. MasiSports has enabled the school’s sports dream. The learners who are involved in sport have improved their marks, time-keeping and discipline are enhanced and litter at the school has miraculously disappeared!” says Tyhali.
“Others now see us as a school of choice, with excellence at the centre. The list of social ills in this area goes on and on, but parents tell me that children don’t want to miss sports.”
Last year saw MasiSport launch the incredible 60x30m Ingrid Wheeler Astroturf field, to add to the school’s three Astroturf cricket nets and two artificial fields. This field has allowed Ukhanyo to host interschool matches, but it’s true power reaches beyond sport as it enables integration across local schools, and furthers the MasiSports vision of a rainbow nation in the South Peninsula.
“I never thought in my time as headmaster we would host inter-schools matches at Ukhanyo,” said Tyhali. “Our teams will be cheered on by parents, learners, staff, and the community. It’s a dream come true.”
If you would like to see the collaborative piece that the 13 artists have worked on and bid on owning this piece for yourself, make sure you visit Noordhoek Art Point Studios, behind the smartie wall on Noordhoek Main Road, over the weekend of the Noordhoek Open Studios.
