A small team of three has accompanied the Premier’s Office in doing some 20 x 2 day trainings where 20 teachers from 20 different schools were trained on the first day to discover and use their right brains.

Then, on the second day, they returned with 5 learners each who had the same training. Left to their own devices when back in their schools, some 50 schools now have Dancing Pencils Writing Clubs under their teacher/mentors. These are some of the anthologies produced, which are in addition to the district anthologies!

Areas reached went from Kosi Bay, Mkuze, Paul Pietersberg, Vryheid, Nkandla,Empangeni, Dundee, Ladysmith, and Newcastle to districts on the south coast. The most prolific interest came from districts in the northern parts of KwaZulu Natal. We intend to inspire and assist these clubs to grow in the years to come! The right side of the brain encourages the ability to follow one’s dreams and to achieve success.

The right side of the brain is also the moral side. It was interesting to discover young people finding growth in their brain’s ability to broaden its view and to discover new truths. This included leading a better life. These young writers are good role models for their peers.

Booksellers were also present and seating arranged at the other side of the hall for book launches that took place later that morning when Ms Thizani Dlungwani, Deputy Manager, Premier’s Priority Projects, launched new district anthologies with stories written by children in deep rural areas.

Ndiphile Gule was in charge of the Dancing Pencils book stand and is photographed here. Felicity attended Plenary speeches in the adjacent hall. She was impressed with Professor Buthelezi’s speech which did emphasize the part that Words play in our lives and the important role that authors have in society.

A final social evening at the BAT Centre where the bay sparkled with reflected lights and the water twinkled was a great ending. Seeing so many librarians that have been in our lives was wonderful!  Thank you, Department of Arts, Culture, Recreation and Sports! Ms Thizani Dlungwana, Deputy Director, Premier’s Priority Projects, was at the Arts and Culture Language Conference at the ICC on the 21st of November to launch 18 Educational District’s new anthologies of stories.

These stories have been written by children, in English and in isiZulu, in many deep rural areas that include Umkhanyakude, Dumbe, Ezinqoleni, Nkandla, Empangeni, Bergville, Umzumbe, Gamalakhe, Vryheid, Ladysmith and many others.

This has been the culmination of a year of hard work done by the Office of the Premier and the Dancing Pencils teaching and book selection and editing teams. After the launch of the books by Thizani, there was a deluge of people at the book stand called “Office of the Premier/Dancing Pencils” as they created huge interest.

Seven educators, two trainers and 66 students were present. The quality of writing was excellent and the result will be two anthologies of stories and one book of poems for the district of Vryheid. In fact, this training was so effective that the educators themselves ran their trainings on the last day – so they know they can continue successfully when back at their schools. Well done to Mr Muzi Sibanyoni Premier’s Priority Projects. of the Vryheid Department of Education who organized this training – which was also a part of the Premier’s Priority Projects.

On the following day, each educator came back to the venue with 5 learners who had a 3 hour writing session. They learnt to unlock their right brains, write atmosphere and story. A selection of the stories written have been put into a book called Tugela Ferry Tales, to be launched at the Playhouse on 2nd December.

Each mentor was supported by 5 learners from his or her school who came on the following day to learn the mysteries of the right brain. These are the first members of their writing clubs. A selection of their stories have been collated into an anthology called Wetland Stories.

On the 22nd, each educator brought along 5 learners who, in their turn, were delighted to unearth skills they were unaware of. A selection of stories from each school is to be published in an anthology called Transkei Road. This is also part of the Premiers Priority Project.

In this picture a girl from one of the schools in Kokstad read to the international audience at the Cape Town International Book Fair Festival.

Here is Mentor Maimoonah Gori of the Bright Sparks Club from Empangeni, (left) with the First Lady, Dr May Mkhize, the Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize, and Ms Tsana, the principal of the Tsana Remedial School in Empangeni. All clubs received packs of new books written by other clubs, courtesy of the Premier Priority Project, to encourage reading in the province.

The Leftfeetfirst Dance Company from the Open Air School for Physically Challenged Learners performed a great dance at the opening of the Dancing Pencils Book Club launch at the Playhouse on December 2nd.

Thank you, Leftfeetfirst Dance Company, and their trainer, Joanne! We loved the performance!

BAT Junior Club at the Playhouse

The BAT Junior Dancing Pencils Writing Club, under the competent Mentorship of Veena Gangaram, launched a number of individual books by new young authors at the Playhouse launch on Friday 2nd.

Here they are seen with their Mentor, receiving a pack of new books from Detlev Diegel of umSinsi Press. The books they received were written by members of other clubs launching new books that day, and were by courtesy of the Premier’s Priority Project to encourage reading in the Province of KZN.

Their principal was present to speak about this great addition to their school’s achievements and to thank Ms Magubane for her contribution.

Many of the students are orphans working under huge difficulties but the two students present with him, who read part of their own stories from their anthology, had each achieved As in the eMatric exam. Furthermore, their Principal, Ms Premilla Deonath, was, that morning, receiving an award from the Mayor of Durban for being the most improved school in the area! Well done!