Community Collaboration, Flowers for Africa, Progress UK, UNICEF South Africa in Soweto
Flowers for Africa teamed up with Progress, an organisation that you would usually find creating food gardens in inner-city London, to facilitate a project in Soweto, South Africa. Our role was to facilitate community-engaged artworks on the walls where the gardens were being built. Over 60 community members participated in the creation of this mural and one other.
Active Learning, Flowers for Africa, Viva Con Agua & FLOW in Bulungula, Transkei
We were invited by Viva Con Agua, an internationally acclaimed organisation, to take part in their educational outreach project in Bulungula, South Africa. Our method of using public art as a vehicle to drive lasting positive behaviour change in communities was of value to them, as they were working with children in the community, teaching them correct hygiene practices surrounding their new sanitation infrastructures. Our job was to build positive associations and ownership over this new information and facilities.
Community Celebration, Flowers for Africa, Progress UK, UNICEF South Africa & NACCW in Murraysburg, Karoo
Generating impact through the medium of art calls for something special. Beyond the realm of crayons and paper is a world of huge walls, ladders, paint and brushes, in public spaces, for all to see. A world where children become respected by their community and self-respect is created. We paired up with a host of fantastic organisations to facilitate the creation of murals in these beautiful safe spaces for the children of Murraysburg to play and learn in.
Community upliftment, Flowers for Africa (self-funded)
Port Elizabeth
The Pylons community in Motherwell township – so named for being located under electricity pylons – is one of its poorest. Flowers for Africa initially facilitated a three-day workshop with 40 children ages 6 to 12 years, which became a three-week project with over 200 children due to popular demand. Children painted brightly coloured flowers on the walls of their homes. Inspired by the children, the community started a soup kitchen, which is now a registered NPO, and built an art studio to accommodate 40 children.
The once impoverished community became a tourist attraction with a restaurant offering local dishes and tours of the flowers conducted by the trained facilitators, with opportunities to buy children’s art from the community-built gallery.
Community ownership, UNICEF, Progress UK and Baz Art
Cape Town
In the close-knit Muslim community of Salt River, UNICEF and Progress UK and Baz Art engaged the local residents to install a community-owned food garden and child-friendly space on a derelict piece of land, used as dumping ground for 40 years. Flowers for Africa facilitated local children ages 6 to 12 years to paint giant flowers on the walls of the food garden and larger-than-life self-portraits on the adjacent sports field, with over 50 children contributing.
Recycling, Zwartkops Conservancy & ZC Motherwell Enviro Club
Swartkops, Port Elizabeth
The Zwartkops Conservancy Education and Recycling program works with children in township areas to teach children about protecting their environment. As part of the ZC Motherwell Enviro Club which educates street children through cleanups, tree planting, gardening and recycling, Flowers for Africa was commissioned to facilitate groups of children to decorate the wall space of the recycling facility with giant flowers and messages.
Remembering, Flowers for Africa (self-funded)
Port Elizabeth
The small Aloes community near the Swartkops River in Port Elizabeth traces its roots to Khoi and San heritage. Once a marshland teeming with animal life, this area has now become encroached by industry with the community facing a range of social issues. The community elders held a series of storytelling workshops with the community, during which Luc worked with around 20 children to design and paint animal imagery on their homes as a tribute to the area’s environmental heritage.