My Tale by Natalie Janse van Rensburg

I’m sure each one of the students who have come to call the Big Blue Building (BBB) at the Tshwane University of Technology(TUT) home have a very unique tale of how this came to be. My tale began as an epic battle between two vastly different fields of work – medicine (Trauma Surgery) or the [...]

Sir Ken Robinson on education

Sir Ken Robinson talks brilliantly about education and how we can help the next generation access their futures through creativity in education. There are two TED videos in this link. Well worth the 2 by 20mins to listen. http://www.connectioneconomy.com/2010/05/24/sir-ken-robinson-30-minutes-of-inspiration-about-learning-and-the-future-of-education/

Music and Song

Last night I was privileged to attend a special concert. The Trinity Singers from Trinityhouse High School arranged an almost impromptu, musical variety evening to raise funds for their upcoming tour to England. These young people have been invited to perform at the famous Canterbury Cathedral as well as the Ely and Southwark Cathedrals. But last night’s [...]

Teenagers Honoured

The end of November was my week for seeing teens recognised for their achievements. I wrote previously about the design students. On Saturday 28th it was the turn of high school learners. This time we were at Treverton College in the Natal Midlands. Parents, pupils and educators had packed the school auditorium to see the 2009 [...]

Communication design students honoured

On Wed night The Venue at Melrose Arch was abuzz with excited final year design students awaiting the outcome of the Sappi thinkahead Student Portfolio Awards for 2009. These awards, started in 2002, are directed solely at graduating communication design students, giving them a chance to showcase their work to creative directors looking for upcoming [...]

Opportunity to be in a production – 10 December

Here is a fun opportunity if you can get out to Krugersdorp on 10th December. I took part in some of these when I was a student. I loved seeing how the industry works and even got a small cameo role one time. The request we received says “We are in search of a 1000 person audience for [...]

Sports coaches – build or break?

I am a great fan of sport at schools. So many life skills and lessons are learnt through playing sport, either as an individual or as a member of a team - perseverance, discipline, co-operation, humility, self esteem, respect, leadership, making choices, responsibility . . . And feeling fit is such a booster. Exercise is one of the simplest ways [...]

Dance for your life

It could be a scene out of Fame or Centre Stage. A large studio with ballet barres, populated by young adults in assorted dress and poses. This morning I am at the Tshwane Univ of Technology’s Dance School. My daughter was kindly invited to join in the morning’s classes. I am supposed to be working but [...]