Education for sustainable development

Eduweek 2016 at Gallagher Convention Centre  is a free to attend, educator focused exhibition. Now in its tenth year, the event brings together educational professionals with the aim of advancing educational knowledge in Africa.

The theme for EduWeek 2016 is Sustainable Development in Education, which was chosen to reflect EduWeek’s support of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The two-day exhibition running from 29-30 June will feature five dedicated conference theatres, each of which will host two full days of free content dedicated to one of the following five themes:

Early Childhood Development

Basic Education

Higher Education

Inclusive Education

E-Tech (Educational Technology)

Nhlanhla Thwala, MD of CTI Education - comments on sustainable education and issues that exist in the sector.

Q: The theme this year is education for sustainable development, what does this mean?

Nhlanhla:  Sustainable education means providing an education that equips students with skills that they can apply practically in the workplace. Graduates must be employable and able to implement the skills they have learned at school.

Q: What issues urgently need to be addressed in the education sector?

Nhlanhla: An issue in the education sector that needs to be addressed urgently is the quality of teaching. Pearson trains thousands of teachers annually to equip them with the skills to teach effectively, also using technology to make sure they are equipped to teach in the 21st century. Teachers need to be skilled and qualified, only in that way can they equip their leaners and students.  

What to expect at the event:

• Improve your educational knowledge:  Choose from over 200 hours of leading–edge and free practical training delivered by experts from across Africa
• Be equipped for success… discover Africa’s widest choice of quality end-to-end Early Childhood Development solutions
• Meet the implementers who will inspire you through hands-on learning
• Be at the forefront of Africa’s transformation by networking with leaders, strategic thinkers and entrepreneurs

Details: Education week

Hi Hopes for 5th birthday bash

Play a part in giving the gift of hearing as Recording Studios celebrates their 5^th birthday with a charity event on the 25^th of June 2016 at the Good LuckBar in Johannesburg, in an effort to raise funds for deaf children who have never experienced the magic of music.

Recording Studios is a website that revolves around South African music and the many talented musicians who contribute to it.  It’s a space where artists, studios, producers and engineers can have a presence and let their market know more about them.  

The birthday event is in support of a charity called Hi Hopes  the community outreach arm of the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand.  It provides support for families and is dedicated to helping deaf and hard-of-hearing children grow and learn in a world they cannot hear. Their focus is on early intervention and promoting the best method of communication suited to the particular child and their family.  

“You love music and we love music and that’s why we want to team up and have a gig with a difference.  We’re going to use our birthday event to raise money to fund cochlear implants and to buy hearing aids, giving children the gift of hearing.  A cochlear implant costs R320 000,” says Colette Carr of Recording Studios.

Performances by Shortstraw, Naming James, David Beretta Owens (of Lithium), Hellcats and PitVirus.

Recording Studios have started the #HearYeeChallenge to get people to donate to the Crowd Funding Campaign  

Ticket details: RecordingStudios.co.za

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Forever a Jackson fan

Why you should see the Forever Jackson tribute show

From the infamous crotch grab introduced in Bad to the gravity defying lean in Smooth criminal to the slick glide of the moonwalk in Billie Jean; Robin Parsons in FOREVER JACKSON delivers a studied and perfected replication of all the iconic Michael Jackson moves.

Robin Parsons on stage at Joburg Theatre

Jackson impersonators around the world make it their life goal to keep the legend's legacy alive through tribute shows and this dedication to perfection, which requires a tremendous amount of time and hard work, is the reason I refuse to be hypercritical of their efforts. However, many of these shows fall short and are often lacking some element of detail, which keep them from being the ultimate tribute to the King of Pop; this is not the case with FOREVER JACKSON - meticulous attention to detail is what sets it apart from other tribute shows. 

What is impressive of Parsons’ performance is not only has he got the moves, but the voice to go with it too and at times during the show you may question whether it’s Parsons or the real MJ on vocals - you can be assured it's all Parsons all the time. Parsons’ dedication to perfecting his act was recognised in 2003 when he performed live at Michael Jackson’s 45^th birthday at the Orpheum Theatre in LA an honour, I am told, only a select few have experienced.

If, like me, you are forever a Jackson fan then you need to see FOREVER JACKSON - this is the closest you will ever get to a live MJ performance, hence it is understandably the No.1 UK Michael Jackson tribute show.

You can rock with FOREVER JACKSON at the Joburg Theatre until 19 June.

In 2007, Michael Jackson told an Ebony magazine writer "Music has been my outlet, my gift to all of the lovers in this world,” author Katherine E. Krohn wrote in her 2010 book, Michael Jackson: Ultimate Music Legend. “Through it … I know I will live forever.” - Quote

Who's your Daddy?

Chris Forrest shares his journey, as a first-time dad, through the challenging trimesters of pregnancy in a humorous and honest way in his one-man show; Who’s your Daddy?

The 2015 Celebrity MasterChef SA winner serves up laugh-a-minute parenting advice to guide anxious first-time parents through the highs and lows of pregnancy.

Preferring my sanity and free time, I myself have no children so did not expect to enjoy the show half as much as I did, but it truly made me laugh out loud in empathy.

My number one rule when attending any comedy show and preferring not to be picked on; “Do not under any circumstances sit in the front row or thereabout”. Chris’s golden rule to get through pregnancy relatively unscathed; ‘Don’t argue with a pregnant woman’, a first-time father seated in the vicinity of the front-row became well acquainted with this advice during the show I attended.

Written by Chris Forrest and directed by Bevan Cullinan, Who’s your Daddy is a show not to be missed by anyone who enjoys a good belly laugh. The show runs until 18^th June 2016 at Sandton’s Theatre on the Square.

Listen to the podcast of my interview with Chris Forrest here: Jozi Today with Natashia on Radio Today

Tickets: www.strictlytickets.co.za

Show Times: Tuesday – Friday @ 20:30 Saturday @ 17:00 and 20:30

Small bricks transformed into phenomenal artworks

I attended the launch of 'The Art of The Brick' 3-months’ ago and have been meaning to write about the awe-inspiring exhibition since then (in fact it has proven so popular that its run at The Zone in Rosebank was extended to 12 August).

My defence for my delayed post; in the months since I attended the exhibition there has been a funeral, wedding and honeymoon to contend with, hence my tardiness. However, even though I saw the exhibition quite a while back I still vividly recall my amazement at the use of Lego bricks-which were masterfully and artistically transformed.

The artist:

Nathan Sawaya is the creative mastermind who saw the artistic value in Lego bricks and brought them to life through his colourful works of art. He has received worldwide praise and recognition for the skilful use of a toy brick. Warner Bros have commissioned Sawaya to recreate DC Comics' superheroes using his unique Lego interpretation. “The Art of the Brick: DC Comics” will showcase 3-D Lego sculptures of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, the Joker, Penguin and Harley Quinn. 

The Art of the Brick Exhibition

CNN has lauded Sawaya’s work as a top ten ‘must see global exhibition’ and rightly so, you really do have to see it to appreciate its splendour. The collection of over 70 pieces will undoubtedly inspire children and adults alike to ‘take those big ideas and set them free’.

This exhibition showcases Sawaya’s Lego interpretation of well-known paintings and sculptures, however there are also original pieces that evoke commentary on everyday social issues.

Below are some of my favourite pieces from the exhibition but the attention to detail evident in each piece, make every display a masterpiece.

Gray: 23 678 Lego bricks were used to show Sawaya coming into his own, leaving his career in law behind and embracing the artist within.

Dinosaur: The largest sculpture on display in this exhibition, used 80 020 Lego Bricks and stands 5.97m tall

Green Torso:  8990 Lego bricks used."Sometimes life gets so busy and there is so much going on in your head that it would be nice to be able to lift it off, empty out all the clutter and re-place ready to take on the day" Sawaya.

Starry night: 3493 bricks were used in the Lego interpretation of Van Gogh's best known painting