Ilifa Lethu Foundation 2009/10 Annual Report
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CONTENTS VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT 2 S.A BOARD MEMBERS 3 GLOBAL ADVISORY COUNCIL 4 PATRON’S MESSAGE 5 CHAIR’S MESSAGE 6 CEO’S REPORT 7-8 YEAR IN REVIEW - FASHION 9-13 PROJECTS PARTNERS & COLLABORATION, 14 EMBASSIES, FUNDERS & SPONSORS CONTACT & DONORS 15 VISION & MISSION VISION MISSION BENEFICIARIES OF IFA LETHU’S To be a facilitator of the creative arts The Ifa Lethu Foundation promotes WORK as a healing medium and to raise the partnerships and initiatives that focus • The geographically isolated awareness of the centrality of culture on repatriation and preservation of communities of South Africa and heritage as an intrinsic part of what our heritage. It promotes skills and • Youth of South Africa it means to be a rounded society. entrepreneurship amongst artists and • The economy of South Africa communities and applies the creative • Creative Practitioners (Visual artists, arts to the fashion industry. sculptors crafters and fashion designers of South Africa) • South African Tourism 12 SOUTH AFRICAN BOARD MEMBERS Patron: Dr Mamphela Ramphele Michael Judin Raymond Louw Hugh Masekela Chair: Amb. Lindiwe Mabuza Dr Ivan May Dr Anna Mokgokong Tom Nevin CEO: Dr Narissa Ramdhani 3 GLOBAL ADVISORY COUNCIL Baroness Lynda Chalker Hon Malcom Fraser Amb Princeton Lyman Lord Robin Renwick Tor Sellström STAFF MEMBERS Executive Assistant: Project Officer: Admin Officer: Carolyn Schoeman Thakani Hadebe Geoffrey Masemola 4 PATRON’S MESSAGE 2010 It is a poignant moment for me as of the Global Advisory Council for their I write my final report as Chair of support of our work and commitment Ifa Lethu. My journey with the to the founding vision of Ifa Lethu. Foundation has come to an end, but the last five years have been most I would also like to thank our staff rewarding as I watched this fledgling for turning this heritage initiative into effort grow in leaps and bounds into a national asset that has succeeded what is today South Africa’s largest in attracting national pride and repatriation effort and creative international respect. development enterprise. As I hand over to my successor, When I became involved with Ifa Amb. Lindiwe Mabuza, I do so with a Lethu as its founding Chair, little did great deal of pride and confidence in I realise what surprises lay in store for her abilities to take the Foundation to Patron: Dr Mamphela Ramphele me. Through the repatriation effort, even greater heights. I have been exposed to a treasure trove of South African art and heritage Dr Mamphela Ramphele is the that demonstrated the strength and Founding Chairperson (2004-2009) skill of struggle-era artists who were of the Ifa Lethu Foundation able to hold their own against the work of international artists as well as the hostility of the domestic art scene. Further, through the national entrepreneurial development programme, I have had the privilege of engaging with young South African creative practitioners from many of our poverty nodes. Hearing about their passions, skills and determination to contribute to the economic development of their communities through their creativity, has been an uplifting and emotional experience for me. I would like to thank my fellow board members in South Africa and members 5 CHAIR’S MESSAGE 2010 l have, over the years, followed the Proudly, I acknowledge that I am a inspired and spirited work of the Ifa fortunate custodian of her creation. Lethu Foundation. In 2007, while South Africa’s High Commissioner to the Under her able stewardship, plus Court Of Saint James, we felt blessed the energetic engagement of the and privileged when my predecessor, CEO Dr. Narissa Ramdhani, as well Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, invited as the inspiration and contribution our Mission to have the honour of of the whole board of distinguished hosting the UK launch on behalf of the South Africans, they took what initially Foundation. seemed to be only an idea in the mind of an Australian diplomat, nurtured it We were all immensely pleased and grew it to be the phenomenon that when at the end of the evening the Ifa Ifa Lethu has become. To each and all, Lethu collection was richer by 36 new well done! Chair: Amb Lindiwe Mabuza contributions and which included a unique Dumile Feni ”Mother and Child” Holding hands together, our minds portrait. and eyes fixed on the future; this baby must and will grow wings to fly! This should partly explain why l was overwhelmed and remain immensely Lindiwe Mabuza grateful to the entire Board of the Ambassador Foundation for asking me to join them as Chair. Amb. Lindiwe Mabuza was appointed Chair of Ifa Lethu Foundation in 2010. I am indeed humbled and feel honoured to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Mamphela Ramphele - a distinguished, passionate and world renowned South African patriot. I sincerely believe and hope that the rapport, sisterhood, mutual respect and appreciation we have shared over decades will always leave some open space in our busy schedules for me to tap her deep reservoir of experience and resourcefulness. 6 CEO’S REPORT 2010 The 2008 - 2010 years could best be and our brand has grown. Therefore, I described as one of the most critical feel particularly pleased and proud to periods in the Ifa Lethu Foundation’s present this annual report which will history. Barely two years ago concerns seek to showcase how we conducted were raised about whether the Ifa our business in economically turbulent Lethu Foundation, like other heritage times. organisations, could survive the effects of the global economic meltdown while Project funding has made it possible also competing for corporate funding, to implement 19 national projects, and tourist and media attention during repatriate 51 pieces of artwork from the Soccer World Cup. France, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Australia, train 165 aspiring creative But since then, we have creatively entrepreneurs, create internships for six reviewed our strategic objectives individuals, assisted in setting up the CEO: Dr Narissa Ramdhani and embarked on an innovative road, businesses of 14 creative entrepreneurs, aggressively aligning the Foundation’s create a revenue stream for 36 work to national impact priorities of individuals in the creative sector and poverty alleviation and employment contribute to sustainability initiatives creation. In so doing, the Foundation, in until 2012. its own modest way, has succeeded in demonstrating how cultural heritage, The 2010 year can be considered or the creative sectors could play an one of our most exciting yet as we significant role in addressing these launched two of the Foundation’s priorities by contributing to economic largest projects, one being a premier growth. Ifa Lethu’s success in this very event for the Soccer World Cup. The trying time has proved true that only first, the ‘Creative Hands’ Project saw agile organisations cope better and our technologically advanced Mobile are able to seize opportunities and Entrepreneurial and Educational facility move rapidly through changes. That take to the road in KwaZulu-Natal we were able to run a sustainable for its pilot phase. Funded by TATA organisation in this period of national Africa, the Development Bank, the and international crisis is evidence of National Lotto and the National Arts our agility in relation to our business Council, this project and its unique strategy. This recognition has ensured deliverables have already drawn the that our fundraising initiatives have interests of other countries keenly resulted in numerous successes, our following the vehicle’s journey closely projects have yielded solid deliverables with the view to applying this model 7 CEO’S REPORT continued . to their creative work. The second, an now permanent employees of the As we believe there is really no finish exhibition entitled, Home and Away: Origin Centre, shared the international line for our efforts, for the years ahead A Return to the South, was opened in limelight as the fossil casters. we will be looking for ways to work Johannesburg by the Honourable Kate smarter and creatively and hence raise Ellis, Australian Minister for Sport, Youth As we continue our phenomenal our stakes in the cultural sector of and Early Childhood Development, and journey into 2010, we do so under new South Africa. South African struggle icon, Mr. Ahmed and capable leadership. Ambassador Kathrada. Lindiwe Mabuza now takes on the “ THE 2010 year can be considered ONE OF OUR MOST EXCITING yet” Fears of competing for media and role of Chairperson, succeeding our tourist attention during the World founding Chairperson, Dr. Mamphela Cup dissipated as the exhibition drew Ramphele who has graciously agreed 3600 tourists from 24 countries in its to henceforth serve as the Foundation’s first three weeks. After completing its South African Patron. We look forward South African schedule in cities such as to Ambassador Mabuza’s tenure Durban and Cape Town, the exhibition which is expected to enhance the will embark on its international tour to Foundation’s successes. We are also Santiago, Michigan, New York, London pleased by the addition of two new and Canberra, before returning home to international members who have South Africa at the end of 2011. agreed to lend their names and services to the Global Advisory Council. They A further reward for the work of the are Baroness Lynda Chalker (UK) and Tor Foundation was evident during the Sellström (Sweden). Such additions are spectacular discovery of the almost indicative of the respect which Ifa Lethu two million years old Australopithecus has earned in the international arena. sediba, by Professor Lee Berger, the American paleoanthropologist at the It pleases me to conclude my University of Witwatersrand. message with the observation that Ifa Lethu has managed to stay ahead of Two of Ifa Lethu’s trainees from the pack by playing a perpetual game the Mamelodi fossil casting project, of catch-up since 2008.