Past Conversation: Cape Town 2002

August 14, 2002

Imagine Cape Town, The Brahma Kumaris, and Ryland Fisher Communications partnered in convening an Images and Voices of Hope conversation with the media community in Cape Town on Wednesday August 14th, 2002 at Kirstenbosche Botanical Gardens.

It was a day of dialogue with 65 people gathered first in plenary and later in groups for Appreciative Inquiry conversations to share stories of times when media had created positive impact in South Africa and to look ahead to ways that media can be an agent of benefit to South African Society. After lunch, actress, poet and Khosa woman, Fatima Dike, presented a short segment on the history of protest songs in South Africa and the way that their veiled meanings brought hope and sustenance to the tribal people. There were also presentations by some young people in the room: two girls from St. Cyprians school who were part of a group that had launched an extremely successful initiative to raise money for AIDs education, and Andy Hadfield, creator of a web portal called "Get A Life" which serves as a virtual conversational space on key political and social issues in South Africa. There were also three young media professionals from Glumedia, a network of artists and designers who are working to support important social projects.

At the end of the afternoon several projects emerged for the future work the group will address: HIV/Aids education, the elaboration of Get a Life, A television proposal for women's programming called "Sacred Cows," healing centers in townships, Dialogues to Introduce Cape Town to Cape Town, Dialogues to bring young people together around social issues, a proposal to link Images and Voices of Hope Cape Town with the work of Desmond Tutu, and a new repertory company for young actors for performance at all levels.