The Soul of Africa ... Karin Hougaard

A wonderful moment took place this week! Sustainability-through-Art once again became a reality. 

iStart2 Ambassadors, Karin Hougaard and Pops Mohamed handed over WakaWaka Solar lights to the NCPPDSA (National Council for Persons With Physical Disabilities South Africa). The lights worth R100k will be distributed amongst disadvantaged children with disabilities in schools as part of the wider Share the Sun initiative. "It is awesome to be part of bringing light to people. It warms my heart," says Karin.

Karin Hougaard also joined us in studio on the iStart2 Show this week. We chatted about her songs on the Soul of Africa CD compilation. They include 'A New Song', 'Quiet Love', her beautiful rendition with Philippe Elan and her wonderful collaboration on the signature song 'iStart2Sing'. Karin also expresses her views on the Share the Sun initiative and sustainability issues close to her heart

She also tells us about the exciting upcoming Afrikaans Festival, Harlekijn en de Zuid-Afrikaanse dagen, from 28 - 30 Augustus 2015, in the Netherlands. Artists who will be performing in Soestduinen include,  amongst others, Pops Mohamed, Joshua na die Reen,  Jannie du Toit, Die Heuwels Fantasties and Anna Davel. South Africans in the Netherlands have a feast of musical talent to look forward to!

Take half an hour and spend some time with this amazing and passionate woman.





Thought of the Day:

Have you ordered or downloaded the iStart2Sing - The Soul of Africa CD yet?

"The iStart2Sing cd is a wonderful rainbow of diverse artists performing on one cd" 
- Karin Hougaard

Get it from iTunes here or on Amazon here.

Heart ... Dr Harry Swart & Verena Pillay

The National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa is a non-governmental organisation with a footprint throughout South Africa. The vision of the NCPPDSA is to strive for an inclusive and accessible society where persons with disabilities have equal rights to economic and social opportunities.


Dr Harry Swart (Governance & Compliance) and Verena Pillay (Marketing & Communications Manager) from the NCPPDSA joined us on the iStart2 Show this week. We chatted about separate versus inclusive legislation for disabled people, the process of mainstreaming and how the NCPPDSA is seeking to create a more sustainable world for persons with disabilities and their organisation. "Our biggest challenge is to find sustainable partners for the sustainable living of our organisation", says Harry.

"iStart2 work for an inclusive society in South Africa" - Verena Pillay

Join the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa in celebrating diversity at the iStart2Sing Festival at Constitution Hill on 31 May 2015. An awesome place to have a festival!! 

The full day festival will showcase a variety of art forms including music, dance, performance, fine art, poetry and writing. The event aims to create the awareness that artists with disabilities can function and perform with mainstream artists. Top artists will join iStart2 Ambassador Pops Mohamed in embracing the spirit of solidarity and highlighting diversity, disability and sustainability.

 To listen to the show, just click play: 



Pierre du Toit and Keitu Gwangwa host the iStart2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30 (GMT+2). Check out our website on www.iStart2.com. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485AM in Johannesburg and nationally on DSTV audio channel 869. Radio Today also streams on its website www.1485.org.za and on 1485.mobi. Radio Today the station that cares. Radio that delivers!

Thought of the Day: 

Interested to manage iStart2Sing events in ANY of 27 cities accross South Africa?

  See you on the 31 May 2015 at Constitution Hill!

I get up again ... Bernadette Rigney & Terry-Ann Adams

Bernadette Rigney, director at fAbility, a company which shares innovative ideas and technology to assist and improve the lifestyles of persons with physical disabilities, is adamant:  “With all eyes on us, we may as well keep it fabulous!”

Keitu, Bernadette ("iStart2 do!"), Pierre and Terry-Ann

And fabulous they are indeed. Bernadette and Terry-Ann Adams chatted to us about  how we define a person with a disability, how far we've come in South Africa on Disability Rights and share their ideas around the issues of "Reasonable Accommodation" and "Universal Design". Persons with disabilities face a myriad of challenges but Terry-Ann feels strongly: "I don't want people to feel sorry for me. Once you are okay with who YOU are, you are okay with other people." Words of wisdom from a woman who have faced unspeakable discrimination against her person: "I get up again and I want you to smile."

To share the "fabulosity" of Terry-Ann and Bernadette, to get the latest Green Times News and hear some poetry from Natalia Molebatsi, just click play to listen to the show.




Thought of the Day:

Listen Thursdays @17h30 to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, Nationally on DSTV Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. Show hosted by Pierre du Toit and the beautiful Keitu Gwangwa.

 

Hear Hear ... Jannie du Toit

What do you do to make theatre and music spaces more accessible to people with disabilities? Most people only think of building ramps for people in wheelchairs. Jannie du Toit, one of the leading musicians in South Africa and Jopie Koen from the Pierneef Theatre have taken the issue of acccessibility a bit further than most.

Jannie du Toit with Therina Wentzel, Fanie du Toit and Eloise Cupido

Not only does Jannie print his programmes in braille, but in partnership with the National Council for Persons with Physical Disbilities in South Africa, they are pushing the boundaries to create theatre experiences that are completely accessible for persons with disabilitites. This week the focus was on persons with post-lingual hearing loss and the installation of the induction loop system.

A song in sign language

We chatted to Jannie du Toit on the iStart2 Show about his career, the Hear Hear initiative and his work with persons with disabilitites. Jannie believes there is always room to think about people with disabilitites. " I believe truly in love and I love gracefully," says he and commits: "iStart2 care more".

To listen to the show and two of Jannie's most beautiful songs, Drie-uur in die more and Kinders van die Wind. just click play:




Thought of the Day:  I hear you ... I see you.

Listen Thursdays @17h30 to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, Nationally on DSTV Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. Show hosted by Pierre du Toit and the beautiful Keitu Gwangwa.