Umoja - Spirit of Togetherness ... Todd Twala

UMOJA is a collection and celebration of all the music and dance of South Africa over the years.  " They dance like demons and sing like angels". We chatted to the show’s creator Todd Twala about the production, her early experiences that led to its birth, their recent visit to the White house (see pic below) and New Orleans where she received the Key of the City. The magic of Umoja...

The show is authentic and based on own experiences ... done by South Africans rejoicing the rich heritage of our country.... a glorious celebration of South African culture and the wonderful people who make it.

Todd Twala starts 2

Todd will be working in collaboration with iStart2 in our quest to search for music and dance talent across the nation. We are looking for ordinary young people with raw talent who can be trained by experts in the industry. Be one of the seven ... log on to our new website at the end of September and join our journey.

I left the studio with a feeling of tremendous joy and happiness ... iStart2 has connected to a woman with an enormous heart and incredible warmth .... a woman who lives the Soul of South Africa and the Spirit of Togetherness. To listen to some music from the show and the interview with Todd, just click "play"

Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time)

Join us for the Launch of the iStart2 Challenge at the Soweto Festival on 

22 September @ 13h15.

Tightrope ... Cindy Alter

A story of highs and lows, survival, hope and triumph! Cindy Alter catapulted into the world of pop-stardom in the seventies, constant touring and recording, playing huge arena 's and concert halls in Europe and Africa, as she spearheaded the band "Clout", selling over ten million albums worldwide. 

We chatted to Cindy Alter about her childhood dreams and her years with Clout and Zia. After leaving South Africa in the early nineties she found peace and fulfillment  in  Los Angeles. Life decided to throw her another curveball - she was diagnosed with Acute Mylogenous Leukemia.  This was just the beginning of the long road back to health after undergoing a Stem-Cell Bone Marrow Transplant. She survived and in 2005 “Clout” recorded a new CD, and toured South Africa. 

Today, Cindy is healthy and happy, joined forces with Stewart Irving forming Alter-Irving and is telling the stories about her life’s journey through her music and writing her biography, aptly titled, “No Substitute”!  As she says, “It’s been a wild ride, but it’s far from over”

On the show we played some of the Clout oldies and her song, Tightrope. This song forms part of the iStart2 Compilation CD to be released later this year.  To listen to the amazing life journey of an incredible icon of South African music just click play: 

Interested to play your part?

iStart2 events will take place from Sept - Nov in 2014 in the following cities:

Johannesburg, Soweto, Boksburg, Tshwane, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Stellenbosch, PMB, Port Elizabeth, Van der Bijl Park, Roodepoort, Rustenburg, Tlokwe, Nelspruit, Kimberley, Witbank, Polokwane, Kroonstad, George/Oudtshoorn, Richardsbay, East London, Kuruman, Upington, Mafikeng, Worcester and Bethlehem.

Teams will be formed in each city to assist with marketing and fundraising with BAGS OF HOPE, EVENTS ORGANISING and other activities. We are looking for :

- School representatives / Mothers Committees

- Elderly people

- Training Providers

- Religious Institutions

- Events & Festival Organisers 

- Artists 

- Media representatives from newspapers and community radio stations

- Disability institutions 

to assist in the roll-out of the iStart2 initiative.

Interested? Please email your particulars to spjdutoit@gmail.com

Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey  :-)

Enough for all, forever ... Jeunesse Park

One woman... One dream... 4,2 Million trees.. The life of Jeunesse Park in a nutshell ... a lifelong conservationist and environmental activist. She is the founder of Food & Trees for Africa - South Africa's first and only national greening social enterprise.

FTFA promotes, develops and manages greening, climate change issues,  sustainable natural resource management  and food security programmes since 1990. Jeunesse and her team have distributed over 4,2 million trees across South Africa. Another "convenient truth" is that she has helped develop over 2500 natural food gardens for some of the poorest people of SA. 

I left the studio feeling hugely inspired by Jeunesse. On days like this I am  reminded once again that iStart2 is just a little seed that was planted four years ago. Some people pass by, some pee on the ground cover, some close their eyes and look the other way, some pour water, some bring fertilizer, some go out and tell others about the little seed ... People like Jeunesse see the tree.

Our Branding Warrior, Chris Keys, created a cartoon for Jeunesse  Let's all take hands in Arbour Month and plant a tree with Food & Trees for Africa. Our goal is to distribute 135 000 trees together next year. Are you Mime or Meme?

To listen to the remarkable story of Jeunesse Park, just click play:

Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time)

Interested to play your part?

We are looking for volunteers to work with and at the iStart2 HUB to assist in the roll-out of the iStart2 initiative - amongst other things:
- Contacting and working with schools/ Mother's Committees to participate in selling "Bags of Hope" for school fundraising projects in 2014.
- Building a database of faith communities in partnership with SAFCEI.
- Training providers in 27 districts of South Africa interested in partnering with iStart2 on training initiatives in New Venture Creation and Environmental Practices. The districts are:

Johannesburg, Soweto, Boksburg, Tshwane, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Stellenbosch, PMB, Port Elizabeth, Van der Bijl Park, Roodepoort, Rustenburg, Tlokwe, Nelspruit, Kimberley, Witbank, Polokwane, Kroonstad, George/Oudtshoorn, Richardsbay, East London, Kuruman, Upington, Mafikeng, Worcester and Bethlehem.

Email Pierre du Toit at pierre@iStart2.com if interested.

Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey  :-)

You might even be one of the 7 ...

"God is Green" ... Bishop Geoff Davies

Archbishop Tutu calls him the Apostle of the Environment. South Africa's very own "Green" Bishop Geoff Davies is keen to encourage renewable energy and believes we should share the resources of this world. He condemns usury, inequality and fracking and has a firm belief that we are all part of nature and that "we must care for all of life."

Bishop Geoff Davies supports the iStart2 initiative because  we need to touch people through art and use every channel to spread the message. Bishop Davies combines faith and environmental activism in a dynamic package.

The Green Bishop Starts 2

He is the Founder and executive director of the South African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI). A man who has willingly adopted the role of chief challenger and admonisher of those who do not acknowledge the fragility of our planet. He is resolute in his belief that faith communities – be they Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Baha’i or Buddhist – have a major role to play in saving the environment. Bishop Davies received one of the country’s highest environmental honours, the Nick Steele Memorial Award as the SAB Environmentalist of the Year for his work in 2011. 

iStart2 is excited to take hands with faith communities in the roll - out of the iStart2 Challenge. To listen to a podcast of the interview with this remarkable youthful man, just click "play" below.

Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time)

Mime or Meme?

Interested to play your part?

We are looking for volunteers to work with and at the iStart2 HUB to assist in the roll-out of the iStart2 initiative - amongst other things:
- Contacting and working with schools/ Mother's Committees to participate in selling "Bags of Hope" for school fundraising projects in 2014.
- Building a database of faith communities in partnership with SAFCEI.
- Training providers in 27 districts of South Africa interested in partnering with iStart2 on training initiatives in New Venture Creation and Environmental Practices. The districts are:

Johannesburg, Soweto, Boksburg, Tshwane, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Stellenbosch, PMB, Port Elizabeth, Van der Bijl Park, Roodepoort, Rustenburg, Tlokwe, Nelspruit, Kimberley, Witbank, Polokwane, Kroonstad, George/Oudtshoorn, Richardsbay, East London, Kuruman, Upington, Mafikeng, Worcester and Bethlehem.

Email Pierre du Toit at pierre@iStart2.com if interested.

Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey  :-)

You might even be one of the 7 ...

Don't cry for me Azania ... Ngila Michael Muendane

The life and message of Bra Mike Muendane has so much meaning for us as South Africans as we strive to build a sustainable country. No pretense,  just passion, honesty and enthusiasm that underscores his youthful outlook on life. The only give-away that this man is approaching his seventieth birthday is the wisdom he shares so eloquently by focusing on the future, infusing values and making a huge contribution to the lives of so many people out there.

A man prepared to take hands with fellow South Africans in building and working towards a new vision for South Africa. A man who can help us discover our purpose by destroying the failures and mistakes of the past and changing mindsets. A man committed to leaving a world behind where the children of our children will live in a country where the "colour of our skin will be as irrelevant as our noses."

Ngila Michael Muendane is an ex-Robben Island-political prisoner, a published author ( ie. I am an African ), life coach and inspirational speaker. He is the founder and Executive member of SOULTALK, as well as the African Institute for Personal Excellence and Leadership (AIPEL)

Bra Mike studied Economics and Political Science while on Robben Island where he was imprisoned from 1963 to 1970, as a political prisoner. He left the country and returned to South Africa after liberation and served as a member of Parliament from 1997 till 2000.

A huge honour to have had you on the iStart2 Show, Bra Mike. To listen to a podcast of the discussion, just click "play"

Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time)

Are you Mime or Meme? Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

You might even be one of the 7 ...

Feel Good ... Mercedes Mathebula

I am not surprised that Mercedes sings along with Lira:

"I wanna show somebody that I care

Cause feeling good is a choice that we all make"

Mercedes Mathebula, City of Tshwane Sustainability Specialist, and my guest on the iStart2 show this week, exudes positive energy, a passion for sustainability, determination and bubbles with excitement about the plans they have for leading the City of Tshwane into a green economy and delivering on the mission:

"To sustainably enhance the quality of life of all people in Tshwane through a developmental system of local government and by rendering efficient, effective and affordable services".

We chatted to Mercedes, about the newly formed Sustainability Unit at the municipality, the challenges we face in Tshwane with regards to water, waste, energy and health & safety. We touched on plans they have for assisting the vulnerable members of our society and the four phase plan that has now reached the implementation stage where citizens, entrepreneurs and private businesses will be called upon to share ideas for greening the city in future.

An informed citizen is a happy citizen! That's exactly how I feel about knowing that there is a highly competent and passionate team of people driving the sustainability initiatives at the Capital of South Africa. An exciting future awaits the citizens of Tshwane - The African Capital City of Excellence.


To listen to a podcast of the show just click "play":

And the City of Tshwane starts2!

Last Sunday we had the opportunity to experience the magic of song and dance in Mamelodi at the Zindala Zombili Music and Dance Festival. iStart2 was there looking for new talent and building our community network in anticipation of the iStart2 Challenge! If Mamelodi can start, then you can start 2!

Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time) 

Mime or Meme? Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

You might even be one of the 7 ...

Power of Africa ... Geoff Rothschild

Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I musn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begun

Beautiful words from a song, Memory, sung by Elaine Paige was one of the songs chosen by Geoff Rothschild to play on our show. (The other was Power of Africa by Yvonne Chaka Chaka)

When I left the studio after the show yesterday, it felt good to know that there are people out there who are giving their all to make South Africa a more sustainable country to live in. Geoff Rothschild is one of those people.

I was taken aback by the humbleness, the business acumen and the "human beingness" of this great man. Someone not scared to share his greatness with the world and the people of our nation. Thank you Geoff! Yesterday is a memory I will treasure and a new day will begun for the children of South Africa ...

Our guest, Geoff Rothschild, Patron of the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Trust, the Head of Government and International Affairs at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and its former chairman, received the Education Africa Allegiance Award at the Education Africa Lifetime Achievement Awards in New York City last month. He is also a director at the Nepad Business Foundation and Council member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation.

We chatted to Geoff about the Award, sustainability, King III, the NDP, citizenship and his community work, on the iStart2 Show. We also asked him the BILLION  "Dollar" question: "How does one raise R1 Billion?"

Nelson Mandela made the dreams of millions of people true - You can help by making Mr Mandela's dream of building a children's hospital true by contributing R20 to the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Trust. Just sms gift to 40301. To listen to a podcast of the show click play below.



Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time) 

Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

You might even be one of the 7 ...