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INVITATION TO THE IMBIZO TO BE HOSTED BY MINISTER NGUBANE
The Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr Ben Ngubane, will host an Imbizo in Middelburg, at the Little Elephant project on 11 October 2003.
The Imbizo follows the agreements of the Growth and Development Summit, which included commitments from government and social partners to create conducive environment for job creation, skills development and economic growth.
The theme for the Imbizo is "Build a people's contract for Growth and Development". The Imbizo will be used as a forum to inform communities on entrepreneurial opportunities available for them. The campaign also seeks to expose communities to initiatives around Expanded Public Works Programme, learnerships and skills development programmes that exist. These include:
* Skills development
* Individual or collective initiatives
* Income generating dimensions.
* Volunteer - dimensions of skills acquisition
* NGO or Local Government initiatives
* Public Private Partnerships initiatives
It would also give political leaders an opportunity to listen to the communities' concerns.
The Department of Arts and Culture has identified the Little Elephant Art and Craft Market as a model for initiatives on self-employment and cooperatives. It demonstrates achievements of individuals and communities and the emerging spirit of entrepreneurship among our people. The self-employed entrepreneurs manufacture and sell beadwork, ethnic dolls, grass mats, baskets, pottery, glassware, woodcarving, clothes, needlework; soap, oil, and water-colour paintings, and has a sunken amphitheatre to entertain tourists and customers.
As part of government's commitment to integrated service delivery, the National Imbizo it is expected that the Premier of Mpumalanga N Mahlangu, MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Ms S Manana and Middelburg mayor M Mahlangu will also participate in the Little Elephant Imbizo in Middelburg.
The month of October has been declared Social Development Month. The political leaders will also talk to the people about the need to register for various grants available in government. Registration forms will also be available at the Imbizo. Minister Ngubane will also encourage communities to apply for the arts and culture funds available within the national lottery.
Date: 11 October 2003
Time: 10:00
Venue: Little Elephant Arts and Craft Market, Middleburg, next to Midway Inn
Enquiries: Mack Lewele 082 450 5076, 012 337 8173 or Lolo Maphophe 082 600 4644, 012 337 8404
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
7 October 2003