Celebrating the Dream Weavers

Let’s weave a world where ‘we’ means all humans, all creatures, all plants. Let’s weave these connections, let’s weave a world….
So ended a poem performed by Lotus High learners Azrudien Gabier and Tracy Lee Daniels at the Princess Vlei Dream weavers celebration on 16 October.
     The celebration followed a two month project in which children from areas around Princess Vlei developed a vision for a better, kinder world, based on their observations of relationships in the natural world as seen at Princess Vlei.
        The rain showers on Saturday meant a shift in the programme, but did little to dampen the spirits of the 140 youngsters who gathered at the Retreat Civic for the celebration. Prominently displayed in the venue were the two large artworks which had been created collectively  by 120 young people from Lotus High, Harmony Primary, Hillwood Primary, Levana Primary, Muhammadeyah Primary, Primrose Park Primary, and the Peter Clarke Art Centre. It consists of two giant spiral webs, symbolising our connections with each other and nature. In the webs are depictions of plant and animal species found at Princess Vlei. Around the outside are the children’s visions for a better world.

     On October 16, the  artists were joined by youngsters from the Masiphumelele Creative Hub, the Jungle Theatre Company junior club, volunteers from Fairmount High Ecoclub and the Fairmount High Marching Band. The participants began the afternoon by creating imaginative headdresses from coloured card, to be worn in the procession later, with many taking the opportunity to get their faces painted.
       After a snack, Bridget Pitt introduced the web artworks. 'Over the past few weeks, we have been learning about connections by watching nature. These artworks are an expression of what can be achieved when we weave strong connections and work together. These collective visions  are powerful because they give voice to the wishes of so many young people for a better future.
      Accompanied by VIncent Meyburgh on the drums, Tracy Lee Daniels and Azrudien Gabier read, 'Lets weave a world,' a poem created from the collective wishes expressed by learners during the Dream Weaver's project. The participants then watched a performance of ‘The River of Life’ by the Jungle Theatre Company. This highly entertaining play demonstrates what happens to our rivers if we pollute and abuse them, and how precious they are for our spiritual, emotional and physical health.

After the play, the rain had cleared enough for the procession. Led by the Fairmount High Marching Band, the procession carried the Dream Weaver artworks through the streets of Sasmeer estate. The learners also carried nine huge bird puppets; and some wore angels and baboon costumes provided by the Masiphumelele Creative Hub. The colourful display and drums drew many Sasmeer residents who came out of their homes to watch and film the parade.

The procession wound through the streets to Princess Vlei, pausing to disperse ‘seed bombs’. These were balls of soil and seed for indigenous strandveld plants, which the procession participants threw into our restoration site. This act was a wonderful commitment to creating an enlivened future of living in harmony with nature and each other. The procession concluded with a display of the Fairmount High Marching Band’s skills in military tattoos.
      The artworks will be installed at Princess Vlei, but we plan to display them in other venues first. There will also be an on line exhibition.
     The project was a collaboration between the Princess Vlei Forum and the Peter Clarke Art Centre. Huge thanks are due to all our wonderful volunteers; to the Tempo, Galeforce and Grassy Park Neighbourhood Watch, the Grassy Park Community Policing Forum and Commumed for keeping us safe; to Mr Roomany for donating juice. And of course to our funders, the City of Cape Town Grant in Aid fund, and the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, managed by Nedbank Private Wealth.

Below is the Dream Weaver's Poem in full.

Lets weave a world
Where kids are safe
And we all have homes
And a warm bed at night

Where soft rains fall
And the air is clean
And we all can breathe

Where wild animals roam
And wild flowers bloom
And forests grow tall

Lets weave a world
Where rivers run free
And sweet waters flow
For all to drink

Where there is no waste
We eat what we need
And we all have enough

Where coal’s in the ground
And our energy comes
From the sun and the wind

Lets weave a world
Where fynbos flourishes
And wetlands thrive
Where  songbirds sing

Where the ocean is clean
So whales can breathe
and coral reefs grow

Where nature’s our teacher
And animals our friends
And plants help us heal

Let's weave a world
Where we all get along
Where guns are gone
Where we are free to be

Where we all have rights
Where we all are equal
Where we all can learn

Where people are kind
Where we comfort the sick
and care for the old

Let's weave a world
Where there is laughter and life
Where we love and take care
Of each other and the earth

Where ‘we’ means all humans, all creatures, all plants
Lets weave these connections
Let’s weave a world…