A talented choir from Windale hopes to travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, to perform at the spot where Nelson Mandela first stood upon being released from prison.
One Voice Mob’s youngest members, aged between six and 16, have been offered the chance as part of a cultural exchange program with a multi award-winning vocal trio called The Soil, who grew up in the impoverished town of Soweto.
The children will take part in an intensive, week-long singing masterclass with the Johannesburg group prior to a performance at the famous Regina Mundi Church.
It was here that the late Mandela met his community after 27 years behind bars for his role as an anti-apartheid activist.
However, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will only go ahead if $100,000 is raised to cover travel costs prior to the choir’s departure in late November.
Centre for Hope founder and chief executive, Geraldine Moran, said South Africa stood out as a destination because of its ancient ties to Australia.
“Most kids of this age would most likely never have the opportunity to travel and learn from different cultural experiences – that’s why this exchange is so important,” she said.
“It will show them that Windale is not that bad.
“Where we will take them to – and where The Soil, who are doing the masterclass, came from in the slums of Soweto – are little shantytowns.
“They’d be garden shed-sized, made from aluminium tin, and there are thousands of them on hillsides.
“[Occupants] steal power to put in and keep their families warm.
“So, part of the cultural exchange is realising just how fortunate we are, even in suburbs that we might view as not as palatial as others.”
Ms Moran added it was also important to showcase Indigenous culture to the world and believed the experience would further build the children’s confidence and self-worth.
The site of the choir’s planned performance, Regina Mundi Church, engraved its name in South Africa’s history books when it opened its doors to anti-apartheid groups and provided shelter to activists.
Despite undergoing renovations, the church has maintained key historical attributes that commemorate the role it played in the struggle.
“It still shows bullet holes from when it was raided back in the 1970s and is a very strong symbol of unity and the changes that were made to apartheid in South Africa as a result of Mandela’s message,” Ms Moran said.
“So, for the children to stand here and sing as One Voice Mob, it means they’re creating an additional legacy for Mandela and recognising that we’re all one – it doesn’t matter our skin colour or what we believe.”
The Soil also hopes to travel to Australia and visit Lake Macquarie next year if enough money is raised towards the cultural exchange program.
Visit gofundme.com/one-voice-mob if you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation.
You can also head to centreforhope.com.au for more information on the local charity behind the initiative.
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