Kierieklapper Arts Festival helps local aged community

Each year, more than 16,000 people descend on the town of Mokopane in the Waterberg district of Limpopo province to attend the Mutual & Federal Agri Kierieklapper Arts Festival. What draws them are productions by the finest of South Africa’s most contemp

For the main sponsor Mutual & Federal Agri, this year’s 12^th festival - held over four days from Thursday, 9 to Sunday, 12 August 2012 - is about much more than a good time for the thousands of visitors.

Andries Wiese, Group Manager for Agriculture at Mutual & Federal, explains that it chose, in collaboration with the local agricultural community, to sponsor the festival because its ultimate purpose is to raise money to look after the aged of the district. Among other benefits, the proceeds of the festival help fund the local centre for the aged that feeds 350 people every day.

It is money well spent he says, for apart from feeding hundreds of needy people every day, it improves the physical, mental and social aspects of the lifestyles of these individuals during their golden years. The facility also boasts a library and clinic, and enables them to participate in social activities such as physical exercise in a gym, a choir, and offers a transport facility to other venues in the town.

The project strengthens the relationship between Mutual & Federal Agri and its target market, thereby protecting the most valuable resource on Earth: food. “We have an interest in food security, and assisting communities to feed their most vulnerable goes to the core of that value. It makes the entire community more healthy and sustainable,” he says.

“Our participation in this exciting festival stems from our strong commercial presence among the farming community in this district and a desire to give back. In each area we’re active in, we do what is most appropriate and needed by the community, and in the case of Mokopane they said their biggest need was to assist the aged in the area.”

“When cultural festivals began growing in popularity more than a decade ago, we identified this as the ideal vehicle for generating money in a sustainable fashion. The festival is today run by a committee and we, together with a number of other corporates, sponsor it. This is a way of helping the community generate additional money rather than simply giving donations,” says Wiese.

The festival assists the community in other ways - from preserving the unique cultural heritage of the people to offering a vehicle for local vendors, as well as vendors from across the country, to sell their arts, craft and food.

“The festival is very much about family and cultural values. Once again the organising committee in Mokopane has done a fantastic job in creating an overall festive ambiance thereby ensuring that there will be something to interest and entertain the whole family. It supports a cause that is close to the hearts of Afrikaners throughout the country, and we challenge other communities to do the same for their most vulnerable groups,” says Wiese.

The festival programme offers:

· An Outdoor Stage where all professional productions can be enjoyed.

· A Fun Run / Walk

· On National Woman’s Day (Thursday 9 August 2012) the annual Kierieklapper Golf Day takes place. This event features high on the sports calendars of golf enthusiasts in the region.

· Visitors can explore the 150 interesting and colourful stalls.

· A Gospel Festival will end the Kierieklapper Arts Festival on a high note with a children's production called “Rooikappie en Wolf” and the gospel group “Onbeskaamd” that will share the stage with local choirs.