One&Only Cape Town has recently nominated the Hout Bay based Lalela Project as its Corporate Social Responsibility focus, and together with the Goodman Gallery– the resident gallery at the hotel– will present an exhibition of portraits taken by the learners of Lalela Project, as part of the Mandela Day celebration. One&Only Cape Town has partnered with Lalela Project, a local organization focused on empowering disadvantaged youth through the arts, in planning its celebration of Mandela Day.

The photographs in this exhibit emerge from Hout Bay learners participating in this localised INSIDE OUT project. What resulted was a series of workshops highlighting issues of racism in the learner’s schools and communities, and attempting to open up the dialogue between different cultures– thus encouraging tolerance and cultural understanding. Students from different communities were paired up and were mentored by local photographers Hasan and Husain Essop, who led them in the art of portraiture, and also encouraged them to appreciate their cultural differences as well as see their similarities.

Andrea Kerzner, Founder and CEO of Lalela Project, and daughter of Kerzner International Founder and President Sol Kerzner, is an enthusiastic leader in her quest to improve the quality of young people’s lives. Through Lalela Project, she is dedicated to delivering art and music based educational experiences to South African children at risk during the after school, weekend and holiday hours, when children are at their most vulnerable. Lalela Project’s arts based education programs empower children and youth living in extreme poverty by igniting creativity. By activating whole-brain and creative thinking, Lalela Project encourages children to dream about a different future, and provides them with the tools to map and manifest these dreams and goals. Art and music experiences are introduced as a tool for positive change in children’s lives, and as a healthy alternative to destructive behaviour and environments, as well as a practical application for academic and professional growth.

Guests at the “Inside Out” exhibition at the Goodman Gallery, One&Only Cape Town, will see the portraits taken by the youth of Lalela Project firsthand, as well as work from Hasan and Husain Essop, who will be exhibiting some of their own photography alongside the portraits taken by the young artists. “We are delighted to be focusing on a project with such enormous creative energy as our Corporate Social Responsibility priority and have no doubt that with our commitment, the Lalela Project will only grow from strength to strength,” says One&Only Cape Town Managing Director Clive Bennett.

Lalela means ‘to listen’ in Zulu and with One&Only Cape Town’s help, the founders of the Lalela project will no doubt continue to listen out for the needs and concerns of the young people in their midst. “By listening to children through artwork and music, we learn about their challenges and dreams and we can, in turn, provide critical messaging and creative solutions to help them reach their true potential.”

To learn more on Lalela, visit http://www.lalelaproject.org/