Poetry in McGregor Youth Programme

Photography and Visual Literacy

This five-day Photography and Visual Literacy workshop is an after-school program for school-age youth between 12 and 16 and will focus on photographic principles along with reading the visual / interpreting the visual / and the expression of the visual. Participants will gain knowledge about the basic elements of photography and be exposed to the world of photography and contemporary photographers. The theme of the 2021 Poetry Festival is the “Garden of the Beloved” and workshop participants will interpret this theme using photography and journal work. The proposed outcome is to produce photographic work that narrates this theme for publication and exhibit.

Gwendolyn Meyer, Bio.
I was born in Cape Town, and am a photographer and artist. I have taught photography to youth since 2002 in Oakland, Salinas, and Marin County California through the state-funded Artist in Schools Program. South African workshops include Photography and Visual Literacy programs at Kwha !ttu, The Desmond Tutu Center in Masiphumelela, Loxton School, and Indigo development in Nieuwoudtville amongst others. In 2018 I published an online photography curriculum for the International Federation of Workers Education Academy.
2019 was the first year I worked in McGregor, collaborating with Billy and Jen and the Poetry in McGregor Festival to implement the youth visual poetry program for the festival. I have a BFA in Photography from CCAC in Oakland California, and trained in Literacy through Photography from Fotofest, Austin, Texas.

One of the most popular events to take place each year during the “Poetry in McGregor” weekend is the Poetry Eucharist in The Little Way Chapel at Temenos on Sunday morning at 9.00am. The service is led by Rev. Bob Commins who commits to donating the money taken during the Offering to a local charity. This year he added the donations taken at the door of his Saturday evening Meditation in The Well. An amount of R1 280.00 was collected. A unanimous decision was made to donate the money to the Byekorf Creche following the appeal that was sent out on their behalf on the 25th of August:

(Writing on behalf of Christeline Davids): The Byekorf Creche was burglarized this past weekend. The kitchen was accessed and cowards stole vital products from an already needy creche. If you have a donation of milk, sugar, cereal, biscuits or any other product you might not need, please deliver to Christeline Davids – the lady who runs the crèche with a few helpers. They do amazing work at Byekorf with minimal resources. Do another 67 minutes today, tomorrow….constantly. The covering over the sand pit is in need of repair…any builders out there…take a look and offer your help. Many thanks in advance for your generosity of spirit.

McGregor Arts Community Project committee members: David Magner, Jennifer Johnson and Daniele Debellis paid a visit to the Creche this week to hand the money over to Christeline. She was completely overcome with emotions of deep gratitude. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this donation which has touched one of the hearts of the McGregor Community.

This brings a very warm glow after our successful “Voices on Fire” weekend – local residents of McGregor provided accommodation for one of our participating poets and his wife. The payment received from the poet for his accommodation was given to us by the hosts with the request that it be donated to the Breede Centre. Thank you to the “Anonymous Accommodation Hosts” for this very kind and generous gesture.

McGregor, 6 September 2016

Dear Organizing Team of the McGregor Poetry Festival,

Thank you so much for your contribution of R400.00 to The Breede Centre which we received on 6 September from Jennifer Johnson. It will be used towards materials and food for the children who come during the afternoon activities. We were short so your donation came at the exact right time!

The Breede Centre aims to cultivate self-reliant, empowered individuals, capable of using their practical skills and personal initiative to act in the world with confidence. And they aim to provide after-school and holiday activities as well as homework assistance and extra lessons for the children of the community.

You are helping these children and young people to become proactive members of society, contributing positively to their own lives, their communities, their country and the world.

If you require a tax certificate please let me know. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Warm Regards,

Katleen Verschoore

McGregor, 12 September2016

Dear Organizing Team of the McGregor Poetry Festival,

Thank you so much for your contribution of R1000.00 to The Breede Centre Youth Activity Programme which we received on 5 September. It will be added to our budget for materials and food.

The Breede Centre aims to cultivate self-reliant, empowered individuals, capable of using their practical skills and personal initiative to act in the world with confidence. And they aim to provide after-school and holiday activities as well as homework assistance and extra lessons for the children of the community.

You are helping these children and young people to become proactive members of society, contributing positively to their own lives, their communities, their country and the world.

If you require a tax certificate please let me know.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Warm Regards,

Katleen Verschoore