Marimba programme changes children’s lives

A MARIMBA programme introduced to Wolseley, a small town in Witzenberg Valley, has changed the lives of many youths in the area.

AmaWolsely Marimba, the brainchild of Paul Stanford and his wife, Peppi, was started in 2012.

“My wife and I were exposed to Marimbas, and we loved it. We thought it would be a great idea to introduce to schools in Wolseley.

“The thought was for us to get township children playing and to keep them busy after school. To help them understand some life skills and for them to know that they can achieve anything in life,” said Stanford.

He said the project operated from schools in the area and started with only four marimbas, which the couple got through fundraising.

They held auditions at the schools. About 60 names were handed in of children who were interested. Only 20 auditioned, and 15 came to the first practise, but in the end only eight children committed themselves to the project.

Stanford said the children were trained by professional marimba players.

Since then the project has grown from being a school-based project to operating at its own premises, and is known as the Marimba School.

The number of children in the programme has increased from eight to 40 marimba players, and 20 others who are awaiting training.

As part of the project the children have formed bands and do performances for which they get paid stipends.

Since their inception the amaWolseley have performed in about 25 gigs annually.

Jemile Stahl,21, who was among the first group in 2012, said the project was an escape for him.

“I love music, but prior to this I didn’t know what a marimba was. When I started playing it was such an experience.

“I was broken, had started experimenting with alcohol and smoking. But the marimba, it took all my problems away gave me a new focus and changed not just my life, but that of many other children,”he said.