Amasango on TV
Adocumentary featuring the success story of Grahamstown’s Amasango Career School for former street children and others with psycho-social barriers to learning will air on SABC2 this Sunday (11 October).
These children struggle to gain the education and care they need within a conventional school environment.
Founded by Jane Bradshaw, the school has a remarkable record of success even though – as Jane herself says – “These are probably the most neglected group of special needs children in the country. What we are doing is making citizens out of our lost boys and girls.”
From a humble start in two shipping containers in 1994, the school has developed a reputation that attracts volunteers from the UK, the US and Europe as well as South Africa.
The long term difficulties of inadequate school facilities, operating in the dilapidated train station building and the battle to establish a purpose built school are also examined in the 48-minute documentary, filmed by an entirely Eastern Cape crew and directed by Nicola Barbour and shot by Sarina Engelbrecht.
The programme follows on from a 12-minute short film, which saw success on the international film festival circuit in 2013. It screened at three American festivals and won a prize at Canada’s Real to Reel Film Festival.
The programme was pro- duced for the SABC by Sunshine Coast Studios, with co-producers Uphondo Lwe Afrika and technical partners Tryst Video Productions.
Colin Ward was the producer.
The documentary will air at 9am, Sunday 11 October in the Issues of Faith slot on SABC2.