‘Applied Drama as Social Intervention in Conflict and Post-Conflict Contexts’

University of Pretoria, South Africa

Drama for Life (DFL) is looking forward to welcome their alumni to the 5th DFL Africa Research Conference taking place at the University of Pretoria from 16-17 November 2012.

Twenty DFL Alumni will take part in Goethe-Institut’s Alumni-DENKFABRIK for Culture, Education and Development, a worldwide think tank to explore new pathways in international development cooperation. The DENKFABRIK will take place in conjunction with the Drama for Life Africa Research Conference on Applied Drama as Social Intervention in Conflict and Post-conflict Contexts. Participants of the regional DENKFABRIK roundtable will be Drama for Life Alumni from sub-Saharan Africa, the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), the DAAD (The German Academic Exchange Service) as well as other stakeholders engaged in culture and development. The Think Tank is taking place the day before conference, as well as on the 18th of November at the Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg. The programme will focus on the experiences and needs of practitioners in the field of applied theatre and the role of international cooperation in their specific working environments. Insights and recommendations from the conference, and the DENKFABRIK will be presented to government representatives at the global DENKFABRIK-Conference in December 2012 in Germany.

One of the main aims of the 2012 DFL Africa Research Conference is the establishment of the Drama for Life Africa Professional Association. Over the past five years, the Drama for Life Africa Research Conference has consistently held the space for initiatives, dialogue and reflection around the need for a professional association that would take care of the professional needs of Applied Drama Facilitators, Drama Educators, Drama Therapists and Arts for Social Transformation practitioners and managers across the African continent. It has become abundantly clear that there is a serious need for a professional association that will embrace, take responsibility for, and support the professional needs of Applied Drama Facilitators and Master Trainers, Drama Educators, Drama Therapists and Arts for Social Transformation practitioners and managers from across the African continent. This need has been reinforced by the consistent refusal of governments, networks and NGOs to recognise the voices of those who work with arts activism, development, education and therapies. Drama for Life is planning to formally launch the DFL Africa Professional Association in 2013.

Think Tank sessions are by invite only, but online registrations for the DFL Africa Research Conference are still open for all researchers, practitioners, activists, Government and NGO trainers and community workers. Please visit http://web.up.ac.za/res.asp?ipkCategoryID=19770&ArticleID=316 to register.

For further information on the 2012 DFL Africa Research Conference please visit our website http://www.dramaforlife.co.za/content/page/dfl-africa-research-conference or contact Malika Ndlovu on Malika.Ndlovu@wits.ac.za or call 011 7174731.