OUR STORY YOUR STORY
ABOUT
OUR STORY YOUR STORY is a Clowns Without Borders South Africa (CWBSA) programme that aims to harness the power of autobiographical storytelling and personal narrative to build bridges within and between communities in South Africa and internationally. We work with participants across racial, class, gender, religious, and generational lines to increase community cohesion and promote positive transformation.
OUR STORY YOUR STORY has been successfully run with schools, senior clubs, community organisations, youth groups, and universities since 2014. The programme can be implemented in various ways including as a once-off workshop, intensive 3-day workshop, or over 8 weekly sessions. Participants are empowered to share their own true life stories as a means for personal growth and development.
Partners have included Amy Biehl Foundation, Assitej South Africa, The Bookery, Chumba Public Primary School, Erin Hall, Harambee, Hopolang Primary School, Ikamva Labantu, Institute for Security Studies, Ishiphiwo Primary School, Intshayelelo Primary School, Kukhanyile Primary School, Life Choices, Luleka Primary School, Mandela Dialogues, Nali’Bali, Mthawelanga Primary School, Noluthando School for the Deaf, Radio Vibonele, Rand Merchant Bank, Safety Lab, Seven Passes Initiative, VPUU.
For more information on how to have OUR STORY YOUR STORY come to your community, contact us at info@cwbsa.org or 021 7883202.
RECENT PROJECTS
TEAM
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – Jayne Batzofin
Contact: jayne@cwbsa.org
Jayne completed her Honours degree at WITS University, majoring in directing and stage/costume design. She decided she wasn’t finished learning and continued a further 2 years of theatre studies at l’ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris. Jayne as a Director is best known for her “Batzofin Bite” and the common thread amongst all her work has always been based in the fundamental theatre training of “the Clown”. Since becoming a regular Artistic Director for Clowns without Borders South Africa, she has discovered a passion for working in the social upliftment sector of the Arts. Thinking of herself as a wonderer and a wanderer, she continues to develop this passion through her work with CWBSA.
PROGRAMME MANAGER – Suzan Eriksson
Contact: suzan@cwbsa.org
Suzan is the Programme Manager at Clowns Without Borders South Africa since 2018. She has over 15 years of experience working with the non-governmental and public sector, as well as the UN – in particular with refugees, children and education. She has a MSc from London School of Economics in sociology and complex emergencies. Suzan comes from a Swedish speaking and Tatar background in Finland, grew up in the UK and has worked in Finland, UK, Switzerland, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa. She is a strong believer in empowerment of individuals to take control of their lives and make informed decisions without harm. Suzan loves reading (has even written a novel) and being outdoors in the middle of nowhere!