Visual Arts Students at CPUT Inspire Creativity Through Community Engagement

Seven third-year Visual Arts Education Technology students from the Faculty of Education, Mowbray Campus, led by Arts / Visual Arts Education Lecturer Dr Siphesihle Biyela, brought colour, creativity, and confidence by hosting Vision Child & Youth Care Centre children and offering them art classes recently.

The initiative aimed to provide children aged six to 19 with the opportunity to explore art while offering student facilitators valuable experience in teaching and community engagement. The team of facilitators, which included Sisipho Ngayeka, Ahlume Mjana, Maryam Abrahams, Yanda Mvandaba, Naledi Peter, Jada Lodewyks, and Ibtesaam October, guided the children through various projects in collage, painting, drawing, and oil pastel techniques. Each session was carefully planned to balance enjoyment, skill development, and self-expression.

The children explored different art techniques such as stippling, which added an element of texture, and they learnt about the importance of taking care of the environment by using recycled materials in making art. “A way to save the world while celebrating what comes from the world around us,” said Biyela.

She continued: “From the very first day, the children’s enthusiasm grew as they discovered new ways to express themselves. One facilitator reflected:

“It was heartwarming to see them go from saying ‘I can’t’ to producing full-blown beautiful art pieces made with love and confidence.”

Biyela said the students noted how the programme revealed the importance of encouragement and that the children became more engaged and confident when they’re praised rather than corrected, and that the process of creating is often more important than the final product.

She said the children themselves echoed this joy, and a nine-year-old child was thankful for a lovely time and really enjoyed it.

Biyela added that a seventeen-year-old who did a collage and a painting and enjoyed both, and she enjoyed using the oil pastels, but everything else was also fun. The collaboration was made possible through communication between Biyela and Vision

Child and Youth Care Centre, who welcomed the initiative with open arms. In a letter of thanks, the Centre’s management wrote:

“We are truly thankful for your kindness, support, and for creating a space where our children and youth could express their creativity, share their talents, and be part of such a meaningful experience. Your encouragement and dedication have made a positive impact and brought joy and confidence to our young people.”

For the student facilitators, the programme was as much about personal growth as it was about teaching. Many discovered new strengths: patience, adaptability, and confidence in guiding children through creative processes.

The programme’s success has sparked ideas for future improvements, including more structured facilitator training, extended activity times, and separate sessions for different age groups. The students also envision involving parents and community members in final exhibitions to celebrate the children’s artistic achievements.

Biyela emphasised the broader impact: “Art is a form of therapy. This initiative provided children with a time of joy, focus and renewed perspective while giving the art students a chance to grow as future art educators and community leaders.”

The Vision Child & Youth Care Centre expressed hope for continued collaboration, and the students themselves voiced eagerness to participate again.

Written by CPUT News
Email: news@cput.ac.za