What does Dramatic Need do?

Dramatic Need is a UK-based charity that sends international and local volunteers in the creative arts (such as actors, artists and musicians) to South Africa and Rwanda to host workshops with children living in underprivileged rural communities. Volunteers can go for a period of between three weeks to eight weeks*, either individually or in teams of 2-4 people. Workshops are based around the particular expertise of the volunteer, be it drama, visual arts, music, film or dance. Volunteers are billeted within the local community and will usually workshop at two to three different schools during their stay. We encourage volunteers to stay as long as their work/study schedule permits, so both students and volunteers can get as much out of the programme as possible.

Dramatic Need currently has links with 19 schools in South Africa and Rwanda, reaching almost 5,000 school-aged children in some of the most impoverished and isolated parts of rural Southern Africa. Whilst the arts are part of the official curriculum in South Africa and Rwanda, the reality is that most rural schools have neither the funds nor the materials to make the most of the arts syllabus. This is where Dramatic Need comes in. Through our workshops conducted by professional artists we augment whatever arts education already exists in schools. We stress that volunteers are not teachers and are not replacing existing arts education or educators.

The Dramatic Need programme is very much a cultural exchange, with volunteers learning as much as the children they are working with. We are not 'importing' theatre, music and art to South Africa, but simply enabling children who may have very little in life, to utilise and take ownership of their own talents and abilities. In doing so, volunteers will be helping to foster the children's self-confidence and ability to express their emotions in a positive way. Many of these children are familiar with the expression of emotion through violence, be it sexual, domestic, ethnic or gang-related aggression. The provision of a means of self-expression or an outlet for frustration that is non-violent and creative is one of Dramatic Need’s major aims.

Dramatic Need is a not-for-profit charity and we rely on your support in order to keep reaching these children. A little money from donations or Dramatic Need merchandise goes a long way, and we greatly appreciate your support.

*Please note that we do not accept volunteers for less than 20 days and that the maximum length of a volunteer programme is two months. Consistency and sustainability are two aspects of Dramatic Need’s work we take very seriously and any programme shorter than three weeks risks being disruptive to the children’s schooling schedule rather than beneficial and instructive.