Southern Africa has long been associated with Hope. In the 16th century the place where Cape Town stands now was known as the Cape of Good Hope. For sailors who voyaged from Europe to the East in search of spices and materials which would bring wealth to Europe and Britain, this Southern tip of Africa was a place of refuge and respite.
And now in the 21st Century we have many conflicting images of the African continent: from desperation at the seemingly endless civil wars and conflicts that displace people and cause hardship for thousands to images of confidence and hope as peace dawns in countries such as Angola, Mozambique and Rwanda. Africa has begun to join the global economy. Internet and cell phone technology helps poor traders and farmers. The huge impact of the Gates Foundation funding in Africa in improving basic health is ensuring hope for a healthier and more productive future generation.
These two small charities are working at the other end of the scale. They use money donated in Britain and Europe to support ground level African charities that are trying to help the people and communities around them realise their full potential. They recognise how important children and youth are in the way out of the past and therefore target the bulk of their funds towards strengthening children and youth by improving health, nutrition and educational support so as to ensure that children stay in school for as long as possible, and by encouraging participation in the arts, sport and cultural activities.
The idea behind this art competition is that it should benefit artists of all levels as well as people in Africa, and involve those of us who are not capable of producing art ourselves but still have a view.