The Drama for Life (DFL) programme, a project of the University of Witwatersrand (WITS) and the agency for German Development Cooperation (GTZ), invites performers and drama teachers / lecturers from across the SADC region to apply for one of the 28 post-graduate scholarships being offered for the Honours training course in Applied Drama & Theatre in HIV/AIDS education. The scholarship is for those, who are dedicated to the empowerment of young people through drama, to take responsibility for the quality of their own lives in the context of HIV/AIDS.

Approximately nine months of education, training and project preparation will form part of the qualification, i.e. a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Drama and Film with a specialisation in Applied Drama and Theatre Studies and HIV/AIDS education. The maximum of 28 performers and teachers will generally be taught together, and where appropriate, separately.

In return for their scholarship, the Master Trainers are expected to work as multipliers in their own countries in 2009, touring the SADC region with a professional HIV/AIDS production demonstrating the use of contemporary drama and theatre methods and training teachers as well as performers in the use of drama in HIV/AIDS education. These trainers in turn shall train their students and out-of-school youth, who will break the silence around HIV/AIDS by playing out their personal issues and concerns in their communities.

The application deadline for international applicants as well as South African applicants is September 30 2007 (late applications will be considered).

Successful candidates will be issued with a fees clearance certificate by the Wits fees office on their arrival for registration. Drama for life Project will pay:

• full tuition fees;
• accommodation fees on the Wits campus; and
• international administration fee.

Applicants must attach the following documents to their signed application form:

• curriculum vitae;
• a letter of motivation that describes why the applicant wants to become a major specialist in the area of HIV/AIDS education through Applied Drama and Theatre Studies, and why s/he wants to be part of drama for life;
• a letter of support for the application from an organisation, school, NGO or Ministry of Education, Health, Youth and/or Arts and Culture, stating that they would be willing to help the applicant invest what s/he have learned at the completion of the studies in their home country;
• an original academic marks transcript covering all periods of registration at every college and or University the applicant has attended, and/or original records of previous workshops, conferences, courses that s/he has attended, and/or evidence of previous work as a performer and/or drama teacher/lecturer;
• three letters of references with all the contact and position particulars of the referees;
• certified copies of relevant certificates; and
• certified copy of the applicant’s passport with an identifiable photograph.

Any documentation not in English must be translated and sworn to by an authorised translator.

Foreign applicants pay R550 dfl application fee. A standard selection procedure is required in all 14 SADC countries. Applicants must follow the required application procedures as set out by Wits School of the Arts, Wits University and the drama for life Project:

• a selection panel is constituted by the drama for life Research and Development Committee at Wits School of the Arts, which will review all applications;
• the final selection will be chaired by the drama for life Research and Development Committee and will entail performance work, teaching demonstrations, exercises and an interview;
• candidates must prepare :
  1. a solo performance that demonstrates a range of performance skills and an ability to communicate effectively about significant personal and social issues,
  2. a short teacher-facilitator intervention/lesson about HIV/AIDS that demonstrates effective listening, questioning, communication and empathy skills.
• candidates will also be required to participate in individual and group interviews and or exercises; and
• the ultimate choice for entry into the programme on scholarship rests with the drama for life implementation agency director. No correspondence will be entered into once a decision has been made.

Click here to download the application form or email Sao Mendes, Wits School of Arts Postgraduate Office, at sao.mendes@wits.ac.za for all the necessary information and application forms.

E-mail received from Warren Nebe on August 8 2007.