In December, the Durban Arts magazine D’ARTS carried a story reagarding the Durban School of Music’s offer of bursaries for students, particularly those who were disadvantaged.

Robin Opperman, the visionary and pro-active art teacher of Ningizimu School for the Severely Mentally Handicapped, went to the school to tell them about one of his star pupils. Sizwe Ngcobo has been featured in D’ARTS lately for his work with the Steel Drum Foundation.

I told them what an exceptional learner he was,” says Robin, “and how he always takes every opportunity that I give him and makes 300% use of it. I completed an application form for him and left it with them. The long and the short of it all is that he now has a one year percussion tuition bursary with the Durban Music School. He will have two classes per week - one theory and the other practical.”

Director of the Steel Drum Foundation, Bryan Clarke, is delighted with the news saying that the scholarship will complement the work he is doing with Sizwe.

Says Robin: Never let anyone tell you that DARTS cannot change lives!!