Expert kite-makers, Gerald Gelderbloem from Parkwood Estate, and Bobby Gathoo from Steenberg, star in a virtual kite-making workshop for Cape Mental Health’s first-ever virtual Cape Town International Kite Festival, from Saturday October 10 to Saturday October 31.
They demonstrate how to make a traditional Cape Swaeltjie (swallow) kite from bamboo and paper. This is the first-known online demonstration of how to make these historic kites, which have been flown in Cape Town for hundreds of years.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual kite festival has gone virtual.
Gelderbloem and Gathoo are long-standing supporters and volunteers at the event.
They gladly donated their time and expertise to help create content for the virtual edition.
To watch their swallow kite, and many other kite-making workshops, get a ticket to the virtual kite festival on
www.capementalhealth.co.za/HopeOnTheRise for a recommended donation of R50 per person. There are free tickets available
for those who aren’t able to contribute at this time. Even though there can’t be the usual kite festival this October, the organisers at Cape Mental Health don’t want
anyone to miss out on the kite festival magic. The goal is to raise R250, 000 for Cape Mental Health to fund essential free mental health services.
Join kiters all over the globe and fly your kite anywhere and any time between October 10 and 31. Share your photos, videos and messages of hope, tagging
#HopeOnTheRise and @CTKiteFest, and feature on the official CTKiteFest social feeds. You’ll also receive an official certificate of your participation.
A ticket gives access to all festival competitions as well as online content including the kite-making workshops.
There’s also a colouring-in competition for the little ones and several short kiting films on the online platform as well as a concert on Saturday October 24, featuring comedian Dalin Oliver, singer and songwriter Jarrad Ricketts and drag artist, Manila von Teez who plan to combine music, dance and laughs for an evening of entertainment from the comfort of your own home.
Visit www.capementalhealth.co.za/HopeOnTheRise to buy tickets or WhatsApp 067 321 9572, call 021 447 9040 during office hours or email info@cmh.org.za for more information.