Partnership with the British Council
We are also delighted to be partnered with the British Council. In November 2022, Cat M’Crystal-Fletcher (one of our Project Account Managers) was part of the British Council Wales delegation that visited South Africa and Zimbabwe with the aim of the trip being to discover opportunities for collaboration within literature between Wales and Pan African countries.
In Johannesburg, the delegation met other creatives and were generously hosted in various businesses and organisations including the Origin Centre (content covers the origins of humanity, the origins of art and the culture and art forms of people indigenous to southern Africa); GALA (a resource centre, archive and library of a new intersection of activism, particularly around gender identity and sexuality), Drama for Life (dedicated to arts for social transformation and healing) and the Tshimologong Precinct (a Digital Innovation Precinct).
They then flew to Harare, Zimbabwe, and were welcomed by a crowd of artists and writers at a Creative Roundtable and Welcome Dinner. Cat M met authors and would-be authors at the Pikicha Gallery and others at the Jasen Mphepho Little Theatre, Harare City Library, National Gallery, REPS Theatre, and Afrotopia Hub, all with the aim of discussing their experiences and creative goals and the challenges they face.
Cat M’Crystal-Fletcher said about her trip: “With only 2 official languages in Wales, it was enlightening to witness the ease at which multiple languages are incorporated in societal, commercial and political life over there. Not least, literature and other arts. There are so many positive outcomes from this trip. Rowanvale Books is now in the feasibility stages of an exciting project incorporating, amongst others, British Council Wales, Zimbabwe and South Africa, Cardiff University and Margaret Chideme @margaretchidemetheauthor in Zimbabwe, so watch this space!”
In Johannesburg, the delegation met other creatives and were generously hosted in various businesses and organisations including the Origin Centre (content covers the origins of humanity, the origins of art and the culture and art forms of people indigenous to southern Africa); GALA (a resource centre, archive and library of a new intersection of activism, particularly around gender identity and sexuality), Drama for Life (dedicated to arts for social transformation and healing) and the Tshimologong Precinct (a Digital Innovation Precinct).
They then flew to Harare, Zimbabwe, and were welcomed by a crowd of artists and writers at a Creative Roundtable and Welcome Dinner. Cat M met authors and would-be authors at the Pikicha Gallery and others at the Jasen Mphepho Little Theatre, Harare City Library, National Gallery, REPS Theatre, and Afrotopia Hub, all with the aim of discussing their experiences and creative goals and the challenges they face.
Cat M’Crystal-Fletcher said about her trip: “With only 2 official languages in Wales, it was enlightening to witness the ease at which multiple languages are incorporated in societal, commercial and political life over there. Not least, literature and other arts. There are so many positive outcomes from this trip. Rowanvale Books is now in the feasibility stages of an exciting project incorporating, amongst others, British Council Wales, Zimbabwe and South Africa, Cardiff University and Margaret Chideme @margaretchidemetheauthor in Zimbabwe, so watch this space!”
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Charitable Work
At Rowanvale, we believe it is import for the company to make a difference to as many people as possible and one of the ways that we can achieve this is through charitable and collaborative work. As a company, we donate monthly to causes via Global Giving.
Our current sponsorship is to:
A note from Cat Charlton, our Managing Director, as to why this cause was picked: “As a mother of two young boys and the fact that my sister in law is Ukrainian, means that babies and children who do not have the opportunity to grow up in loving families, especially from these two countries, is extremely close to my heart.”
Rowanvale are also keen to support its team members with charitable work. Aleks Lakus (BAB Service Co-Ordinator) is climbing Killimanjaro in August 2023 to raise money for Amnesty International. She said: “Alongside hiking, I'm also very passionate about fighting injustice in the world, so this of course seemed like a perfect opportunity! Up until August, my friends and I will be organising many events and challenges to raise money for the charity, and then hopefully get to the top of Kilimanjaro in support of Amnesty's amazing work."
Our current sponsorship is to:
- Love & Care for Abandoned Babies in Ukraine & Moldova = https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/love-and-protection-for-abandoned-babies-in-ukraine/
A note from Cat Charlton, our Managing Director, as to why this cause was picked: “As a mother of two young boys and the fact that my sister in law is Ukrainian, means that babies and children who do not have the opportunity to grow up in loving families, especially from these two countries, is extremely close to my heart.”
Rowanvale are also keen to support its team members with charitable work. Aleks Lakus (BAB Service Co-Ordinator) is climbing Killimanjaro in August 2023 to raise money for Amnesty International. She said: “Alongside hiking, I'm also very passionate about fighting injustice in the world, so this of course seemed like a perfect opportunity! Up until August, my friends and I will be organising many events and challenges to raise money for the charity, and then hopefully get to the top of Kilimanjaro in support of Amnesty's amazing work."
