About
How we began
Just like far too many other places in South Africa, Grabouw is overwhelmed by socio-economic challenges.
Over 70% of its residents are living below the breadline, dealing with extreme poverty on a daily basis, as well as many other challenging circumstances.
Life is tough! Work is seasonal, crime is prolific and children are vulnerable. Those that are able to go to school often attend schools that are over-subscribed and under-resourced. These overwhelmed educational institutions have their challenges compounded every year when an unpredictable influx of new families arrive, seeking work on the fruit farms and places for their children at school. It is impossible for schools to prepare for or cater for this scenario and still provide quality education in every single area. So, when faced with small budgets and decision-making, it is often the arts subjects that are cut in favour of more traditional core academic subjects such as maths, science and English.
Sadly, arts subjects are often treated as a luxury or a nice-to-have when, in fact, their benefits are overwhelming and, we would argue, they are critical to a child’s successful development.
We set up Rural Arts Network in order to fill this gap and have carefully crafted arts programmes to provide as many beneficiaries as possible with opportunities to be creative in a safe and fulfilling environment.
We have witnessed firsthand how having access to the arts is extremely beneficial to children living in impoverished and challenging communities. It equips them with some of the life skills they need to help them deal with the circumstances they face. It also provides them with an avenue for expression, a way to deal with emotions and raise concerns in a safe environment. It reinforces positive attitudes and develops skills that will equip them for the future.
Without the Rural Arts Network those living in the marginalised, rural communities of Grabouw would simply have little or no opportunity to partake in any kind of arts-based learning or expression

Our Vision & Mission
Our mission is to provide youth and families in rural South Africa with access to arts development programmes that are both inspirational and educational in various mediums. By having the opportunity to engage with music, visual art, dance and drama, we hope to ignite hidden potential and encourage the next generation of South Africans to dream big dreams and see themselves as having a role in the future artistic development of our nation and our world.
It’s our vision to seek, ignite, grow and nurture talent in the creative arts, providing a space where that talent can grow into a tool for empowering individuals in geographically rural, diverse communities.
How we work
At Rural Arts Network we are passionate about creating access to the arts for disadvantaged communities.
We partner with schools on the farms and in the townships of Grabouw and in term time we offer regular lessons and rehearsals where we work towards performances and exhibitions. These activities combine to offer a wonderful experience for every beneficiary. They learn new and essential skills and they also get the freedom to have fun. This is something that is often forgotten! The children we serve are so often over-burdened from living in extremely challenging environments that they end up growing up far too soon and don’t have the opportunity to play and be children without pressure.
We are passionate about what we do and the people that we serve. We thrive on discovering hidden potential, encouraging the next generation of South Africans to dream big dreams and enabling them to make a positive contribution to the future artistic development of our nation and our world.

Meet the Dream Team
Get to know our dedicated Dream Team, passionately committed to enriching the lives of underprivileged children through the exploration of arts and culture.

Betsie Ryke
Founder and Executive Officer
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Betsie has been involved with community outreaches and projects since 2005 in the rural areas of Elgin/Grabouw and Hermanus. Betsie studied BMUS (ED) at the University of Stellenbosch majoring in piano, violincello and class music. Another line of interest is child phycology, life couching and mentoring in which she has done numerous courses.
Ran (Rural Arts Network) was established in 2013/14 and is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary year.
Betsie facilitates choirs, instrumental tuition, music theory, as well as outreaches to festivals and performances.

Reagan Diedericks
Operational manager & music facilitator
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Reagan has been working together with Betsie in the field of music since 2008. He is a well known community facilitator that grew up in the Grabouw area and has lived in the community for many years. He makes valuable contributions to the community, because he knowns and understands the community and it’s people so well. Although he can play several instruments well, his main focus at RAN is the Marimba bands. Reagan is assisted by Tamlyn McThomas. Tammy has been part of our music projects since she was a pupil at Groenberg Secondary, playing in the marimba band. After school she completed her studies at Boland College, but returned to Grabouw, her hometown, and has been working with the RAN team ever since.
Reagan and Tammy are in charge of the Marimba bands and aftercare projects at Grabouw High and Dennegeur Foundation
Reagan facilitates with the marimbas, the drumming, guitar tuition and the brass training.

Inge Combe
Music Facilitator
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Inge joined the music team in 2016. She is a skilled instrumentalist playing the guitar and drums. She has since added choir, marimba and recorder tuition training to her skillset.

Alani van Schalkwyk
General Art specialist

Tamlyn McThomas
General Admin & Financial Assistant
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Tamlyn does the general admin and is the financial assistant to executive officer. She also does performance assistance and coordination, and managers the aftercare projects and the marimba training.

Miranda Kriel
Music accompanist
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Miranda Kriel is a longtime resident in Grabouw. She is a qualified music teacher who started her career at Grabouw High School. Currently she is the organist at the Dutch reformed church and is the accompanist for our choirs and instrumental music exams.

Stephanie Reith
Specialised Art Ficilitator
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Stephanie Reith is an established artist in her own right and has been living on and off in Grabouw over many years. She is originally from Kenya. Stephanie’s artistic skills and experience over the years at the BBC is an asset when we do concerts or showcase events.
Stephanie is the Specialised Art Facilitator for the Secondary and Primary school pupils. She also guides and assists pupils with their portfolios for further studies and helps with the general art classes.

Thomas McThomas
Driver
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Thomas is our driver taking responsibility for our beneficiaries’ safety while transporting them to weekly classes, Eisteddfods and various performances.
Thomas has been involved with our creative arts projects since 2008 and continued under the RAN umbrella since 2013