The township of Manenberg stands twelve miles outside of Cape Town, South Africa. Formed under the apartheid regime in 1966 as a neighborhood for “Colourdes,” the South African word for citizens of mixed race, Manenberg lives under a legacy of racism defined by gang warfare, unemployment and drug addiction. Life as a gang member often prevails over education where high school graduation rates hover around 20 percent. However, within this bleak landscape, a small group of students defy those odds. Every year family and friends unite for the “matric dance” to celebrate their accomplishments, their matriculation (graduation) and hopes for a better future.

Check out the full story and film at Newsweek.

For three years, Elles van Gelder and Ilvy Njiokiktjien followed a group of students from Phoenix High School in Manenberg. Together they documented four high school students in photos and video through their final weeks of school leading up to their examinations and the matric dance. Upon completing filming and reporting, their team approached Andrew Hida and me to support all stages of post-production.

Full Credits
Executive Producers: Elles van Gelder, Ilvy Njiokiktjien
Director: Elles van Gelder
Video: Elles van Gelder
Photography: Ilvy Njiokiktjien
Editors: Andrew Hida, Jessey Dearing
Additional Video: Bram Janssen
Music: Dexter Britain, Generdyn, Chris Zabriskie