HIGHER LEARNING: High on life and on stilts: ‘Uncle Lassie’ uses play to teach kids

Vuyo Ndalela, a renowned professional stilt walker and children's entertainer, goes by the nickname "Uncle Lassie." Known for his flamboyant yellow costume with sunglasses and a bowler hat, he has captivated audiences with his incredible stilts-walking skills at various events. Born and raised in Soweto, Ndalela's passion for the arts began in the 1990s, when a neighbor introduced him to art.

He went on to participate in street theatre in 2003 and eventually became a part of the Curriculum Development Projects Trust, an NGO dedicated to using creative arts for social development, education, and community transformation.

Uncle Lassie's work has expanded from weekend performances to deeply impacting early learning in inner-city crèches and schools. By incorporating visual arts and physical games, he aims to boost children's motor coordination, self-esteem, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. In a recent interview at Growing Seeds Preschool in Berea, it was evident that many kids in the area lacked physical play opportunities due to limited space and resources.

Ndalela's interactive lessons, involving music, sports cones, hula hoops, dancing, and aerobics, have proven to be highly effective in engaging and stimulating the children.

Uncle Lassie's journey began with a neighbor's introduction to art in the 1990s, which led him to get involved in street theatre in 2003. After working as a clown and assisting teachers, he started performing at crèches and schools during the week. His breakthrough came when he started building the Uncle Lassie Mobile, a specially adapted bicycle towing a large trailer filled with arts materials and educational toys.

This innovative approach has allowed him to reach 15 crèches in the Makers Valley area, providing fun and play to the children and positively influencing the teachers as well.