October is Mental Health Awareness Month globally, and for the past 30 years, the Cape Town International Kite Festival has played a pivotal role in helping people speak openly about their mental health without fear of stigma.
As the flagship event of Cape Mental Health since 1994, the Kite Festival creates a space for artists, ambassadors, mental health care users, volunteers and the public to share their stories of pain, healing and recovery. Each conversation chips away at the stigma, fostering an environment of non-judgmental and supportive dialogue around mental health.
As Glenn Close once said, “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor and more unashamed conversation.” The Cape Town International Kite Festival is exactly that: a celebration of openness and a call for everyone to engage in meaningful discussions around mental health.
The need for mental health support
Mental health issues are more common than many realise, and as the world faces ongoing economic, social and personal challenges, mental well-being becomes increasingly important.
Cape Mental Health aims to provide interventions that restore hope, build resilience and empower individuals and communities.
This year’s theme, #HopeOnAString, is a powerful metaphor for resilience. Just as a kite rises higher despite the fragility of the string that holds it, so do individuals rise above life’s challenges. Each pull of the string reminds us of the inner strength and resilience within us all. The festival is more than a celebration of kites; it shines a light on those facing mental health challenges, underscoring the importance of early intervention and support.
Growing awareness over 30 years
Since its inception, the Cape Town International Kite Festival has grown from a small one-day event to a global kite-flying phenomenon. The festival now hosts local, national and international kiters, pop-up kite displays, community flies, EduKite Competitions, entertainment, kite-making workshops and much more. The event has become a platform for mental health awareness, encouraging the inclusion of children, youth and adults with mental disabilities.
With more young people speaking openly about their mental health challenges, the festival has shifted the narrative, empowering attendees to voice their needs and concerns while advocating for the protection of mental well-being.
Event highlights
- Pop-Up Fly Event: To be held at Melkbosstrand Beach on 27 October 2024, featuring professional kiters such as Mari and Bradley Ware-Lane, Bobby Gathoo, Brian Skinner and others. Expect a few surprises from international kiters as well!
- Community Fly: On 23 October, the annual Community Fly at Heideveld Sports Field on the Cape Flats will welcome children with intellectual disabilities from CMH’s Special Education & Care Centres, along with Grade R learners and preschools from the Heideveld community.
- EduKite Competition: A kite-making and kite-decorating competition for primary schools, including children with special educational needs, offering monetary prizes for the winning teams. The prize-giving will be hosted at Curro Century City on 26 October, supporting mental health awareness.
Help make a difference
Cape Mental Health has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, aiming to raise R250 000 in anticipation of the Cape Town International Kite Festival. So far, the campaign has raised over R5 000 – and with your help, it can reach its target.
Your donations will enable Cape Mental Health to continue its vital work, expanding mental health services to vulnerable children and adults in disadvantaged communities. Every contribution, whether R100 or R10 000, will make a significant impact in providing mental health support and building resilience in those who need it most.
As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to place strain on non-profit organisations, Cape Mental Health remains resilient, but depends on public and corporate donations to sustain its community-based mental health programmes.
By donating to the BackaBuddy campaign, you are helping provide critical mental health interventions, offering hope and support to those in need. Every donation, no matter the size, is a step toward creating a brighter, healthier future for vulnerable individuals and families.