The campaign, which begins in September, will visit selected towns and communities to feature local stories, cultural traditions, notable individuals and places of interest. The initiative aims to showcase aspects of Afrikaans culture and identify people and organisations contributing to their communities, says RSG.
The campaign was officially launched on Monday, 27 July during a live broadcast on the Sea Point Promenade, hosted by RSG presenters Renske Jacobs, Gustav Greyling and Martelize Brink.
Members of the public are invited to nominate their towns, suburbs or communities through the campaign website. Entrants are asked to identify local individuals, organisations and attractions, including community leaders, creatives, sports personalities, schools, businesses and tourism offerings, while also proposing an itinerary for a potential visit by the RSG team, adds the station.
Selected communities will host a live Op en Wakker broadcast featuring Renske Jacobs, Gustav Greyling and Blaine Jones. As part of the initiative, a local school will receive an ATKV Book Bin valued at R8 000, while participating towns will also receive R300 000 worth of RSG advertising airtime to promote local tourism. Listeners whose nominations are selected will stand a chance to win a midweek stay at an ATKV resort.
The campaign also includes 'Kiek die Karavaan' ('Spot the Caravan'), in which members of the public can photograph the caravan during its journey for an opportunity to win prizes sponsored by Virseker. A 'Culture Capsule' will accompany the tour, with each participating community contributing an item representing its local identity or culture. The capsule will be opened during the campaign's final broadcast, says the station.
Entries close on Friday, 14 August at 17:00, with the tour scheduled to begin in September.
Louise Jooste, Business Manager at RSG, says, "The 'Kultuurkaravaan' is Afrikaans' most colourful, beautiful and all-round lekker road trip. It is a celebration of who we are. Afrikaans is not just a language, but a living culture that takes root, grows and lives in every town, street and community. We want to meet the faces and names behind this culture, spend time with them, discover with them and celebrate the language and humanity that bind us together."
"Virseker is proud to be part of a campaign that celebrates the people, stories and traditions that keep Afrikaans alive. The most treasured gems in our communities are often the things that cannot be measured in money — their character, care, talent and pride. Through the 'Kultuurkaravaan' we want to help recognise, protect and share these remarkable stories with the rest of South Africa," says Morné van Emmenes, Senior Manager at Virseker.
"The ATKV is an organisation for and by people. We gladly support this RSG initiative because the involvement of ATKV branch members across the country shows us how changemakers help their communities grow, keep Afrikaans alive, and make values of care and service visible every day," concludes Gerrie Lemmer, ATKV Executive Head of Culture.
For more information, visit www.rsg.co.za. You can also follow RSG on Facebook, or on X.
*Image courtesy of contributor