How

Art

Is

Saving

Children's

Hearts

In

South

Africa

South Africa, a country of 60 million people, has just 40 pediatric cardiologists — when it needs at least 60 — and only nine pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons across the entire country. Of the nine provinces, only four have heart centers. Each year, between 12,000 and 15,000 babies are born with congenital heart defects. Many wait three to six months, sometimes a year, for surgery. Many do not survive the wait.

Determined to change this, Tlakula spent a year reading medical journals, contacting their authors, and navigating legal frameworks to establish the Grateful Hearts Foundation in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital. The foundation's mission is focused on training the next generation of pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons.

This week, that mission takes the form of an art exhibition. Titled Pelo: A Mother's Love, the showcase — opening tomorrow, Saturday, March 14th, and followed by a private auction on the 14th — brings together some of South Africa's most celebrated artists, including Zizipho Poswa, whose miniature work references her acclaimed exhibition on Xhosa motherhood, Imbeleko, and Sam Nhlengethwa, whose piece is an ode to Johannesburg. Boemo Diale, Baba Tjeko, and Justice Mukheli are also included. All proceeds from ticket sales and artwork sales go directly to the foundation.