Ugu/Soderhamn project. Students from Esayidi FEt and Soderhamn - April 2011

  In a discussion.

GLOBAL SCHOOL JOURNEY (GSJ) 2011 DELEGATES TO PORT SHEPSTONE

21 altogether (with Mathias and Mattias included)  19 delegates divided in five groups:

• Group 1 with three people
• Group 2 with three people
• Group 3 with four people
• Group 4 with four people
• Group 5 with five people

Planning on our side has commenced.   As soon as we receive more information and delegates names, this will be posted on the blog.

Report by Ebbe, Helen and Meg- March 2011

Time Travel Project Alla Tiders Historia

Visit to Port Shepstone and KwaZulu-Natal 9-19 March 2011

9 March        Helen Eklund and Ebbe Westergren arrive in Durban and Port Shepstone

Planning meeting with the Port Shepstone Twinning Association, Port Shepstone Time Travel Committee and the IT project HCM-Oskarshamn. 16 persons.

10 March     Preparations

                        Meeting at the Port Shepstone museum

Workshop at 12-16, at the new IT-centre; Thusong center, in Nyandezulu, on IT, Folkbildning and Time Travels. 33 persons from Nyandezulu community, a primary school, Hibiscus Coast Municipality, Port Shepstone Museum, PS Twinning, Oskarshamns municipality, Kalmar County Museum. Presentations by Stefan Windh and Ebbe Westergren. Introduction by the Mayor of HCM , Mme Susha. A Time Travel Committee in Nyandezulu was formed consisting of 18 persons with Mzi and Caphela as chairperons.

11 March     Meeting with Gulshera Khan and Bekhani Zondi, History Curriculum Advisor.

Workshop at 15-19, with the Heritage/ Time Travel Committee in Gamalakhe. 16 persons alltogether. The workshop began with a visit to a man who talked about the forced removal for his family from Margate to Gamalakhe in the mid 1960s; also visiting heritage sites like the first bus station, Tin Town with the first church and the tins.

Discussion at the   Gamalkhe Library with the committee about research, interviews, sites, scenarios, first Time Travels etc.

12 March     Meg Nömgård arrives in Durban. Trip to Drakensberg mountains.

13 March     Visit Rock Art sites at Giant’s Castle in the Drakensberg

                        Evening: Preparations

14 March     Visit Marburg Primary, Marburg Secondary and Nobamba Secondary schools.

Seminar, 14-16 at the B&B, on organising a Bridging Ages KZN. 20 persons from PS Twinning Association, Gamalakhe Time Travel Committe, Nyandezulu Time Travel Committee, Marburg Secondary, Marburg Primary and Nobamba Secondary Schools, Child Welfare, KZN Museum Service, Port Shepstone Museum, Department of Education, Kalmar County Museum.

Decided to move forwards to form a Bridging Ages KZN. An interim committee was elected consisting of 8 persons plus substitutes: KZN Musuem Service- Mark Sole with Nelly as substitue and Dolly Khumalo overseer, Umzumbe Time Travel Committe-Howard Msomi, Nyandezulu Time Travel Committee-Mzi with Caphela as substutute, Gamalakhe Time Travel Committee- Thulas Mkhize, Department of Education- Beghani Zondi and Ravi Pather, Port Shepstone Museum- Sipho with Penny as substitute, Educators – Judy Mkhize and Silvy Ragobaar, Port Shepstone Twinning Association – Gulshera Khan. First meeting was decided to the 31 March.

Meeting with teachers and principle at Marburg Primary School about a possible San Time Travel.

Meeting with Bekhani Zondi and Gulshera Khan about Time Travels and the curriculum.

15 March     Leaving for Pietermeritzburg.

Meeting at Natal Museum with the Director Luthando Maphasa and archaelogist Gavin Whitelaw.

Meeting with Radikobo Ntsimane, Sinomlando Centre for Oral History and Memory Work at University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Lecture about the Time Travel method, Bridging Ages and the Swedish Reformation for a class of students attending a course for Radikobo at UKZN.

Meeting at Voortrekker/Msunduzi Museum with the Director Bongani Ndhlovu, the Head of Education, Liaison and Outreach, Riana Mulder and the Head of Research, Information and Collection, Mxholisi Mchunu.

Going to Eshowe. Planning meeting at Zululand Historical Museum, Fort Nongqayi, with the manager Zameka Umlalazi and Ida Gartrell, artist, costume designer and story teller.

16 March   Taking part in the Sama KZN Conference at Zululand Historical Museum. 51 delegates from museums and heritage organisations in KZN, i.e. the KZN Museum Service, Amafa (the Heritage Organisation of KZN), Talana museum in Dundee, Fort Amiel museum in Newcastle, Art Museum in Newcastle, Ncome museum, Voortrekker/Msunduzi museum, Natal museum, Port Shepstone Museum, a Victorian House Museum in PMB, Zululand Historical Museum and others.

Preparations for the Time Travel the next day.

17 March     Conference continues, preparations.

                  At 14-17 Time Travel to 1906 at the Fort Nongqayi. 50 conference delegates from museums and heritage organisations plus 18 learners, grade 5 and 6, and one teacher from a school close by.

                  Story telling evening.

18 March Workshop 9-12 am by Meg and Ebbe at Shakaland for staff from Amafa and Shakaland. 6 persons from Amafa- director Barry Marshall, assistant director Lindiwe Msomi and staff from Ondini and Mgungundlovu. From Shakaland mainly the Finance Manager Deena Naidoo.

                   Presentation in Durban by Helen, Gulshera and Judy for the 16 FET History Curriculum Advisors in KZN, chairperson Bekhani Zondi.

                  Sum up meeting in Durban with Gulshera Khan.

19 March     Meg, Helen and Ebbe leave Durban for Cape Town

                        Meeting in Cape Town with Senior Curriculum Advisor Gail Weldon

Conclusions:

• ·         Positive and warm atmosphere as usual in Port Shepstone.

• ·      An advantage to have a workshop combining IT, folkbildning and Time Travels as in Nyandezulu. The Thusong Multipurpose Center will be used as a gathering and Internet research centre for the Nyandezulu community.

• ·         Nyandezulu Time Travel Committee was formed, chairpersons Mzi and Caphela. They decided to have regular meetings (study circle) starting the week after the workshop. Follow the seven steps starting to identify sites and stories

•     The Gamalakhe Time Travel Committee, chairperson Thulas, is making progress and meet regularly (study circle). They have made 5-6 interviews focusing on the forced removal to Gamalakhe in the end of the 1960s. 4-5 alternative stories/scenarios for a Time Travel was discussed and also schools to be involved.

• ·         Positive meeting about forming a Bridging Ages KZN. A committee was elected to prepare for the organisation – stakeholders, board, constitution, funding etc

• ·       Discussions about having the Bridging Ages South Africa annual conference as part of the launch of Bridging Ages KZN, but only if Mpumalanga can’t make it.

• ·        The Time Travel to the middle of the Bambatha rebellion in March 1906 at the Sama KZN conference was very interesting. The Zulu perspective that was chosen was a new and different way of telling the story of Fort Nongqayi. It was a very big engagement from most of the participants by protesting, shouting and singing. Most participants made their character into a person who wanted an uprising and Fort Nongqayi was seen as a sign of oppression. The learners were very active in the Time Travel. A few of the museum staff were not really comfortable with the situation and the perspectives of the history.

• Fantastic words by the learners in the evaluation, talked about understand a little bit of the history of the fort and several also mentioned pride of their heritage. In the evaluation from the adults you could realize a difference between those how were not quite comfortable and those who loved the Time Travel. Zameka and staff of Zululand Historical Museum were very satisfied and want to continue

•  Possible cooperation with Natal museum as a result of the meeting at the museum and discussing with Sendile, the Deputy Director.

• ·         Positive discussions at Voortrekker/Msunduzi museum.

• ·         Good meeting at Shakaland with staff of Amafa. Barry Marshall and the staff showed an interest, open discussions.

• ·         Also positive meeting with the History Curriculum Advisors.

Way forwards:

• An interim committe is working on the organisation Bridging Ages KZN: stakeholders, constitution, interim board, funding etc. Plan for a launch in October

• ·         Gamalakhe Time Travel Committee continue to study, research and have regular meetings. Plan for 2-3 Time Travels  in Tin Town with two schools (Gamalakhe LP school, Buhlebeswe Primary school?) in October. An idea of the scenario needs to be proposed in June, July or no later than beginning of August. (Alternative scenarios mentioned at the meeting was A/ a new family moving in, even two families in one tin; B/1976 and discussion what to do in Gamalakhe; C/ Use the first church grounds but then a structure needs be put up). Prepare for a bigger Time Travel of maybe 100 persons at the launch of Bridging Ages KZN.

• ·     Radikobo will be asked by the PS Twinning to have a two day (Friday/Saturday?) training session about methods and techniques when interviewing people, for the Time Travel committees in Gamalakhe, Nyandezulu, Port Shepstone and Umzumbe, maxiumum 25 persons.

• ·         Nyandezulu Time Travel Committee will study, research and have regular meetings, to find heritage sites and stories. Plan for a one-day workshop in October visiting the sites, discussing stories and possible scenarios.

• ·        b More presentations for History Curriculum Advisors in May.

• Training sessions for Time Travel Committees connected to interested museums/ sites/Amafa in KZN and curriculum advisors/educators. Possible places/museums: Zululand Historical Museum, Ncome museum, Voortrekker/Msunduzi museum, Ondini/Mgungundlovu, Shakaland... The history curriculum advisor of each of the districts together with an intersted school need to be part of the work in the Time Travel committee/museum.

• Added people might be an engaged history curriculum advisor in one district that form a Time Travel Committee around a heritage site.
• Organisers of the training, probably KZN Museum Service, BA KZN interim committee and Kalmar läns museum.
• Sites/museums need to be confirmed in May/June/July. One idea is to have a first training session the first week in October (last week of the holidays) and a second in February 2012. In between the museums and Time Travel Committees will work on their stories and scenarios. After the second session the Time Travels will be arranged.
• ·         More detailed guidelines how to use the Time Travel method in the FET and GET curriculum needs to be written. Beghani, Gail and teachers (Silvy, Judy, Thulas). The plan is to use the guidelines in the training in early October presented by the authors.

• ·         Stefan Windh check the funding for translation of This place... into Zulu.

• Interest from Primary Schools and from the Time Travel Committe/Twinning to make a pilot project on local San sites. The PS Twinning will send a proposal to Amafa to getaccess to the records/knowledge of the precolonial/archaeological sites on the South Coast. Hopefully Natal museum will support in the interpretation of these sites. A plan is to have a workshop in Port Shepstone in October and that one of the sites is possible to use for Time Travels (shell midden at Oslo beach?).

• ·         Continued contacts with the Natal museum, maybe especially about precolonial history and archaeological sites.

• ·        b The Voortrekker/Msunduzi museum will discuss how Time Travels can be involved in the centennary of the museum 2012, maybe take a known history from another perspective. The church of the vow and making it into a museum in 1912 and see it from the Zulu/African perspective might be one option. There is a courtyarde suitable for Time Travels. A workshop on different aspects of the museum and church of the vow, as a start?

• ·         Three persons from HCM will, as a part of the project, go to Sweden for training and the Bridging Ages conference in Tallinn. Others could also be invited, i.e. Dolly Khumalo, Amafa.

• ·         Training in Sweden, 23/25 May-1 June, conference in Tallinn 3-6 June.

·         Next visit from the Swedish partners will be in October.

20 March 2011

Ebbe Westergren, Helen Eklund and Meg Nömgård

Kalmar läns museum

"Let put smiles on Children's faces " - Magog Primary School

The last jungle gym that Our Association completed at Magog Primary School with the funds received from Tove Nillson's school donation. We have in total completed 4 jungle gyms, library at Ekubusisweni that is reachable to 5 schools , educational toys to creches in Ezingolweni and contributed partly to a much needed office for child protection in Umzumbe.

We " stretched" the approximately R70.000 received. Thanking you once again.

Any donation received will go towards extending this project to many deserving schools and ECD centres in rural communities.


gk

Oskarsgynasiet Project ( Preschool Study) 20 - 27 Feb 2011

The programme for the week was focused, intense and wide, giving the delegation an opportunity to be exposed to ECD ( early Childhood Education) and overview of ECD in our region.

Since the days of apartheid, ECD has not been structured and /or "controlled" by local or any specific institution in SA. It is part Welfare and part Education. As a result of need  " hundred" of community initiatives were embarked upon by the community-- NGO established. TREE is one of those NGO's that focuses in training "carers" or those involved in ECD- providing training.

NGO, Like Child Welfare ( Child Protection organisation) and other umbrella NGO's  provide support and development to ECD within their operational areas.

 Grade R has been recently ( past few years) introduced to govt. schools and we have discovered that  this is " work in progress" with restructuring  within the Department of Education etc. 

New legislation have been in place since  April 2010 ( Children's Act 2005)  that talks to Partial Care facility giving recognition to ECDs  based in  huts, community informal structures etc. while in urban areas, ECD is more structured and owned "privately", a rather complicated if one is not in this sector- even for a South African.

This is an excellent project for Twinning- bringing our community together and focusing on critical areas for development.

With Ake, Mats,Aka and Marlin, we also touched base with ECD and  understood this area even further.

Like all Twinning initiative and projects with Sweden, we get to know our community a little more, bringing focus to much needed services. A highlight is bridging the gap between urban and rural, developing relationships for effective future co-operation , networking and collaboration.

eSayidi Delegation to Soderhamn 20 - 1 March 2011

Educators Famida and Beauty together with 10 students departed on 20 Feb 2011 to Soderhamn - an Athena project.

Above. last orientation / preparation before departure.

Our Association assisted with orientation, visa asnd passport application-- a mammoth responsibility especially when students are below 18 years.

A short report on their trip will be blogged.

gk


Time Travel Project - evaluation by Lars Oscar ( 13 - 15 Feb 2011)

Gamalakhe Tin Town: resident relating her " story" of force removal from Albersville to Tin Town during apartheid. It is very important that this history and OUR history is recorded from all perspectives, in every community, both local and national  and taught in schools.

 The Gamalakhe Heritage Committee was established  in October 2010 as an outcome after Ebbe conducted  training on Time Travel and Historic Environment Education.

Thulas, who has been trained in Sweden, is our key link to this community. The committee meets on Friday evening-- the only agreed time.

Very important that the next Time Travel takes place in this community.

  Lars Oscars  iinterviews and discussions  for his evaluation report was conducted with the following persons:

• Mark Sole: Department of Arts and Culture
• The 2 pilot schools: Marburg and Nobamba with both educators and students. Educators:Silvy, Marlene and Prenesen ( Marsec) . Judy, Sizwe and Thembi ( Nobamba)
• Time Travel Co-ordinator - Gulshera
• Umzumbe Time Travel co-ordinator - Howard Msomi
• Gamalakhe Heritage Committee: Thulas Mkhize
• Port Shepstone Museum: Penny and Sipho
• Department of Education: Ravi Pather.

We are awaiting his report and recommendation.

Gulshera

Global Profile Project: Dinah and Hazel 2-18 Feb 2011 9 Kalmar schools)

Their report will be soon blogged.

South Coast Fever 28 January 2011

Double click to read article

Welcome to 2011

It is amazing how we are already in mid January 2011.

Never had we imagined that our Association would continue to grow at this pace since 1992. When we look back, we have made immense contribution to empowerment, nation building, networking and collaboration.

We have spread far and wide with many partners, individuals and institutions that has become part of our huge network. This is  evident with  many twin partners both in Sweden and  South Africa.

Work never stopped during the December 2010 vacation.  Early start in January 2011 with selections, planning, orientating, co-ordinating, visa, passport applications and so on.

The following projects are already in the pipeline for 2011:

1. Global Supplement: 2 educators departing on 2 Feb to Kalmar
2. eSayidi FET: 2 educators and 10 students departing 20 Feb to Soderhamn.
3. Preschool project- Ake and colleagues and students will be coming to us in Feb 2011.
4. Documentation of Sweden /SA relationship- by Birgitta, who is contracted by Olof Palme International Centre. She is presently busy with interviews. in Port Shepstone . A similar exercise was conducted in Sweden. OSAK chairperson, Tormod is here with her. They arrived on 18 Jan 2011.

So lets gear up for another exciting year! We welcome new partners, initiative and volunteers.

Gulshera