Secretarial report
PSTA 15th AGM : 28th November 2011
The Programme Director,Twinning Friends, Ladies and Gentleman, a very good afternoon to you .
The main objective of this report is to brief the broader membership and all interested individuals on the events, activities and new developments of the Port Shepstone Twinning Association since the last AGM which took place on 7th October 2010 .
The time period for this report as per our constitution is 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011.
Meetings
Regular management meetings were held on the last Thursday of each month, mostly at Ziphakamise offices. We place on record our sincere gratitude to Ziphakamise for the use of the premises and to the staff for their unfailing co-operation and friendliness. We also thank Gulshera Khan for the use of her home, in addition the twinning files , props and cutoms are also stored at her home. We also thank PS Junior Primary, the principal Dell Pendock for the use of the school hall.
Membership
According to our membership list we have about 334 individual members and 25 corporate members which comprises mainly organizations and institutions.
Projects/Highlights
· Evaluation :Per-Ulf Nilsson was appointed by Olof Palme International Centre to undertake a study visit of the Twinning process. In an intense two day visit he interviewed persons involved in the following projects: TT, HIV and Aids, Media Centre and Building Project, GSJ, Child Welfare and Play Centre Projects and Global Profile.
In February 2011 we had another TT evaluator , Lars, commissioned by the Olof Palme Centre .
A third evaluation of the work done by the PSTA was done in July 2011.We were visited by Mikael, the new director of the Olof Palme Centre. He was accompanied by Thoko Mache. He was duly impressed by the volume of work covered by members of the PSTA.
January 2011 marked an important milestone in Twinning history. Tormod Nesset accompanied Swedish freelance journalist, Birgitta Silen, to Port Shepstone. She was contracted by the Olaf Palme International Centre and OSAK to document their history in the form of a book. Silen recorded interviews with 18 people involved with the PSTA. The book has been published and selected interviews have been documented. However, it is Swedish.
The past year was most unique in that the activity rate of Twinning, am told was one of the highest in the past 16 years. These are some of the highlights. A dtailed newsletter for 2010/ 2011 is being compiled for a detailed accounting for this period.
- Ayanda , a resident of Bhobhoyi and ex Pupil of Nobamba high school was selected to attend the Youth conference in oskarshamn,. When the South Coast Fever realised that there was an opportunity, requested our Asociation to send one of their journalist. Hence Yachika , was accompanied by her husband. This being the first time that delegates paid their own way and it was comforting to our Association that Ayanda was not alone on this long international journey. All three participated the Youth conference, visited projects, schools, given talks and also exposed to Global profile project and Time Travel. We appreciated the many articiles in our local papers, giving Twinning exposure.Grateful thanks to Tormod, Bo, Ebbe for taking the best care of our delegates.
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· In May 2010 a delegation of three,Thulas Mkhize, Rosey Mudaly and Howard Msomi went on a two week TT training visit to Kalmar. Here again, empowerment of our delegates, in return empowerment of others has always been one of our key objectives.
· Soderhamn : Thomas Norgren and Cecilia from the Centre of Flexible Learning visited from 31May to 4June to assess different initiatives and the way forward. A graduation ceremony for students of the Distance Education Builders Project was held at the Media Studies Centre at Esayidi FETC in Gamalakhe. Gary, Pauline and Gulshera attended this event.
· Solidarity Award : In June a surprise birthday party was held for Tormod Nesset. He was presented with a Solidarity Award in recognition of outstanding Dedication and commitment to Human Rights, peace and international co-operation and development for a period in excess of 35 years. He is our TWINNING FATHER in Sweden.
· HCM Delegation to Oskarshamn: A delegation comprising Speaker Ronnie Nair,Mayor Shusha,Municipal Manager Sbu Mkhize ,Councillor Madlala ,Councillor Njoko, Colin Ngilande Nomusa and one other member visited Oskarshamn to expand on the Oskarshamn / HCM partnership.
· Time Travel
Time travel was introduced to our Association in 2008 and amazingly it has grown and has been very successful. Over this period the following was achieved:
- Numerous training events by Ebbe and his Team in Port Shepstone with various stakeholders .
- Establishment of Gamalakhe Heritage Committee, a sub committee of or Association under the able leadership of Thulas Mkhize.
- 2 Lotto application to help fund TT’s.
- Link with Provincial museum services and ministers adoption of the TT methodology.
- Umzumbe -TT training culminating in the SECOND TT in KZN.
- The third tt had taken place in Eshowe.
- Presentation by Helen to high school history curriculum advisors in KZN, arranged by Bhekani Zondi, attended by both Judy and Gulshera in Durban.
- Acquisition of Props and costumes by PSTA which are stored at Gulshera’s House. When finances would allow us, this arrangement will then change.
- Amazing documentation in the form of exhibition material of 10 Time Travels in South Africa.
· Public Time Travel : The first public TT in South Africa was held on 26 October 2010 to celebrate the arrival of the Indentured Indian Labourers 150 years ago. time frame was Port Shepstone Harbour 1905. Approximately 165 persons participated .It was a grand mix of people–young and old, teachers and learners, businesswomen, Christians, Hindu’s, Muslim, people from all walks of life! The TT committee, Judy, Silvy, Sipho , Penny and Gulshera together Ebbe , Helen and Meg has worked tirelessly to arrange this mammoth TT. Also appreciative to new persons that came on board, Sitha Sukai and many others that has assisted.
· 150 years celebration: Exhibition of photographs put together by Gulshera ( Ashwin Desai commended it to be one of the best of exhibitions celebrating the arrival of the indentured Indians)
· The first Bridging Ages SA (BASA) conference was hosted by our Association on 20/21 October 2010. We had been very bold to accept this challenge without secure funding. BASA was established in 2009 and is linked to over 20 countries that are part of BA International. The PSTA is a member organization. There are two reps from KZN on the board of BASA,viz.Mark Sole of KZN Museum Services and Gulshera Khan who is the national secretary.
It had taken 3 months of intense work to publicize, market, fundraise and organize the conference by volunteers without an office or full time manpower ,an achievement beyond our expectations. The conference was opened by the HC Mayor,Nolwazi Shusha.The theme was “Social Cohesion through Time Travel”.The 145 delegates from SA,Sweden and Belgium participated in the first recorded TT in KZN.The period was 1905 and addressed the character of Colonialism,the resistance by the Zulus and the plight of the indentured Indian labourers.
The conference showcased the history of Twinning and all recorded TT’s in SA.Professor Radikobo Ntsimane addressed how TT can be used as an effective tool in “healing the nation”.
The highly successful conference dinner was attended by approximately 500 people. The highlight of the evening, according to Prof.Gail Weldon (Curriculum Planner Western Cape), was the report by learners from the pilot schools who spoke about the impact of TT on learning and education.
Minister of Arts and Culture, Weziwe Thusi’s address on day two of the conference endorsed the importance of TT as a means of transforming her department. She made her presence on the second day and this was much appreciated.
The support of our entire community played a pivotal role in the success of this venture, sound leadership of Gulshera and assisted by Rueben, supported by the entire Association and broader membership.
· Preschool Project
A delegation comprising of 3 educators and 2 learners visited in February 2011 from Oskargymnasium in Oskarshamn. The programme included visits to rural and urban pre-schools. The focus of the visit was skills taught at pre-school level and vocational training. Co-ordinated by Rueben and assisted by Gulshera.
· Soderhamn / Ugu Partnership: Educators Famida and Beauty together with 10 students departed on 20 Feb 2011 to Soderhamn - an Athena project. Here again, Gulshera had assisted with the visa application, orientation of the delegates were undertaken by Pauline, Gulshera and Tormod Nesset.
There has also been a municipal delegation from Soderhamn and Pauline is thanked for her role in this link. Our Association hosed them for dinner and continues to be the pivotal link.
· Hibiscus Coast Municipality and Oskarshamn municipality: There have been several delegations from Oskarshamn with Stefan Windh from Oskarshamn piloting the Wiki Project in Nyandezulu. The success of this project will result in a similar project in Sweden or more specifically Oskarshamn,. As a direct result of this project, Ebbe from Kalmar Lans Museum and Stefan Windh formed a partnership and hence in collaboration with all partners, the Nyadezulu Heritage Committee was established. Time Travel was introduced to this committee by Ebbe and supported by our Association. The role of Gulshera as the Ambassador of Oskarshamn municipality continues to be central in this relationship . Both Rueben and Gulshera had attended dinner arranged by HCM on Stefan Windhs last trip on the Wi Fi Project. ( a last minute invitation)
· Very successful Global Profile, Global School Journey and Time Travel Projects were covered in October 2011.The details about these projects will be covered in the next report. Details of the highly acclaimed “Gamalakhe Tin Town “ Time Travel was a resounding success and will again also be covered in the next report. In addition the BAKZN committee was launched with Thulas, as chairperson, including members from local and provincial museum. Delegation to Sweden: Ommesh, Bhekani and Gulshera. Our association was again represented and was chosen as key note speaker at BA International in Estonia, including a delegation to BA SA and again given the privileged as keynote speaker. Special mention to the many twinning members that “ do not ask questions and just things moving” which differ from any other organization in getting these projects to be a huge success. All based on total trust and hence, we are very effective and efficient.
· Katharina, Ulrika and Lovisa - the young volunteers : The young volunteers from Sweden that had volunteered during the years 2008 and 2009 at Emseni Children's Home is back in Port Shepstone to volunteer again during December 2010. Twinning support to our member organisations.
· Donations: The final donation of jungle gyms was completed this period for both Nyandezulu and Magog primary Schools. In total,with the R70 000 rand donation received from Tove Nielsson , a past Global School journey delegate, completed 4 jungle gyms at 4 primary school, educational toys for 35 ECDs in Izingolweni, shelving for library at Ekubusisweni, contributed towards part payment for first office for Child Welfare SA, Umzumbe.
· Acknowledgement and Thanks :
The PSTA would like to place on record its heartfelt gratitude to the following institutions for going beyond the call of duty in assisting the organization.Without their help many things may not have been possible.
Ziphakamise,Dept. of Education,Port Shepstone Junior Primary,Marburg Primary,South Coast Tourism, Ugu District Municipality,Hibiscus Coast Municipality,Esayidi FET College and the many, many business houses in Port Shepstone.
Conclusion :
In conclusion I would like to express my gratitude to the twinning Board for their co-operation and dedicated efforts to keep the wheels turning. Special thanks to Gulshera Khan who really is the SPIDER in the twinning web.We appreciate your vast knowledge of the twinning process and your willingness to step in wherever your help is needed.To Rueben, our assistant secretary,many thanks to you.
Kudos also to OSAK Bo Hellstrom and Ebbe and his team from Kalmar Lans Museum.
Yours in Twinning
Silvy Ragoobar
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