Port Shepstone Twinning Association 2011: July 2011

In a discussion.

Historic Environment Education and Time Travels

Historic Environment Education and Time Travels has been a most relevant and significant project piloted in our region , supported by ABF and Kalmar Lans Musuem.

The pilot project to 1905 has been most successful. Those that are involved in our Association and more specifically with the Time Travel project are persons with passion, committment and dedicated to our democracy .

There has been a bye -in by museums, education and various stakeholders in KZN as a direct result of the first pilot in KZN.

The Minister of Arts and Culture has accepted this methodology for implementation by museums. It is envisaged that in time, this will be well placed within this Departments programme.

In addition, the Gamalakhe, Nyadezulu, Umzumbe and Marburg " heritage" or study circle groups have
been established to explore further in recording their local stories. All the work is undertaken voluntarily, a most remarkable contribution.

The past regime have not given lives of the majority any significance or dignity, hence so little information is available in museum archives. This is a start and more and more people have shown interest after attending the many workshops facilitated by Ebbe, Helen and Meg from Sweden and our Association.

The benefits to SA are endless. Reconciliation, understanding, and tolerance are major benefits for our society TODAY.

In addition, there is a need for healing as this method is not only for the classroom but for society, engaging every sector from al perspective with the bottom up approach.

Wth the onset to the next local govt. elections, we find the youth are reluctant to register as voters.Why? Our history has become the past ,within a short space of 16 years into our democracy. Voter education has not delivered. If TT had reached every corner of SA, an awareness is created through experience and in my opinion this would be a different story -- like the youth that has participated in the Ikageng Time travel - the formation of the United Democratic Front.

The relavance of the past has relevance today for teaching, learning and how to improve to make life better for tomorrow.

We have made a start -- and it is spreading. Next for the Minister of Education to accept and incorporate this method within the school curriculum.

We commend the team from Kalmar for their committment and dedication to this huge contribution to SA. Appreciation to Olof Palme international Centre , OSAK and ABF for believing in our democracy and supporting us.

To our many individual partners and friends- your support is appreciated.

In conclusion, one has to understand the Souh African society with all its complexity, its past, struggles, grappling with democracy, HIV and Aids, gender issues, urban/ rural divide, infrastructural need, need for reconciliation etc to understand the impact of Time Travel to our society.

Gulshera on behalf of PSTA ANd Time Travel Committee

Port Shepstone Twinning Association 2011

Monday, July 18, 2011

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