PORT SHEPSTONE TWINNING ASSOCIATION
26th September 2012
Secretarial Report
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 28 November 2011 .
The time period for this report as per our constitution is 1 April 2011 to 31 March2012.
Meetings
Our records indicate that 10 Board meetings were held on the last Thursday of each month. This has been the norm for the past 17 years. Executive committee meetings were held to address crises in-between board meetings in addition to many project sub-committee meetings, an active year indeed.
Membership and Partners
According to our membership list, we have about 344 individual members and 30 corporate members, which comprise mainly organizations and institutions. We actively network with various institutions and international organisations. We have worked closely with Kalmar Lans Museum ( Sweden), Provincial and Local museum services, Bridging Ages International and Bridging Ages South Africa, our counterpart in Sweden- OSAK, Department of Education, Ugu District, Hibiscus Coast and Umzumbe municipality, Global School Journey , a SIDA project and Global Profile, a project with high schools in Kalmar, Preschool project with Oskarsgymnasium in Oskarshamn as well as our local communities in Gamalakhe, Nyandezulu, Betania, Bhobhoyi, Umzumbe, Marburg, Port Shepstone and Ezinqoleni.SAPS have also been very supportive.
As a not for profit organisation, the work undertaken by members on the Board and support from the broader membership since 1994 has been voluntary and at times contribution were made to persons co-ordinating projects on a limited scale and when funds became available. Host families were paid a stipend for hosting global profile and global school journey delegates at their home. We have developed relationships with persons in the community and have a deep trust with host families that accommodate our delegates. The potential for local communities to be part of the wider economy of the country and ideas on tourism is promoted.
Projects:
1. Time Travel: Highlight
The following was achieved with guidance, support and direction by Kalmar Lans museum.The outcomes of the visit by Kalmar Lans Museum personnel in March 2011 led to the high level of activity during the course of this reporting period.
March 2011
- Planning meeting with the Port Shepstone Twinning Association, Port Shepstone Time Travel Committee and the IT project between HCM and Oskarshamn. 16 persons were involved.
- Establishment of the Nyadezulu Time Travel project: A Workshop was held on the IT-centre, Thusong center in Nyandezulu on IT, Folkbildning and Time Travels. A Time Travel Committee in Nyandezulu was formed consisting of 18 persons with Mzi and Qaphela as joint convenors. This committee worked tirelessly in researching, identifying and recording their first time travel to take place in early 2012.
- Establishment of Gamalakhe Time Travel Committee. 16 persons attended. The
Workshop began with a visit to a man who talked about the forced removal of his family from Margate to Gamalakhe in the mid 1960s. Other historical sites, viz, first bus station and Tin Town where the first church (a tin house) was established, were visited.
Discussion at the Gamalakhe Library with the committee about research, interviews, sites, scenarios, first Time Travels, etc. The oral history research continued throughout the year, with Thulas at the helm in preparation of the first Time Travel in October 2011.
- Establishment of Bridging Ages KZN: A Seminar was organised with 20 persons. The outcome being the establishment of an Interim Committee, Bridging Ages KZN, consisting of 8 persons.
- Marburg Time Travel: Meeting with teachers and principal at Marburg Primary School about a possible San Period Time Travel.
- Meeting with Department of Education regarding the inclusion of TT in the school curriculum. This led to a presentation on Time Travel for all history curriculum advisors in the province, which took place on 18th March 2011.
Presentation in Durban by Helen to KZN History Curriculum Advisors with chairperson that was held in Durban. Present were Judy and Gulshera.
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- May 2011: Ommesh Maharaj, Bekani Zondi an d Gulshera Khan were selected to attend further training in Sweden. This delegation also attended the conference in Tallin, Estonia.
- 3-6 June. Gulshera was invited as the keynote speaker and her topic was :
South Africa : “Cradle of Mankind” to the Defeat of Apartheid. Critical Turning Points and Time Travel: Lessons for Sustainable Healing and Social Cohesion.” A copy of her speech is on the Bridging Ages international website. From reports received, our SA presence at this conference and our keynote speaker’s opening speech had set the tone for a very successful conference. Other SA presenters were Prof Radiboko, Dolly Khumalo from KZN Museum Services, and presentations from Potchestroom time Travel representative.
During the course of the year, the focus was researching and recording both the Nyandezulu and Gamalakhe Tin Town histories.
Gamalakhe Tin Town – Forced removal 1968
Time Travel Training:
As part of the training, Kalmar Lans Museum developed a three phase training course. The first phase took place on 13, 14 October 2011 in Port Shepstone, followed by training in Eshowe and the third phase will take place this October 2012 in Pietermaritzburg.
In March 2012, the Nyadezulu Time Travel based on the Betania Mission 1912 took place. Two time travels had taken place, one with high school and the other with primary school. (Insingizi Primary School and Ingwemabale High school). In total 5 educators participated and they reported that time travel is a very effective method of teaching and learning.
Betania Mission Time Travel to 1912 with community volunteers.
Both the above time travels appeared in the Bridging Ages International newsletter.
July 2011
Visit by Olof Palme International Centre, representatives. Mikeal and Thoko. Present were Students that have participated in time travel and members of the Time Travel sub committee.
Launch of Bridging Ages KZN. This was a successful event held at ESayidi FET College on 13th October 2011 with approximately 300 guests. The conference was sponsored by Provincial Museum services for which we are very grateful. Thulas Mkhize, a member on our board and a previous delegate to Sweden was elected as the chairperson. The Mayor, Cynthia Mqwebu, mayor of Hibiscus Coast municipality was the main speaker, including Inkosi Lushaba and many other dignitaries from provincial museum services, councillors and members of the community. A remarkable achievement with limited finances.
The Time travel project, piloted by our Association in 2009 has now spread to KZN. The Eshowe Time Travel has been most successful as well. Kwa Mondi mission 1876, preparation in school.
The Umzumbe committee is busy with researching and recording the arrival of King Shaka in this community, known as the Mtwalume Isivivane 1828. We are pleased to report that the Umzumbe municipality is fully supportive.
The planning and research by the Provincial museum services together with many other stakeholders is focussing in the year 1909 at the old prison in Pietermaritzburg.
Bridging Ages South Africa, AGM and Conference:
Thulas and Gulshera were speakers at the conference. The AGM of Bridging South Africa was held with Gulshera being nominated as the vice – chairperson. With the resignation of the chairperson, Tizzie, Gulshera is presently holding this position.
The Mpumalanga (Pilgrims Rest) first time travel focussed to 1922 and the white miners strike in Pilgrim’s rest. 100 Delegates participated.
General: Time Travel Projects: Community heritage committees are continuing with research of local and unrecorded histories. There is a continuous flow of information to Sweden, museums,our outreach sub committees and the Association. This augurs well for continual engagement and future projects.
2. GLOBAL PROFILE PROJECT: 2011
The theme of this project is “Learning through Living” where delegates are required to live with the families of learners and educators in order to experience the normal everyday lives of South Africans, in addition to spending time at schools and in communities, interacting with people from all walks of life. The learners involved in the project are learners in their final year of study at school. They have specific projects, which they complete upon their return to Sweden, which may be in the form of books, films, documentaries, newsletters, reports, art exhibitions, etc.
The 2011 delegation comprised of 11 learners (3 males and 8 females) and two educators, Bo Hellstrom and Ase Moller. The delegation spent 3 nights in Nyandezulu, 4 nights with Marburg Secondary Host families and 5 nights with Nobamba High School host families in Bhoboyi. Many areas were visited during the stay, viz. Nyandezulu, Bhobhoyi, Kwa-Nzimakwe, Ekubusisweni, Marburg and Merlewood. They were an amazing lot of learners and their projects were even more amazing!
The impact of such an exchange just cannot be summed up in a few words. It has life-changing properties. You learn that education systems are different, that family values and lifestyles are different, that the food you eat is different, that people across the world from you have the same fears, that people are people and that only the colour of their skins is different, that there is so much you can do if you just take the time to care, that you must be proud of who you are, no matter who you are and that we must never define ourselves by other peoples standards!
The children living in a community like Bhobhoyi dispelled the image that only criminals live in this community. The host families and the community have felt embraced, supported and uplifted by us as an organisation taking the plunge of selecting host families in this community.
3. Global School Journey:
The organisation spearheaded this project as well, in developing a programme for 21 personnel in Education to experience life in our rural communities and SA itself. Again, an excellent and detailed programme had been drawn up. The communities of Mfasazana, Magog, Ezingoleni and Nyadezulu communities hosted our participants. We experienced great challenges as three projects, viz. Time Travel, Global Profile and Global School Journey delegates were all here at the same time. The community participation and volunteerism by the broader community has been truly amazing!
4. Soderhamn / Ugu Partnership:
There has also been a municipal delegation to Soderhamn in March 2012. Dell Pendock was part of this delegation to further strengthen the ties between the respective municipalities. Since then there have been many exchanges. As an organisation, we are happy that this project is independent. Our role is supportive and has assisted unconditionally when requested to do so. In this respect Gulshera Khan assisted with visa application, of recent obtaining visas are becoming increasingly challenging.
5. Oskarshamn / Hibiscus Coast municipality: There was a delegation towards year end (2011), led by Sven Ake Johannson, speaker of Oskarshamn Commune. We are supportive of this continued relationship. Thanking both Municipalities for allowing us to part of their programme.
6. Put a Smile on Children’s Faces:
Malin, a student of Oskarsgymnasium, Oskarshamn, Sweden was moved by the plight of our preschools (ECDs) in rural communities during her visit in February 2011. She, together with two other friends made it their mission and fundraised for educational toys for the Tandumntwana Preschool in Nyandezulu. The toys and educational items were delivered on 26th January 2012.
This project is gaining momentum. Our association has been receiving donations to continue with our objective to put a smile on children’s faces.
7. Centenary Celebration for our Freedom.
100 Years of celebration for our freedom, a remarkable milestone in the history of any institution. Our Association supported this momentous occasion. Thank you Judy, Rueben, Thulas, Gary, Sipho and Gulshera for participating.
8. Volunteer Assistant:
The committee welcomed Klas –Goran, a retired lecturer in social work from Sweden and a past Global School Journey participant who spent 7 weeks with Child Welfare in our region, specifically with Child Welfare South Africa, and member organisations, Umzumbe, Umzinto and Ekubusisweni. He also assisted in the Nyadezulu time Travel. He arrived in March 2012; a more detailed report will be included in the next financial report. He has assisted social workers in foster care, initiated a community project in Umzinto and provided training to social workers in Outreach community work. We have been very grateful for his assistance and support.
8. 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, Provincial and Local museum services, Marburg Primary, Ugu District Municipality, Hibiscus Coast Municipality, Nobamba High School, Marburg Secondary School, Esayidi FET College, our auditor, Anil Ramnath and his staff who are ever willing to assist, the local newspapers, SAPS, Marion Wessel’s and our broader membership and communities who support us, time after time!
We also thank Gulshera Khan for the use of her home for meetings, storage of twinning files, props and costumes and her willingness to co-ordinate and host twinning activities on a continuous basis.
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 Leslie of Ziphakamise for always assisting Gulshera Khan who oversees the co-ordination of all activities, the blogs, link with Sweden and general administration. Special thanks also to Tormod Nesset (OSAK), Ebbe and team from Kalmar Lans museum, Bo Hellstrom (schools and educators in Kalmar), respective municipalities and all of our partners in Sweden for their continual support.
We also want to place on record our sincere appreciation to Pauline Duncan who has been one of the elders of Twinning and resigned during the course of 2011.
In conclusion, Twinning has transformed from an international exchange empowerment project to a more project-driven body interested in meeting the needs of our community. This is a major transformation and we need the support of our broader membership and community to take our projects forward. You have been there in the past and we know you will be there in the future!!
Silvy Ragoobar – secretary on behalf of the Board.
