Saturday, November 7, 2009

ACCOMODATION- RURAL COMMUNITIES ( Ugu District)


Accomodation at rural villages: Ekubusisweni, Magog, Nyandazulu,Ezingolweni and Umzumbe ( Mfazazana)

Hopefully, rural tourism and economic empowerment can be taken to another level, arising from the Global School Journey project
Gulshera Khan (gk)

Photos by Pauline Duncan

Deep Rural Ugu District - Ekubusisweni


Global School Journey and Global Supplement entertained on 10Th October 2009, Venue- CWSA- Ekubusisweni. It is important in our young democracy that deep rural communities that are most disadvantaged in terms of services, infrastructure, housing and economic empowerment receive exposure. Our Twinning Association is making attempts to expose these communities to the " world". The spin- offs can be endless.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

GLOBAL SCHOOL JOURNEY - PLANNING MEETING 2009

The meeting of the 2009 Global School Journey co-ordinators and Port Shepstone Twinning Association was held at Port Shepstone Junior Primary on Friday 7 August 2009 at 13:00.

Attendance
GSJ co-ordinators
Joyce Majola from Izingolweni, Mzi Ndwalane from Nyandezulu, Sibongile Zamisa from Magog, Gertrude Lushaba from Mfazazana and Zodwa Shezi from Ekubusisweni

ESayidi FETC representatives :
Mr Vezi eSayidi FETC: Gamalakhe campus deputy manager, Mr Joe Booyens eSayidi FETC: Gamalakhe campus Tilana van Vuuren eSayidi FETC: PA to Rector Dr Sipho J Nzimande and PSTA management ,member

PSTA Management:
Gulshera Khan ,Dudu Malinga, Judy Mkhize,Pauline Duncan

Host Family – as observer
Tholakele Masondo

Apologies
Lynne Footit, Dell Pendock, Christa Nightingale and Silvy Ragoobar

The meeting was chaired by the convenor of the 2009 GSJ to SA convenor, Pauline Duncan.

The full report of the meeting has been circulated, and dealt with the programme, transport, co-ordinators and host families, finance, First Aid, diet, shared accommodation and diet, meeting the needs expressed by the respective groups in the rural areas and in Gamalakhe, meeting with South Coast Hospice, safety and security, a visit to Murchison Hospital, cellphones and a number of issues like bringing towels and wearing name tags.

Planning well in advance is essential for the success of a visit of this magnitude and diversity. This is happening and it involves a wide range of individuals, organisations and communities, whose co-operation is really appreciated. This is clearly expressed in the extract from the concluding section of the 2007 GSJ to SA Report, as below:

In ending this report, I would like to say the following:
In giving thanks and credit to everyone who has helped to make the 2007 Global School Journey such a success, I can think of no better way of doing this than describing ubuntu, the philosophy of morality, humaneness, care, understanding and empathy, of sharing and hospitality, of honesty and humility, as defined in Mike Boon’s The African Way.

Ubuntu is best explained through the expression: umuntu ngumuntu ngamuntu, which means: A person is only a person because of other people. Rank means nothing unless one’s spirit and humanity are of the same stature. Ubuntu is not empirical. It does not exist unless there is interaction between people in a community. It manifests through the actions of people, through truly good things that people unthinkingly do for each other and for the community. One’s humanity can therefore only be defined through interaction with others.

It is believed the group is as important as the individual, and a person’s most effective behaviour is in the group. All efforts working towards this common good are lauded and encouraged, as are all acts of kindness, compassion and care, and the great need for human dignity, self-respect and integrity. And so the success of the 2007 Global School Journey is your success. Congratulations and thank you.

Pauline Duncan
Convenor: 2009 Global School Journey

Thursday, May 28, 2009

WELCOME - GSJ PARTICIPANTS TO SOUTH AFRICA



ABOVE PHOTO- PLANNING MEETING IN SWEDEN APRIL 2009

Our questions are: -- NEEDS TO BE MET HERE ON THEIR JOURNEY IN OCTOBER 2009.

THE FAMILY SITUATION/THE SOCIAL SOCIATY
Who has the responsibility for a child with family problems?
What happens when a child loses his/her parents?
What different types of families are there?

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
Tell us about the school system!
Are there any costs?
How many years in school?
Do boys and girls have the same opportunity at school?
Curicculum?

THE CHILDRENS HEALTH CARE
Is there any maternity welfare?
How is the program for childrens vaccination?
Are there any costs for childrens health care ?
Wat kind of help can the family with a physically challenged child get?

It would be nice if wee could meet and talk to:
l Socialworkers
l Teachers, principals, students
l Nurses
l Other persons that you think is important for our studies.

Best reagards from Frida, Laila, Anette and Mia

NEXT GROUP:

Our focus is everyday life, culture and ecotourism. To understand how to relate to sustainable development and ecotourism, we want to first get a picture of everyday life. What similarities and differences we can see in comparison with our own lives? Some key areas are: - Children, the elderly, women and men everyday life - School - Work, cultivating, getting food - Spirituality and religion - Health, modern medicine - traditional medicine - Future - Culture, craft - Animals - Fun We would like to try to share your everyday life in the villages. We wish for example to follow the children to school, follow with any family member to work, recreational activities, church and store. We (also the man in our group) would like to cook in the family. Can we be involved in getting and preparing food? Are there any youth projects that we could visit? We are interested in health care and want to see if there are differences between modern and traditional care. If possible, we would like to meet both the traditional medicine man and a district doctor in the village. Is there the opportunity to meet artisans, artists, cultural workers and cultural organisations?

FROM:
  • Siv Åkesson, principal of preschool in Ulricehamn, working with children aged between 1 and 5 years.
  • Crister Carlsson, principal of preschool in Härryda municipality.
  • Dragana Mrdja, teacher in the Bosnian-Serbian-Croatian language in Härryda municipality.
  • Edit Szabo, teacher in the 4th grade in Bergsjön. Eva Cronander, 32 years, teacher in primary school in Mölndal municipality.

NEXT GROUP

We are four people in our group. Håkan Holgerson and Ann-Christine Frankenberg who are school managers in two different districts in the area of Gothenburg. And Christiane Holzwart and Åsa Carlsson who are headmasters of two compulsory schools.

During our visit we are curious to learn more about the upbringing conditions for your children and youths.
· What are the upbringing conditions for your children and youths?
· What support do the families get from the society during the childhood?
· Could we visit schools in order to learn about education system?
· If it is possible we would like to visit and know more about maternity welfare/ child care?

We are really excited to experience South Africa, your everyday life, culture, nature and everything else.

NEXT GROUP
We are curious and looking forward to meet you in our upcoming trip with the Global School journey. We have taken part of your newsletters with joy and it feels exciting to soon be seeing you. Overall, we are about 25 people who are divided into four groups. Our group consists of:

  • Terese Söderman in Ulricehamn. She works with children aged one to five.
  • Jennie Utbult is 32 years and works as a pree-schooleteacher in Ulricehamn. She works as Terese.
  • Lena Lidberg - pree-schooleteacher with children aged one to five. She works in Mölnlycke.
  • Rosanna Wernér -a teacher in primary-school for in Gothenburg.
  • Helen Andersson is 38 years and works as a teacher for children aged 6 to 8 years in a school in Mölndal.
  • Ola Henricsson- a teacher in a primary-school in Gothenburg for.

We feel privileged that we have got the oppurtunity to describe our desires and interests. First of all we want to be involved and participate in our host families everyday lives. In our group we are interested in culture and education. Music, dance and oral storytelling is something that we like to take part of. We want to visit schools in the village and talk with teachers and students. Is it possible to invite teachers to a workshop one evening? Is there any chance to meet representatives of sparetime activities, we would like to do so. We wish to meet and talk to a pastor about the Church's role in the village.

Otherwise, we are convinced that it will be a wonderful experince to meet you i South Africa.

Best regards
Terese, Jennie, Rosanna, Lena, Helené och Ola


NEXT GROUP
We are four in our group and interested in the issues of gender and local democracy.

  • Ann C is a teacher working with small children in a Primary School,
  • Annika G works as a Coordinator for Preschool issues of the Harryda Municipality.
  • Annika J is a local politician of the Conservative Party, member of the City Council of Gothenburg, Vice Chairman of the District Council of Bergsjön which is highly multi-cultured. Annika J has a MBA degree in Economics.
  • Humayun K is a local politician of the Social Democratic Party, member of both the City Council of Gothenburg and District Council of Bergsjön. Humayun K is an academician with MA in History, also studied Business Management and Computer System Development.

    Our interests are described below in short :

    · Education system & gender issues (equal rights and opportunities between the sexes)
    · Law of inheritance & its impact on boys and girls
    · Working opportunities and conditions for boys and girls
    · Preventive & Family planning advises to the teenagers
    · The importance & development of gender as issue in debates of your soceity.
    · Possibility to meet members of City / District / Municipal Councils, local leaders from different political parties.
    · Meet Clan leaders, know about their power structure in the rural areas, proceedings of local justice in these areas. Very local decision making structures upto the point where state steps in.
    · Local / District Court of Justice.

    It would be very interesting for us to visit places like maternity centres, youth clinics, day care centres, primary and secondary schools, different youth recreation activities centres and other organizations who work for young people.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

2007 GLOBAL SCHOOL REPORT

1. eSayidi FET College: Dell Pendock, Lynne Footit & Pauline Duncan
The eSayidi FET College has played a central role since 2005 when the 2005 Global School Journey made the tourist hotel at the Gamalakhe campus as its home, with the significant support of the rector, Dr Sipho J Nzimande, and staff.

· Accommodation: Judith Nqoko and team
Good accommodation is essential for the success of the Global School Journey, and this year, as in the years past, we have been blessed with excellent caring, catering and support from Judith Nqoko and her team. In fact, the eSayidi FETC Tourist Hotel soon became ‘home’ and every effort was made to make the GSJs comfortable.

· Décor: Dell Pendock
The art on the walls from Port Shepstone Junior Primary was both delightful and very colourful. This year the GSJs were invited to select items to take home.

· Entertainment: Phumzile Mgojo & Masakhane Youth Development
The Gamalakhe-based group provided excellent singing and dancing, and by the time the GSJs left, they were ‘competent’ Zulu singers and dancers too!

· Farewell Function: Dell Pendock & Bash Naidoo
The entire Global School Journey came together in celebratory fashion on Friday 26 October 2007 when a member of each host family booked into the eSayidi FET College Training Hotel and attended the final function, together with all stakeholders in the project. Singing, dancing, awarding of certificates of recognition, acknowledgement of roles played and laughter made the function memorable and significant, and highlighted the achieving of twinning and Global School Journey objectives in a superb way. The function ended with a meal of both South African and Swedish dishes.

· Transport: Lynne Footit, Nelly Zungu & Pauline Duncan
Safe and reliable transport is critical to the success of the Global School Journey. Apart from one incident on the first day, everything went well and all credit goes to the drivers from eSayidi FET College and Ziphakamise, Nelly and Lynne for their reliability and commitment.

· eSayidi FETC: Gamalakhe campus: Ms M Zama & Qaphela Mavundla
The Global School Journey delegates were made to feel very welcome on the campus and apart from the formal tour of the campus, they also met countless members of staff and students of the college, and guests staying at the hotel. Ms Zama was a gracious host whose frequent presence was appreciated, as was the support given to the GSJs by Qaphela Mavundla and his fellow students. Mr SS Nhlumayo and Mr Cele gave the GSJs a much appreciated and excellent insight into traditional Zulu apparel and weapons

2. Co-ordinators: Gulshera Khan & Pauline Duncan
The co-ordinators played a critical role in ensuring that the stay in rural homes and the programmes for the visits were of the highest order. This year the programme was expanded to include an additional co-ordinator for each rural area, as well as additional host families. This ensured the growth of the project within each hosting community, and spread the impact of the project.

For security reasons, Izingolweni was excluded as one of the rural areas and was replaced with Bhomela. The co-ordinators and co-co-ordinators are to be congratulated on the highly efficient execution of their responsibilities, and the support of one another. A number of planning meetings were held to prepare for the visit of the GSJs. These were well-attended and the level of discussion was excellent. All credit to the co-ordinators:
Mfazazana: Gertrude Lushaba and Mrs TA Gumede
Ekubusisweni: Londi Ngubane and Zodwa Shezi
Nyandezulu: Mzi Ndwalane and Dudu Malinga
Magog: Sibongile Zamisa and Nompumelelo Mvubu
Ezinqoleni: Joyce Majola and Nompumelelo Mzimbovu

3. Host families: Co-ordinators, Gulshera Khan & Pauline Duncan

The expansion of the 2007 programme led to the involvement of other families in the respective rural areas who welcomed the GSJs into their homes and their lives. Over the 3 years of the Global School Journey delegates living in homes in rural areas, the ideas to host and entertain them have developed and the hospitality shown has been outstanding. It has been regarded by both the guests and the hosts to be a privilege to be part of the process, and epitomises the objectives of the project.

4. Rural programme: Co-ordinators, Gulshera Khan & Pauline Duncan
The rural programme differed in a number of ways from that of 2005 and 2006, and these changes were generally an improvement. They included the following:
· Only one evening was spent in Gamalakhe following the GSJs’ arrival before leaving for rural visits.
· The rural stays included weekends, which allowed more interaction with the respective communities and attendance of churches and functions usually held on Saturdays and Sundays.
· The visit by each group to join South Coast Hospice teams on their visits to patients in rural areas required considerable planning, including transport, lunches etc but were successfully executed.
· The programme included the Swedes spending a day with the children of their host family or neighbours, including schools.

5. Safety and Security: Daniel Malishe
Victor Chetty and the Directorate of Hibiscus Coast Municipality Protection Services and the relevant SAPS police stations once again were outstanding with their support in terms of safety and security issues.

6. Doctors on call: Gulshera Khan & Pauline Duncan
Dr Kevin Naidoo and Dr Hilton Horsley once again volunteered their services, with the former doctor being visited by a number of ill Swedes and the latter, by the SA 2007 GSJ convenor! There is no accurate record of how much illness was caused by tick bites.

7. Gamalakhe: Clr Doctor Njoko
Another development in the 2007 programme was greater involvement of the Gamalakhe community in a number of ways. Clr Njoko, supported by Clr Sibusiso Zulu, organised the events. The GSJs enjoyed the early morning runs around Gamalakhe and the friendliness shown to them by the community.
· Tin Town: Ntombifuthi Shomela and Margery Njeje
The tour of Tin Town highlighted the history of the Group Areas Act that led to forced removals in the late 1960’s
· Dinner in Gamalakhe homes
The 5 groups of GSJs were hosted to dinner in different homes in Gamalakhe by members of the community.
· Church
The GSJs attended the church service held at the Gamalakhe Lower Primary School

8. South Coast Hospice: Christa Nightingale
Carol Immelman co-ordinated the visits by the groups. This part of the programme arose from a specific request by the 2007 GSJs when planning their visit.

9. PSHS and PSJPS: Dell Pendock
A request was made for the 2007 Global School Journey delegates to visit schools in Port Shepstone, as well as in the rural areas. This was organised for the days of their return from the rural areas and for practical and transport purposes, Port Shepstone High School and Port Shepstone Junior Primary were selected. However, other schools in Port Shepstone were also visited as part of the rural programme.


10. Port Shepstone: Bash Naidoo, Gulshera Khan & Pauline Duncan
The 2007 Global School Journey programme expanded on the 2006 day in Port Shepstone so that the GSJs would get an insight into various aspects and history of our society, namely local government, religion, non-governmental organisations and the town itself.

The day started with a diet of no meat at breakfast or at the tea hosted by Hibiscus Coast Municipality, in order that the GSJs could enter the Hindu temple later that day. The respective hosts were most gracious and generous, and the various visits fulfilled the stated purpose. And the shopping was much enjoyed by all! The programme was as follows:
· Hibiscus Coast Municipality: Deirdre Rankin, Xolani Dlangalala &
Annelien Richter
· Port Shepstone Jumma Musjid: Ridwan Peer
· Practical Ministries: Devi Munsamy
· Port Shepstone Hindu Temple: Bobby Naidoo
· Safety & Security: Port Shepstone Protection Services

11. Speakers: Gulshera Khan, Lynne Footit & Pauline Duncan
The 2007 programme did not include formal workshops as in the past, but rather invited respected and involved members of the community and organisations to talk to the GSJs. This was most successful as it allowed for interaction and participation.
· Rev Dr and Mrs KEM Mgojo: SA history from a personal perspective
· Mayor SB Cele: Ugu District Municipality
· Dr Nhlumayo: Zulu culture
· Lynne Footit: Ziphakamise
· Mabuyi Mnguni: Ugu District HIV & Aids
· Shamitha Ramsuran: Child Welfare South Africa
· Christa Nightingale: KZN Department of Health: Oral Health

12. Publicity: Bash Naidoo
The local press was most co-operative in reporting on the 2007 Global School Journey and attending a number of functions.
· South Coast Herald
· South Coast Fever

13. Certificates: Lynne Footit
Certificates of Recognition were presented to the various individuals and organisations involved with the project, as a gesture of gratitude and acknowledgement of their kindness and contribution to the success of the 2007 Global School Journey.

14. Finances: Gulshera Khan
This is a critical area and all due care was taken that the financial aspects were dealt with with utmost care and integrity.

15. Lake Eland
On the final Saturday of the visit, the entire delegation and Pauline Duncan went to Lake Eland where they stayed in the log cabins overnight.

16. Oskarshamn Municipality delegation
A delegation of 5 from the Oskarshamn Municipality, led by Mayor Peter Wretlund, and
accompanied by OSAK chairman, Tormod Nesset, joined the 2007 GSJs at the hotel on the
last night. The GSJs sat in their 6 municipal groupings with an individual member of the Oskarshamn delegation, and reported on their experiences of the past few weeks. Mayor Shusha, Clr C Mqwebu and Victor Chetty of Hibiscus Coast Municipality attended this most appropriate and meaningful end to the 2007 Global School Journey.


17. Bo Hellström and the 2007 Global School Journey delegates
Every year we think, “That was the best ever.” And this year was no exception, but allow me to hasten to add that each GSJ group has been the best ever!

The miracle of the Global School Journey each year is that it is so successful. And this we attribute to the excellent leadership and preparation of the groups by Bo Hellström, my counterpart in Sweden, and the excellent selection of delegates, better known as GSJs. We are very grateful to you all in Sweden for your outreach to us, and we are sure that you know how much our lives have been enriched as a result of the Global School Journeys. We hope that yours have been similarly enriched.

In ending this report, I would like to say the following:

In giving thanks and credit to everyone who has helped to make the 2007 Global School Journey such a success, I can think of no better way of doing this than describing ubuntu, the philosophy of morality, humaneness, care, understanding and empathy, of sharing and hospitality, of honesty and humility, as defined in Mike Boon’s The African Way.

Ubuntu is best explained through the expression: umuntu ngumuntu ngamuntu, which means:
A person is only a person because of other people. Rank means nothing unless one’s spirit and humanity are of the same stature.

Ubuntu is not empirical. It does not exist unless there is interaction between people in a community. It manifests through the actions of people, through truly good things that people unthinkingly do for each other and for the community. One’s humanity can therefore only be defined through interaction with others.

It is believed the group is as important as the individual, and a person’s most effective behaviour is in the group. All efforts working towards this common good are lauded and encouraged, as are all acts of kindness, compassion and care, and the great need for human dignity, self-respect and integrity.

And so the success of the 2007 Global School Journey is your success. Congratulations and thank you.

Pauline Duncan
Convenor: 2007 Global School Journey

Thursday, March 5, 2009

GSJ Coordinator 2005,2006 and 2007

Bo is an excellent coordinator. He worked at the pace of S. Africans. Patient and tolerant. He understood our dynamics. Developing countries want to be treated with dignity and as equals. Our structures and protocol have to be respected if a project is to succeed. Bo knew exactly this and respected us. This is appreciated. Gulshera

GLOBAL SCHOOL JOURNEY - ACHIEVEMENT


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Bo, Sanna, Eva , at night in Ekubusisweni,a deep rural community.GSJ participants live in rural villages giving respect & dignity. to ordinary folks.They participate in daily activities , chores & engage with the community on daily life. What better way to get an insight on our fledgling democracy. Simultaneously, they take away an experience everlasting- getting an understanding of developing countries needs and appreciating what they have back home.

GLOBAL SCHOOL JOURNEY - SOME OF THE HOST COMMUNITIES AND ACTIVITIES

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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

2006 GLOBAL SCHOOL JOURNEY

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2005 GLOBAL SCHOOL JOURNEY

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2004 GLOBAL SCHOOL JOURNEY


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The co-ordination of the first delegation was a mammoth undertaking for a civil society, voluntary organisation such as ours. It involved planning on both sides for approximately 9 to 12 months. In our context, entire communities were involved , from municipalities, police, various departments, institutions and civil society.
We have learnt and faced many lessons and challenges in both facilitating and co-ordinating. We built on these challenges and it became easier over the years, sharpening our focus and getting to grips with the objective of this exercise.
Mutual benefit to both countries / towns are very important within this twin context. Gulshera

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

DEVELOPMENT OF MEDIA STUDIES CENTRE



Plant a seed and see what will happen. The construction of the Media Studies Centre on the Gamalakhe campus is the end result of the co-operation between Sweden and South Africa.

It began with 2005 Global School Journey convenor, Bo Hellstrom, inviting Sibongile Zamisa and me to attend of the Global School Journey to Sweden project in September 2005, and the visit to his school, Lars Kagg Skolan, Kalmar.

There we met Rector Carl-Peter Linden who took up the challenge of twinning with eSayidi FET College, and he and Ingvar Carlsson, Mari Gasslander and Bjorn Paulsson visit us in 2006. In 2007, Rector Dr Sipho Nzimande visited Kalmar, as did Thabang Moeshoeshoe in 2008, and followed by the visit to us by Rector Carl-Peter Linden, Mr Håkan Källqvist and Mr Kent Olsson.

The end result is the construction of the Media Studies Centre on the Gamalakhe campus, using a number of the ideas gleaned from the visits to Lars Kagg Skolan, and the support of many.

Construction is due to be complete at the end of April 2009.

No seed can successfully grow unless it is nurtured, supported and valued, and this Media Studies Centre shows the worth of sharing ideas, co-operating and twinning.

Well done, everyone.

Pauline