BRIDGING AGES SOUTH AFRICA 1st CONFERENCE ON 20, 21 OCT 2010- EVALUATION

Bridging Ages Conference. Port Shepstone. 20 October 2010

For the people of Port Shepstone in Kwa- Zulu Natal, South Africa the Bridging Ages Conference held in this seaside town was a first and historic occasion

It was indeed a privilege and honour for the Port Shepstone Twinning Association the local host . Our Association has a deep and historic relationship with Sweden since the early 1990’s.

The conference was opened by the Hibiscus Coast Mayor, Nolwazi Shusha

The conference theme "Social Cohesion Through Time" was most appropriate and significant for the conditions of the our young and fledgling democracy. As Archbishop Tutu, one of four South African Nobel Peace laureattes said : “ Nations are built through shared collective memories .”

Time Travel has been implemented in South Africa four provinces commencing in 2006.

The conference in dealing with the 10 recorded SA time Travel presentations , various speakers and study circle discussions, brought home the need for recording our history from all perspectives.

Engaging all sectors of the community (with oral history being a key component of recording our history) is very effective in developing a sense of ownership of the process and ultimately the history itself. It also became apparent that Time Travel can be used as an effective tool in a “healing the nation” process, as presented by Prof Radikobo Ntsimane.

The 142 conference delegates came from Sweden, Belgium and 5 provinces in South Africa. Their backgrounds included museum personnel, various government departments especially from Arts , Culture and Education, educators and civil society.

Delegates participated in the first recorded Time travel in Kwa- Zulu Natal located in the 1905, pre Bambatha Rebellion, period. Also significant is that this year 2010, marks the 150 years anniversary of the arrival of the Indentured Indian labourers . The 1905 Time Travel recorded history talks to all aspects of the period viz the character of colonialism, the resistance of the Zulus and the plight of the Indian labourers.

The wide ranging exhibition, showcasing Twinning history and up to date projects, recorded Time Travels in SA, various cultures, civil society work, tourism and focus on the work of our democratic government, was educational, interesting and appropriately commemorated this occasion.

It was a singular achievement to facilitate the fantastic co-operation between the Twinning Association, and the volunteeres who toiled, begged and borrowed to make the conference a huge success. With very limited resources, it was the people participation and ownership that made this conference most cost effective. It has demonstrated that if one engages with communities, anything is possible. The media has also been most supportive with wide coverage, as have business and various cultural groups.

The conference dinner, was highly successful with 250 attendees.

Again, it was well planned and every delegate, govt. official, mayor, member of Parliament and ordinary community member was mesmerized by the drama presented by the Ikwazi group from Umzumbe, music by eSayidi College, and the Indian and Zulu dances.

 But the highlight was undoubtedly the students of the pilot schools who spoke about the impact of time travel on learning and education.

Even our Minister of Arts and Culture Weziwe Thusi, ensured that she came on the 21st to endorse the conference . BHer department has already adopted this methodology for transformation of the music service.

The Time Travel method has demonstrated the value of involving all sectors of society and removing the barriers that otherwise divide us through race, class, religion or language. The highest levels of achievments can only be accomplished through networking and working in total cohesion with programmes designed to meet societal challenges.

We thank every person who made a contribution towards this most memorable and successful project.

Gulshera Khan

Conference Co-ordinator
BASA - Board Member