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

A HUGE SUCCESS!

TALK OF TOWN, SAID BY ONE PERSON

MANY CHALLENGES UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE-- COMMENTS BY PUBLIC- PROFESSIONAL, HIGH STD, WELL ORGANISED!

 A BIG THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY OF PORT SHESPTONE :

"WE DID IT"

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

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

 The planning is gaining momentum.  The programme, accomodation , transport, content, speakers, budgets etc had to be all sorted out before the final programme is sent out.

Detailed planning of every moment from the 19th  October until it is over is being discussed , debated and agreed upon. The Port Shepstone community is really great with so many wanting to volunteer- even if it is one contribution, it  adds to the whole.

Fundraising and keeping everyone motivated is  a challenge. But it is getting done with the support of Tizzie, our BASA chairperson, Ebbe, BA International chairperson, Louis, from Western Cape, for his support and guidance every step of the way and to our Twinning Board and  Time Travel Sub committee.

Locally,Rueben's support is motivating. Silvy, Judy and  Gary, the 3 pilot schools, the recent past delegates to Kalmar- Howard, Thulas, Rosey, our experienced twinners, Pauline, Dell and Christa and Tilana of eSayidi FET, and Leslie of Ziphakamise, are all on board, helping ,wherever they can.

Our partners, Depat of Arts and Culture eSayidi FET, Ugu south Coast Tourism, HCM and Ugu District municipalities, Department of Education ( Omesh, Tim, Ravi Pather, Zondi , Mr Sibaya), Penny , Sipho and Thembi of the local museum, Pastor Reggie John, Dean, Suresh Naidoo, Luckys Manaba, Hi Land Tyres, Prem Sewpersad, Lootch Security, South Coast Fever etc We are humbled by your support.

Sven Ake, Tormod Nesset and friends in Kalmar Lans museum and all provinces in SA involved in TT. Can't wait to see you guys, at one venue, one time, together with one vision-- let our history be re written from all perspectives!

Gulshera Khan
Co-ordinator

SURPRISE BIRTHDAY - TORMOD NESSET, JUNE 2010

\

PORT SHEPSTONE TWINNING ASSOCIATION

(SOUTH AFRICA)

INTERNATIONAL

SOLIDARITY AWARD

PRESENTED TO

TORMOD NESSET

IN RECOGNITION OF

OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE

AND

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

AND DEVELOPMENT

FOR A PERIOD IN EXCESS OF THIRTY FIVE YEARS

DATED AT PORT SHEPSONE THIS 15TH DAY OF JUNE 2010

THE ABOVE CERTIFICATE WAS AWARDED TO TORMOD ON THE DAY OF THE SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY HELD IN HIS HONOUR. SIGNED BY :

CHAIRPERSON:  GARY MOODLEY

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON: JUDY MKIZE

SECRETARY: CHRISTA NIGHTINGALE

TREASURER: GULSHERA KHAN

May 2010 Delegation- Time Travel, Oskarshamn

Thulas, Rosey and Howard participated in a Time Travel activity in Oskarshamn ( 26 May 2010) as part of their training days in Sweden.

Therafter they had FICA with Carina Wretlund ( Mayors wife and an active twinning member) at her home, followed by welcome dinner at Tormod Nessets home.

Thanking Laila Forsmack  for the photographs.

SHORT REPORT BY DELEGATION:REPORT ON TT TRAINING IN SWEDEN

Time travels is about doing, which enables learners to understand their history much better than just going through books or searching the web.The Time Travels that we participated in were well organized and the learners really enjoyed them and we also did.We were impressed by the set up at Eketorp (Oland) and how original it looked. The phases from Eketorp1,2 and 3 up to the present one which is divided into the western half and the eastern half as well as the south gate.

In all the sites that we visited, we could see the enthusiasm and commitment of the members of staff and this is what makes TT real and original. In our training we also discovered that our(S. A) history is more political and there are a lot of untold good stories of the past. These stories can help rebuild our country. TT is a nation building method which is relevant for the Rainbow nation of South Africa.

TT can help us to value our original history not only the political history but also the period before colonisation.If we document our oral history, this will help fast track transformation in our country while preserving our history with pride.

Thank you very much to Kalmar Lans Museum, ABF Sondra Smaland  ,OSAK and The Port Shepstone Twinning Association for making this learning experience possible.

Thulas, Rosey and Howard

Ugu - Soderhamn Partnership with eSayidi FET.

A successful graduation of the Distance Education ( Computer course) and Builders Project students was held at the Iqongalakho Media Studies Centre on the Gamalakhe campus of eSayidi FETC on Friday, 4th June 2010.

Present were many of the stakeholders involved in the Ugu District/Soderhamn Municipal partnership. From Soderhamn, Thomas and Cecelia from Centre of Flexible Learning were guests, including Gary Moodley, chairperson of the Port Shepstone Twinning Asscociation and Justice Ngesi representing the Deputy Mayor of Ugu District Municipality as the keynote speaker.

What was started in 1993 with the commitment of a few persons have benefited our community tremendously, with 141 delegates to Sweden over these years and various other initiatives and spin- offs, such as the above.

Together, we can truly focus on what is so urgently required in SA-- empowerment, job creation,  to name a few.

Newsletter 2009 on blog : http://www.pstanewsletters.blogspot.com/ highlights one of the busiest twinning year with various projects benefitting both countries.

gk

Orientation, next delegation to Sweden

Thulas mkhize, Rosy Mudaly and Howard Msomi - Time Travel, Study circle and Folkbildning

Training in Folkbildning, Historic Environment Education


and Time Travels in Sweden May 24 – June 5 2010

Organizers in Sweden: Kalmar Regional Council, Kalmar Läns Museum, Bildningsförlaget, ABF Östra Småland/Öland
Foreign participants: (South Africa)
Port Shepstone: Munniamah Mudaly, Thulasizwe Mkhize, Howard Msomi
Western Cape: Mxolisi Dlamuka, Chester Davids, David van der Westhuizen,
Allister Lightburn
(Transport – one minibus from Kalmar Läns Museum)

May 23
Arrival Copenhagen, train to Kalmar

May 24
Visit Kalmar Läns Museum, seminar on Historic Environment Education and Time Travels. In the late afternoon, a visit in Kalmar historical town

May 25
Visit Ölands Folk High School

May 26
Time Travel to 1887 together with Valhallaskolan, grade 7 at Fredriksberg Manor House, Oskarshamn

May 27
Time Travel to the Iron Age, 425 B:C, together with learners from Alunskolan and Torslundaskolan grade 4, at Eketorp

May 28
Visit Alunskolan and Torslundaskolan on Öland. Meet teachers and learners. See some historical sites on southern Öland

May 29 – 30
Visit historical sites on northern Öland and in the Kalmar region

May 31
Seminar on Folkbildning and Time Travel Education. Summary of experiences so far

June 1
Travel to Stockholm. Visit Marieborgs Folk High School in Norrköping

June 2 - 4
Visit Folk High Schools and museums, meet museum educators in Stockholm
Conference with the Builders Union about international issues and South Africa Visit Folkbildningsrådet and Free time

June 5
Leave for South Africa
Ebbe Westergren, Helen Eklund, Kalmar Läns Museum

Gunnar Aldestam, Bildningsförlaget

Per- Ulf's Visit - Day 2

Study by Olof Palme International Centre - 15-16 April 2010

Per - Ulf Nilsson was appointed to undertake a study visit of the twinning process.

Interviews were undertaken with members and partner organisations, including learners of pilot schools.

Much was accomplished within the two days:

Interviews and visits to:

Marburg Primary School - pilot Time Travel GET level ( meeting with Dr. Gounden, Gary Moodley and May 10 delegate Rosey Mudaly
Nobamba High School - Sizwe Gcaba and learners
Merlewood Secondary School - Joe Venter and Johan Buys
Marburg Secondary school - TimeTravel and Global Supplement projects
Twinning Association Board
HCM- groundbreakers project ( HIV and Aids)- Christa and Toffie
Junior Primary School - recycling project- Dell
Museum - a glimpse
eSayidi FET ( media study centre and building project)- Pauline
Buhlebezwe Primary School - new pilot school and delegate to Sweden. Principal and staff
Nyandazulu- host families, Mzi- Global School co-ordinator
Thulas recycling project
Child Welfare - Umzumbe
Donation- Outdoor school equipment at Sibhekulwandle Primary School
Meeting with Gertrude Lushaba - Global School co-ordinator and past delegate.
Howard Msomi - a delegate in May and co-ordinator of Time Travel in Umzumbe

We thank all our members and partners for their co-operation.
We especially like to thank Per for his patience and co-operating fully as the programme was intense for two days.

BRIEF REPORT - HISTORICAL ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION AND TIME TRAVEL , 17 TO 27 MARCH 2010

Overall Assessement

The Programme for March was a success as per report by Ebbe, read below. It is important to stress that our region has been exposed widely to the  Time Travel method and realised its value , not only as a teaching method, but recording OUR HISTORY. At local level  there is a crying need before it  is forever forgotten and lost.

Since this facilitation by Kalmar Lans Museum,  we realised that this powerful method is helping in bringing about understanding and healing of a divided past history, of reconciliation and even development through finding creative ways in identifying and preserving our Heritage. These heritage sites can become public places for families and tourist- even creating jobs.

We need to develop to become fully reliant and independent in achieving the above objective. This will take time as institutions and organisations need to come on board and become part of the mainstream in schools, museums and municipalities. Until then, we made a start but is far from achieving this objective. we need Ebbe and team to continue what was started!

Gulshera Khan- Volunteer Time Travel Co-ordinator

TIME TRAVEL ACTIVITY WITH EDUCATORS AND CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS - 19 March 2010

B

Tim and Ravi Pather from Dept. of Education as indentured labourers, 1905

By Ebbe - March 2010 Progress


• Three successful and quite different workshops in Port Shepstone and Umzumbe.

• A very engaged Time Travel Committee in Port Shepstone.

• Good cooperation with KZN Museum Service.

• A committe for HCM Primary Schools and Time Travels elected.

• A group for identifying stakeholders interested in recording of violence/struggle in Port Shepstone region elected.

• The workshop on the struggle/violence was quite emotional and it is obvious that many people want to tell their often traumatic stories. The healing process in the communities will take a long time. The school needs to find their own way to teach about the violence, record stories and develop a Time Travel.

• Big interest in Umzumbe for cooperation on the Time Travel method. Several sites and stories were mentioned.

• Days decided for the national conference in Port Shepstone, 20-21 October, and also a draft program. Theme: Social Cohesion through Time Travels.

• Interesting conference on the violence in KZN. Good discussions with Philippe Denis, Director of the Sinomlando Oral History Centre, Radikobo Ntsimane, Deputy Director, Mxholisi Mchunu and Bongani Ndlovu, Msunduzi/Voortrekker Museum. We asked about contributions at the BASA conference in October. Important to have connections to research and universities.

• Interesting visits to museums and theme parks in Zululand (Fort Nongqayi in Eshowe, Ondini reconstructed royal residence, Mgungundlovu reconstructed royal residence and Shakaland historical theme park). Good discussions with the Program Manager Drika and the number one guide Richard at Shakaland.

• Need for a Time Travel coordinator in KwaZulu-Natal. A lot of the work is now relying on individual, engaged persons.


Way forward

• Port Shepstone article for the booklet “This place has meaning.”

• Meeting with the Primary School Time Travel Committee.

• Meeting with the Struggle and Secondary School group.

• Howard have regular discussions with the engaged persons in Umzumbe.

• KZN Museum Service has two interns helping in the Time Travel work.

• A conference committee to prepare for the BASA conference.

• Training in Sweden the last week of May and first week of June for three persons from Port Shepstone.

• Three people from Sweden will be back in Port Shepstone/KZN in October.

• National BASA conference 20-21 October. 22 October for the BASA board.

• A big Time Travel to 1905 with many learners and adults at the Port Shepstone harbour in October. Maybe 150 people. Small changes in the scenario, some intendured labour arrive. This is a contribution to the 150 anniversary of the first Indians arriving in South Africa.

• Develop a Time Travel site for Primary Schools: 1820s Zulu/Shaka site (some worriors stayed)?, Hindu temple?, San site? Other? Time Travel in October?

• Develop a Time Travel for Secondary Schools about the struggle/violence.

• Possible Oral History and interview training for the TT group.

• Time Travel in Umzumbe in October? Maybe at the site for the Bambatha rebellion trial. The women campaign against the passlaws has also been mentioned.

• Take the Time Travel method further in KwaZulu-Natal.

• Mark and Gulshera emphasize the need for future support and mentorship from Kalmar läns museum, guidance, training etc.

• A Time Travel coordinator in KZN is needed. Office at KZN Museum Service?

2010-03-27

Ebbe Westergren, Helen Eklund, Meg Johnson, Kalmar läns museum

TWINNING MONTHLY MEETING AND WELCOME- SODERHAMN BUILDING PROJECT

Yesterday's monthly twinning meeting  ( 25 Feb. 2010) was attended and addressed by the Soderhamn Building Project group, Jorgen Andersson, Olle Collin and Adam Jonsson. Also present was Nol'thando Ngcobo, a lecturer at eSayidi FETC Nqamuza Skills Centre, Munster..

Jorgen, a teacher of building and construction at Staffangymnasiet, returned to the project he began last year, and with two new students in their final year, namely Olle Collin who is studying carpentry and Adam Jonsson who is specialising in concrete work. They are presently skilling 10 builders at the Gamalakhe campus and return to Soderhamn next week.

They are working with the eSayidi FETC technical team, Keith Stroebel and Richard Pym who visited Soderhamn last year, and Bernard Cele.

Nol'thando Ncobo visited Soderhamn with other lecturers from the Mtwalume and Nqamuza Skills Centres, namely Mr Wiseman Malunga, Ms Sanelisiwe Mavundla and Ms Silindile Mtuli last September and they were joined by the vice rector of esayidi FETC, Mrs Zanokuhle Ntombela.

The Distance Education project began on 2 February 2010 at both campuses with 15 students at each, and on 7 March, the Swedish based lecturers involved with the project, Aanette Ramstrand and Hakan Helmersson, will return to continue the training begun with eSayidi FETC last October.

 Article and Photo by: Pauline Duncan

BUILDING PROJECT - SODERHAMN / UGU / ESAYIDI FET / PSTA PARTNERSHIP

Historic Environment Education and Time Travel -Programme and Future Planning 4-7 February 2010

Visit to Port Shepstone, 4-7 February 2010.
Objective: Planning, meetings and a workshop

4 FebruaryMeeting with the Time Travel Committee, PS Twinning Association, 7 persons.    

Planning

5 FebruaryWorkshop 09.00-15.00 at Marburg Primary School on “The development of the Port Shepstone region 1860-1910” “The Time Travel method”. Lectures by Lwazi Lushaba, University of Fort Hare, Howard Msomi, Khwezi Le-Africa, Ebbe Westergren, Kalmar läns museum, Gulshera Khan and Judy Mkhize, PS Twinning Association, Stanley Perlimal, 1860 Heritage Committee. 25 persons from Marburg Primary School, Mlazi Primary School, Port Shepstone Primary School, Merlewood Secondary School, Nobamba High School, Gamalakhe Commercial School, Port Shepstone Museum, KZN Museum Service, 1860 Indentured Indian Heritage Committee, Ugu Education Department Office, Hibiscus Coast Municipality, Siphakamele, Khwezi Le-Africa, University of Fort Hare, Kalmar läns museum, Time Travel Committee, PS Twinning Association

6 FebruaryMeeting at Umzumbe Municipality with Umzumbe Art and Culture Forum. Discussions about cooperation of mutual benefit. 30 persons from the Umzumbe Art and Culture Forum, Umzumbe Municipality, PS Twinning Association and Kalmar läns museum

Planning with Gulshera Khan, PS Twinning Association

Meeting with Lwazi Lushaba, University of Fort Har

Draft Program for March

(Arrival of Helen Eklund, Meg Johnson and Ebbe Westergren, Kalmar läns museum)

- 18 March .Preparations for workshops and the Time Travel

- 19 March:  Workshop focusing on Primary School Education, Heritage and the Time Travel method. Time Travel at Port Shepstone Harbour 1905, 14-18 at Marburg Primary School

-20-22 March -Meetings and preparations. Plan the national conference in October

Meet the 1860 Heritage Committee

-23 March Workshop  on the Struggle in the Port Shepstone region, the Apartheid System and Resistance -1950-1994. Community research, Education and The Time Travel method. Target groups: Secondary School Teachers, FET Subject Advisors, District Education Office, TT Committe, PS Twinning, war veterans, PS museum, KZN Museum Service, municipality, district, Kalmar läns museum... Way forward.

-24 March Workshop in Umzumbe Municiaplity on Local Development and Heritage. Program: Local development using the heritage and local resources, community tourism, education in the local heritage, by Howard Msomi. The TT method, study groups, heritage sites, oral history, time travels with local people, tourists and learners by KLM and PS Twinning/Time Travel Committee. Visit heritage sites. Discusson on cooperation, using heritage sites and local artists in education and local development. Way forward.

-25 and 26 March. Meetings with participating schools, municipality, district.Meeting with the MEC of Education.Visit Ulundi, museums and Zulu cultural sites with KZN Museum Service.Time Travel workshop in Newcastle?

 Extract from Ebbe's and Helen's report.

gk

Thank You- Tove Nilsson

It had taken  longer to carefully spend  the R70.000 raised in your community, Sweden.We have ensured that the rand was stretched to the maximum taking into consideration  the  needs in rural South Africa. A library in rural Umgai to service 5 schools , a first for this community, housed at the Child Welfare offices.

Educational toys for 35 creches ( pre - schools ) in rural Ezinqoleni

A jungle gym at Mgawulane Primary School, in rural Ezinqoleni.

Contribution towards the building of the first chld welfare office in Umzumbe. A much needed venue , as counselling and therapeutic services to orphan and vulnerable children and their families is presently from a cramped room.

An Early Start - January 2010

16 years of Twinning, growing slowly but steadily is a big achievement. 138 delegates to Sweden over these years in various fields, positions, portfolios surely must have made a huge positive impact in our community. Soderhamn, Ugu Memorandum of Understanding, Hibiscus Coast and Oskarshamn relationship, our relationship with OSAK and ABF, including Kalmar Lans Museum ( Ebbe and Team), Global School Journey, Global Supplement, eSayidi FET media study building replica of a school in Kalmer. This  augurs well for our Association.