" Put A Smile on Children's Face" - 16th December 2013

17th Annual General Meeting

 

   21^st November 2013
       Secretarial Report

A.   Introduction:

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 26th September 2012 .

1.    Constitution and Policies:

The time period for this report as per our constitution is 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.Election is held once in two years. During the course of the year, Johan van Der Walt, one of the founder members was co-opted on the Board. Various policies were developed for clear guidelines in its daily operation and future sustainability, viz.

  

-       Equity Policy

-       Vehicle Policy

 

-       Travel Policy

-       Procurement Policy

-       Petty Cash policy

-       Volunteer Policy

 

2.    Administration

An entire administration and accountability system in line with the funding was developed including a filing system that is in sync with all the line items of the project.

3.     Fundraising

The voluntary work of the Association had increased tremendously since the introduction of the Time Travel project in 2007.  The Associations partnership with OSAK and their counterpart in Sweden had applied for funding via the Olof Palme International Centre to support this project. This funding terminated in the year 2012. These finances were directly administered by Sweden. During the period 2007 – 2012 the work with regard to this project was done on a voluntary basis by members of our community. 

 

We are fortunate that eventually a 2011 funding application to National Lottery was a success.  The Association entered into a contractual agreement with National Lottery Trust Fund to honour the funding in terms of achievable objectives. The work commenced in February 2013. This is a huge milestone in the history of the Association.  Other project work is still on a volunteer basis.

Further, individuals from Sweden have supported our “Put a Smile on Children Faces” project.

 

4.    Office Accommodation

The Lotto funding made it possible to rent office and storage space from Ziphakamise. This is the first time in the history of the Association to have secured office accommodation.

 

5.    Signage and Publicity

A new letterhead has been developed in line with the Lotto Contract. Lotto Signage is displayed at every site when a Time Travel activity is being held. 

6.    Human Resources

The appropriate positions were advertised in January 2013, and hence the appointment and commencement of the project in February 2013.

7.     Membership and  Partners

According to our membership list we have 349 individual members and 36 corporate members which comprises mainly of organizations and institutions. We actively network with various institutions and international organizations. Membership fees have increased from R20 to R50 for individuals and from R50 to R100 for corporate members.

International Organizations

-       OSAK

-       ABF

-       Social Democratic Party of Oskarsham Sweden

-       Kalmar Lans Museum ( Sweden)

-       Bridging Ages International

-       Global School Journey , A SIDA Project

-       Global Profile

 
National and local organizations

-       UGU District Municipality

-       Hibiscus Coast, Eshowe and Umzumbe Municipalities

-       Bridging Ages South Africa ( G Khan- Vice Chairperson )

-       Bridging Ages, Western Cape

-       Provincial and Local museum services

-       Department of Education

-       eSayidi FET College

-       South Coast Tourism

-       Various Schools and NGOs

 

8.    Meetings

There were 6 Board meetings held during this period. Executive committee meetings were held to address matters that required urgent attention in between board meetings. In addition, project sub-committee meetings were also held to plan projects for the year.

 

9.    Spinoffs

We are pleased that both UGU / Soderhamn and Hibiscus Coast / Oskarshamn Municipalities partnerships are spinoffs of the Association and are independent. The Association supports these projects upon request.

 

B.    Projects:  

1. Time Travel and Historical Environment Education:

We are extremely humbled and grateful to Lotto for supporting and injecting much needed funds to jumpstart the Time Travel and Historic Environmental Education project on a wider scale. The various communities and members have worked tirelessly over the years on a voluntary basis due to the belief that this methodology would address many issues that was outlined in the project proposal in terms of contributing and enhancing education, job creation, preserving our culture, heritage and recording the trials and tribulations of the majority whose untold stories are unrecorded. The project embraces a multi- disciplinary approach, across all tiers of government, involvement of various stakeholders and the local communities.

The following was achieved with guidance, support and direction by Kalmar Lans museum viz. Ebbe Westergren and Helen Eklund.

     During the course of the year, the focus was researching and recording Gamalakhe Tin Town history, the Betania Mission, supporting the Isivivana Time Travel and Port Shepstone Railway Time Travel (Marburg Primary school). Little to no information could be found in the archives or local newspapers regarding specific local sites and stories. Oral history recording is the key in addressing the historical gaps. 

 

The various sub committees, schools and individuals have   contributed information on these local sites and stories. This information was forwarded to Kalmar Lans Museum together with other research. The scenario was developed in Sweden.

 

Recorded local sites are:

-       Port Shepstone South Wharf 1905

-       Gamalakhe Tin Town Force Removal 1968

-       Court Martial Mthwalume 1906

-       Betania Mission 1912

-       Isivivane 1828

-       Port Shepstone Railway Station, 1973

The research of the above time travel projects is continuously updated with additional information.

On the 7^th October, a Public Time Travel, Gamalakhe Tin Town Force Removal, 1968 had taken place with approximately 100 persons. The participants were from Marburg Secondary, Nobamba High School, Global Profile learners from Sweden, members of the Association and the Board. A representative from Olof Palme International Centre, Mikael Leyi, had also attended to assess the impact of their funding for the past years. 

 

The set objectives in learning about this heritage site are part of the high school curriculum on the Land Act of 1913.

 In March 2012 the Betania Mission 1912 was piloted. Two time travels had taken place, one with high schools and the other with primary schools.

   Both the above time travels appeared in the Bridging Ages International newsletter.

 

Betania Mission Time Travel to 1912

 

 

 Launch of Bridging Ages KZN. This was a successful event held at eSayidi FET College on 13^th October 2012 with approximately 300 guests. The conference’s catering was sponsored by Provincial Museum Services for which the Association is very grateful.

 Isivivane Time Travel- 1828

 On the 4^th October 2012, the Travel, Isivivane King uShaka 1828 was piloted in Mtwalume, Umzumbe.

This was an excellent collaboration with - Umzumbe Time Travel sub- committee, Umzumbe Municipality, and Kalmar Läns Museum with support from KZN Museum Service. 150 people participated, from the local community, including 25 learners.

 On the 5 October 2012, A Public Time Travel had taken place with approximately 500 participants. This was a huge success.

 An ox was slaughtered to commemorate this day.

 Officials and politicians from the Umzumbe municipality were active participants. The Umzumbe municipality has been the first municipality in KZN to give the TT and HEE credit and support.

 

   6 October.

 Ebbe and Gulshera presented the Time Travel concept for 30 minutes at Radio Sunny South as part of the awareness of this methodology.

 Expansion of Time Travel to other parts of KZN

 Time Travel to 1910 at the Old Prison in Pietermaritzburg was piloted with 80 persons.

 9 October 2012

This was part of the training course. Additional participants were from Pietermaritzburg institutions, Project Gateway with 15 grade 7 learners and Gateway Christian School

9 - 10 October: Training

 Two-day training course about the Time Travel concept at the Old Prison in Pietermaritzburg was the third phase of the training. The 42 person’s participants were from:

Eshowe, Pietermaritzburg, Umzumbe, Port Shepstone, Gamalakhe, Nyandezulu,  KZN Museum Service,  Port Shepstone Museum, Project Gateway, Msunduzi/ Voortrekker museum, Zululand Historical Museum, Natal Museum, Comrades Museum, Mphophomeni Museum, Department of Education/ Curriculum Advisors. Organizers: KZN Museum Service and Kalmar Läns Museum/ Bridging Ages and members of the Association. Certificates were handed to those participants that had completed the course.

 Capacity Building:

A three day training, from 6^th – 8^th March was facilitated by an expert from Kalmar Lans Museum, Sweden viz. Helen Eklund, (Pedagog / museum educator in Historic Environment Education) with actively engaged members.

The next two days were the actual implementation of two Time Travels with Educators and Learners from the selected respected schools.

DAY 1:  6^th March 2013:  Training Content:  Practical implementation of a TT

-       The planning and preparation of the lesson with the School Educator.

-       School indemnity, 

-       Selection of the grade and key questions appropriate to the grade curriculum.

-       Registers on the day for accountability.

-       Identification of the props per number of persons attending. Props purchased in advance and one person is placed in charge of all props taken out, and to ensure that the same amount is returned to the Association after a TT.  Vehicle to be packed a day in advance.

-       Pre planning and preparation of the site.

-       Preparation of catering before and after the Time Travel.

-       Arrangement and permission from respective authorities.

-       Time management - preparing the Heritage Site before the arrival of the learners/ participants. Each activity to be well coordinated and co facilitators to be briefed on their role in discussing the key questions during the activity.

-       Time Plan developed for each TT, depending on transport, distance etc.

-       Rules for a TT – i.e. if the TT in question is taking place in the year 1912, specific measures are taken to ensure that all items authentic during that period in question remain authentic for e.g. Plastics or cell phones. This is not allowed during the TT activity, as once in the time capsule, the present is unknown, thus it is important to take into account the parking and security, as well as a trained person for First Aid assistance.

-       Dressing up for the TT.

-       Briefing before the TT.

-       Role cards with names of the time and role of the period being emulated, as close to the factual information obtained from both the research by an “expert” as well as oral history recording.

-       The TT initiation.

-       The actual activities.

-       Discussion of the Key questions.

-       Closure ceremony.

-       Evaluation by the facilitators and co- facilitators.

-       Learners to undertake evaluation in class to discuss the subject matter.

 

Day 2:  7^th March 2013:  Training Content:  Practical implementation of a TT

 

The actual Time Travel and Historic Environment Education had taken place at one of our recorded site, viz. Gamalakhe Tin Town, e.g. Force removal, Group Areas Act, in 1968.  The purpose of the next two Time Travels is twofold:

 

-          Training of facilitator, assistant facilitator and co facilitators.

-          Educational for learners from Buhlebezwe Primary school in Gamalakhe, including Educators. 

A total of 33 persons participated.

Below is one example and summary of the facts

Gamalakhe Tin Town, 1968

 

Facts

“South Africa moved more and more into apartheid and race discrimination after the National Party came into power 1948. The Group Areas Act from 1950 assigned the racial groups to different residential and business areas. Blacks, coloured and Indians were excluded from living in the most developed areas. They were forcibly removed if they lived in the "wrong" area and had to settle in a township, often far away from work and services. Non-whites also had to carry passbooks to enter the 'white' parts of the country.

 

There were both non-violent and violent protests against the segregation and lack of human rights. The Sharpeville massacre in 1960 when 69 persons were killed in a protest march made the ANC start an armed wing of the struggle, Umkhonto We Sizwe. ANC and PAC were banned in 1960 and in 1962 Nelson Mandela was taken prisoner, accused to be a terrorist. 1964 he was sent to Robben Island.

 

The Black Consciousness Movement emerged in the mid-1960s, which brought more solidarity amongst black groups and a new sense of pride.

 

The Freedom Charter from 1955 was made the core principles for ANC and calls for democracy, human rights, land reform etc. It was now and then circulated underground.”

 

Gamalakhe Tin Town - The impact of national laws to local site.

 

“In the Port Shepstone/ Margate region, a settlement for the blacks was established far away from the coast. The township was called Gamalakhe, after a former Mavandla chief and it was under Zulu government jurisdiction. Some of the families living in the Gamalakhe area were moved inland to make room for the new township.

 

People were moved from many places on the coast, from Masinenge at Margate, Komiti, Umbango, Marburg, Albersville and other places, to the new township. Often they had to move from their place at very short notice. The stuff they had was put on a truck and taken away. The first people came to Gamalakhe in mid-1968. At that time there was nothing, no electricity, water, toilets, services, schools, streets etc. The people were just dropped off at the house where they were going to stay.

 The oldest area in Gamalakhe had a lot of small tin houses and was called Tin Town.

 

One of the small houses was used as a church, for several congregations- Bantu Methodists, Church of England and Catholics. The first school was built in 1971, before that the children had to walk to a school in Albersville, almost 20 kilometres. The first clinic came in the mid-1970s.

There were no jobs in Gamalakhe. People tried to find jobs in town or at the coast, as servants, gardeners, cooks or in the quarries. There was one transport to town in the morning and one back in the evening. Black persons were not allowed in the white areas. The tin houses were supposed to be temporary houses but became permanent for most people for over 20 years. 

 This was a very sensitive period in South African history. The government was afraid of protests. No meetings were allowed. If the police found people in groups or crowds they would be arrested. The secret police, the special branch, was active everywhere. Newspapers were not allowed in the townships. Persons that were seen as suspicious were victimized and intimidated”.

 

Key Questions

·      How can we survive in Gamalakhe – no shops, no work, no transport, no electricity, no schools, no clinic, nothing? Can we improve the conditions?

·      Why are we discriminated? Can we do anything about it?

·      How can we live together in small Tin houses with people we don’t know?

·      What are the lessons learnt?

·      How is this different from today?

·      How to improve life today?

·      What are the challenges?

 
Day 3, 8th March 2013:

Practical training of a TT

Betania Mission 1912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recording of New Time Travel Site: Port Shepstone Railway, 1973

 

This project was piloted on the 23^rd March 2013. Again, it was challenging to find information in the local papers and museum archives.

 

45 persons participated on  23^rd March 2013 at the Port Shepstone Railway; this included 20 grade 7 learners from Marburg Primary school. This pilot project was successful and the key focus being transportation in the country within the background of this Heritage site that is being recorded.

 

Props and Site Development:

Props are purchased in terms of need per specific researched Time Travel. An inventory is maintained in the Asset register.  Procurement wherever possible, local communities and the unemployed are supported, viz. purchases of baskets from the elderly in Mtwalume.

 

 

 

Above are weaving of our baskets.            Same baskets procured from the older persons.

Job creation:

 

·         labour for site construction;

·         labour for maintenance of props;

·         oral research recording;

·         Orders for specific props from local communities e.g. baskets, boxes, benches.

·         Trained community liaison persons as facilitators, activity leaders and extra assistance, in Time Travels supporting the educational programme.

·         Experts

·         Admin Personnel

·         Local photographer, video recording.

·         Community co-ordination, link and  leadership, etc

 

Lobby and Advocacy: Amafa: Amafa is the provincial heritage conservation agency for KwaZulu Natal. Amafa was established as a statutory body in terms of the KZN Heritage Act of 1997, replaced by the KZN Heritage Act of 2008. Formal and informal discussion had taken place with Amafa to lobby for some of our recorded sites to be given Heritage status.

2. Global Profile Programme 29^th April to 15^th May 2012 / 5^th October – 18^th October 2012

The Association co-ordinated this project between schools in the Kalmar Region and 4 high schools, viz. Marburg Secondary, Nobamba High School, Ingwemabala and Olwandle High school.

The theme of this project is “Sustainable Development and   Migration” 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, etcThe South African Delegation consisted of 4 learners (Jenevieve and Theobold from Marburg Secondary and Pumla and Yandisa from Nobamba High School) a teacher (Silvy Ragoobar) from Marburg Secondary as well as vice principal (Judy Mkhize) from Nobamba High School. This group represented the Association in Sweden from 29^th April to 15^th May 2012.

 

The next delegation from Sweden in October 2012 comprised of 11 female learners and one educator, Bo Hellstrom. The delegation spent 3 nights in Bomela, 4 nights with Gamalakhe families and 5 nights with Bomela host families.

The impact of such an exchange just cannot be summed up in a few words. It has life-changing properties.

 

3. Global School Journey: 9 – 12 April 2012

Arising from the 2011 GSJ project, two delegates were invited to participate with other host convenors from other countries during the month of April 2012. Mzi Ndwlane and Joyce Majola were our delegates.

 

4. Put a Smile on Children’s Faces:

Global School 2011 participant, Gunvor EK of Sweden had made a significant donation to our Association towards constructing outdoor play equipment in one of the host areas she had spent as part of her educational programme.

 

In assessing this need, our Association had selected an ECD (Manzini crèche), still in its infancy stage of development, in Nyandezulu, as identified by the funder.

As an Association, our focus over the past 7 years has been contributing towards the needs of vulnerable children.

GSJ - Gamalakhe Primary school was also a recipient of a double jungle gym

 

Donation: The Association extends its heartfelt thanks to the community and Rice for Life for supporting indigent persons. An assessment is made and donations have been distributed to ECD centers and individuals.

 

     C. Acknowledgement and Thanks:

 

The Association would like to place on record its heartfelt gratitude to the broad membership, many institutions and individuals in assisting the organization to achieve its objectives. Without their help many things may not have been possible.

 

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!!

 

Dudu Malinga                                                                      Gulshera Khan

Secretary                                                                               Programme Coordinator