Mangquzuka High School

The team take some time out at the beach

The Mangquzuka High School Peer Educators
Alex finds some camera assistants

Partner Schools

Students at Mangquzuka High Schools - Magdalen College School's Partner School
At Sister Joan's High School - St Gregory the Great's Partner School

Daniel meeting his peers at Sister Joan's.


The Team introduce themselves to their partner school.

Salakahle

Hello world,
Off back to the UK tomorrow, but what a place South Africa is. The warmth of people is incredible, and hearing their stories has really touched me. South Africa itself seems to be a mix of genuine ‘Africa’ i.e., how we in the UK imagine it, and a more westernised society. It does however, have problems. We have been incredibly lucky to have encountered no crime, I put that down to the excellent organisation, but we know crime exists, because everyone has a story to tell about their encounters. Moreover, HIV/AIDS is everywhere, and is an enormous challenge, due not only to its complexity, but the stigma surrounding it. Other issues include drug and alcohol abuse and teenage pregnancy. Please though, don’t get a negative image, because the place is wonderful. Everyone’s welcoming, and the scenery, especially around ‘The Valley’ is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

The partner schools were a fascinating insight into life for South Africans our age, and being able to see the differences between the education systems. The tour has made me a better person (I’m sure you all can’t wait!) and inspired me to help this country help itself.

Roll on the 2010 World Cup. Here’s hoping for a South Africa-Scotland final!
Very unlikely!
All the best,
Daniel

Salakahle

Hello world,
Off back to the UK tomorrow, but what a place South Africa is. The warmth of people is incredible, and hearing their stories has really touched me. South Africa itself seems to be a mix of genuine ‘Africa’ i.e., how we in the UK imagine it, and a more westernised society. It does however, have problems. We have been incredibly lucky to have encountered no crime, I put that down to the excellent organisation, but we know crime exists, because everyone has a story to tell about their encounters. Moreover, HIV/AIDS is everywhere, and is an enormous challenge, due not only to its complexity, but the stigma surrounding it. Other issues include drug and alcohol abuse and teenage pregnancy. Please though, don’t get a negative image, because the place is wonderful. Everyone’s welcoming, and the scenery, especially around ‘The Valley’ is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

The partner schools were a fascinating insight into life for South Africans our age, and being able to see the differences between the education systems. The tour has made me a better person (I’m sure you all can’t wait!) and inspired me to help this country help itself.

Roll on the 2010 World Cup. Here’s hoping for a South Africa-Scotland final!
Very unlikely!
All the best,
Daniel

Byee

We’re going home tomorrow, sad face on mxit. The trip has been great: from the first week in Durban, to ENKE (which is making its mark on the youth of today btw), to this final stretch. Ngifunda isiZulu, manje ngikwazi ukuthi ngicele ukhuluma kancane. You don’t think that seeing the people behind the numbers and behind the horror of poverty, AIDS and disease will actually change you, but being here is something as harrowingly eye-opening as it is wonderful.
Now it’s up to Alex.
Viva ANC
Ely

Enke and MB

Hello world,

During the past week we’ve been at Enke, the African Youth Leadership Forum, in Johannesburg. Unfortunately, we were without Internet access there, hence the wait for our high-class blogs! Enke itself was amazing, we spent so much time with passionate young leaders, hearing their ideas and having them listen to ours. Personally, I found it great because I could meet with so many diverse people, and was able to interact with them. We didn’t spend that time in Joburg itself, other than visiting the Apartheid museum, which was really interesting. On Friday night, the boys’ dormitory had a brilliant night, including many hilarious moments! The bus from Johannesburg to Durban took ages, about 8 hours, but the scenery was absolutely stunning. Souith Africa is really looking forward to the 2010 World Cup, and it was a hot topic of conversation. I’ll never forget my week at Enke, spent with some great people.

We’re back outside Durban now, and we’re moving to Port Shepston tomorrow. We meet the schools in the schools4schools programme on Tuesday and Wednesday, and head back on Thursday. It’s been a fascinating experience, and South Africa’s an amazing place. See you all soon!

All the best,

Daniel.

ENKE: The African Youth Leadership Forum

Enke is making its' mark on the youth of today. Propaganda over, it was a great week, and more than anything it was eye-opening. While the week consisted of modules to do with leadership, great speakers and involving discussion on the Millennium Development Goals, the real strength of the forum was at a platform for positive discussion. ENKE functioned as a facilitator whereby the youth (leaders/exemplory peers/cool people/Zigi) could get together and really talk and influence the future.

Being out here (TIA) personalises the statistics, it isn't countless faceless orphans, lives torn apart by HIV, poverty and drugs, it is millions of real people, with real stories and real visions. At ENKE we were divided into small groups (known in Zulu as 'clusters'). Within the framework of ENKE we made community action projects (knows in Zulu as 'Caps'). Bonisewa (a girl in my cluster) aimed to stop the abuse and rape of children in her school. Zanele (another girl) wanted to set up a counceling in her school for girls like herself who had been raped. Doctor (a boy in the cluster) wanted to make an orphanage in his community, as he had been housed in one when he was younger, and Norika (another girl) wanted to combat the surpassing unemployement, pverty and crime rife in her neighboroughood.
We can do more, and we will do more.
It was amazing.

Ely