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

Enke was Great !

Hay guys ! So the week just gone myself and the guys were in Joburg at the Enke youth leadership forum. Wow what a wicked time it was. I met so many nice people. Yes Tammy was my brother from another mother and Floetry was my sister from another mister. So the first day we went to YFC which was an team building park. This was lots of fun and everybody got involved throughout the day. Over the next few days Enke involved us going to Monash University. We had a number of guest speakers that were very cool. We also had 3 modules which we covered throughout the duration of the week.
I personally loved Enke because I was able to meet people who came from different backgrounds and really get to know them.
Enke is making its MARK ON THE YOUTH OF TODAY !!

Over and out !
Victoria

Ely at ENKE

Yebo,

I am at ENKE now (the African youth leadership forum) and typing away while they are telling us to promulgate their message on twitter. The last days have been great, while African traditions and cultures still slightly confuse me (with its constant references to Lucifer, purpose and rape) the people have been unbelievable. Everywhere we go people sing and dance, accepting and hugging us and saying that "this is the real africa".

Salani Kahle

Ely

(totally Kat's fault this hasn't come online until now...)

Sawbona, siyaphila? siyangu kakhulu!

Sawbona,

What have been doing? Lots of stuff. I, personally, escaped death as the gnarled trunk of an elephantine beast tried to suck me out a car. There was VukAfrica, which gave us a window into the traditional life of a Zulu. We had dancing and singing at an orphanage, where the children welcomed us openly, hugging the car and holding us as they yelled 'tomorrow' (isiZulu), hoping for us to come back.

Sicela uhamba, kodwa ngifuna ukhuluma kahle, sala kahle.

Ely

The chicken was called Kat !!

Hay guys , Wow in to day 5 now ! Nearly a week has gone by now. So yesterday, Myself and the guys went on a Vuk Africa tour ! We started the tour at the Light Providers which is a community centre. We went to a Butchery for lunch and had braii ( a bbq for you English folk). We bought meat and then cooked it on a traditional fire bbq and ate it with bread ! Then we went back to Light Providers and experienced some great singing by the choir. Myself, Ely and Dan all joined in and had a song and dance. Loved Ely's attempt at dancing !! Then we went to get the chicken that we were going to kill and eat that night at our host family's house. Yes Ely named it Kat ... which probably wasn't a good idea as we then had to try and break the emotional bond and kill her !! The night was amazing. It was filled with dancing and singing. I loved the fact that you had all of your family living right next door to you. Yep the loo was also an adventure as it didn't have a light and it was pitch black outside !

The thing that I was upset about was that people in the Valley are very poor and some people do not get to eat. We were approched by people asking for food. This is the case for many people on a daily basis and it is really doesn't seem fair. I hope that when I return I can raise awareness within my school and through the schools4schools programme to try and help in the future.

The team in South Africa

Meet the team: Ely Sandler, Daniel Thacker and Victoria Madden in the Valley of 1000 Hills, South Africa


Working with Alex on the documentary filming...



A traditional Zulu experience? pheZulusafaripark.co.za

Ely's getting quite good at his Zulu...

Day 3 !!

Today I was awoken by two loud alarm clocks. Kat and myself defiantly needed them as it was a late night of scrabble last night back at our accommodation. Personally I think Ely was slightly making his own rules up ( haha ) ! So today we started out at around 7.30am. We grabbed our breakfast and packed lunch, thanked the ladies and went on our way. We went to a orphanage to help paint a food building. This was very fun as people obtained more paint on themselves than the building itself !!

1st

First Day: Lots of traveling.
Second Day: Still some more traveling

Well, we're here now, and although its already dark the thing that really strikes you is the contrast between the beautiful scenery and the lack of infrastructure.

We have already met the first group of South African students, in the complex where we are staying. It's surprising how readily they accept us and talk to us, as complete outsiders (although still laughing at our very British attempt at Zulu), treating us like friends, even though they were amazed by the opportunity we have had to come 'all the way from England!' (imagine that said in an incredibly excited and African voice.)

Tomorrow we do more things, I'm not entirely sure what, but I trust they'll be fantastic (I think we're in a school, which would be great.)

So, Bye.
Ely

Planes and muffins

Hello from Durban (or as near as we could get...),

We're sitting in a cafe in Hillcrest, eating muffins and drinking coke. The muffins are enormous, and came with cheese and jam, but it's okay because i had a chocolate chip one! Everyone's pretty shattered really, we've been on two planes, and then a couple of cars. But we're here safe and sound, and settled into the accomodation. The views of the valley of a thousand hills are stunning, and we met some lovely people staying here too.

We're going into Durban tomorrow morning, and doing various things there. We're meeting a few of Kat's friends and going round with them. Alex has got some great shots and we've taken a lot of photos already.

The flights themselves were okay. The one from Heathrow was very long, although we did wake up rather often!

I'm trying to go in open-minded and not let any previous thoughts or views from others affect my view of it. Yet, what people say is true, even just driving around the contast between rich and poor is marked and evident.

All the best,

Daniel

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