UBuntu Bridge Mandela Day Community Event 2012 Video

 On 18 July, 2012, Madiba's 94th birthday, UBuntu Bridge organised a community day with a difference in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, a.k.a. Mandela Park.

With a focus on Xhosa language learning for the volunteers, we then spent time with the kids from Ikhaya Lethemba creche planting trees, doing yoga, reading practice and finally singing Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela in his home language, isiXhosa.

Nelson Mandela in one of his first public appearances in office, on May 10 1994, strongly urged all the people of South Africa to learn each other's languages:

"This is the best way to contribute to nation building and reconciliation,"
Mandela said. "Those among us who do not know Afrikaans must now learn to study this language. Those among us who do not know Zulu, Xhosa and Sotho must now learn to study these languages."

UBuntu Bridge hopes to inspire people to heed Madiba's call, and to do it in a fun and convenient way that brings prosperity to many communities on all levels of society.

The day was made possible with help from:

Nathan and Terror of Sibanye Restaurant - http://www.sibanyerestaurant.co.za/
Stu and Jen from YoYoga - http://www.yoyoga.co.za/
Robyn at Greenpop - http://www.greenpop.org/
Chris and Leticia at Paper Jet Print - http://paperjetprint.co.za/
Niki, Sisa and the kids at Ikhaya Lethemba - http://www.ikhayalethemba.com/
Andrew from Trashback - http://trashback.org/
Video by Gill at www.make-content.com/

 

Volunteer Opportunities

Molweni
Remember, to learn a language you need to hear it and speak it as often as possible. The eastern cape is far away and time is rushed in daily city life, so make some time to go interact with a community, bring some of your love and enthusiasm and wisdom/knowledge to communities in need. Its a great way to contribute to nation building and improve your Xhosa.

NEED VOLUNTEERS:

And if you know of any safe and appropriate opportunities for people to provide service whilst improving their Xhosa, let me know.
Obviously, the condition is that it will be taking place in a Xhosa community or involving lots of xhosa speakers.

Otherwise please include:

Name of organisation:
Description:
Need volunteers who can:
Venue/Directions:
Email:
Phone:
Website:

Visit Sosebenza this Sunday

Ben Jochanan Getz sent a message to the members of Sosebenza Centre for Peace (MASI).
(facebook Group)

--------------------
Subject: Sunday Vibes - Visit Sosebenza this Sunday

Beautiful Sosebenza Volunteers...
Christoph and Lucy will be heading a visit to MASI this Sunday 5th Sept!
Give them a shout and bring our kids loads of joy & lunch:):):)
Get them on 082 491 9124 (Christoph) Or 079 438 3555 (Lucy)

Ill be spending the whole day there tomorrow with a team of guys - getting the garden onto new levels of goodness! Anyone is welcome to join if you can. call me on 072 475 2977.
Wont see you Sunday, but ill catch you next time.... Enjoy!

Love
Ben
--------

Xhosa dinner outing

Join my level 2 students.
email for the phrase lists related to eating out.

Date: Wednesday 29th July
Time: 19h15 - 20h45
Venue: Dijo restaurant, Palmer Rd. Muizenberg. enter muizenberg, at main robots with Shoprite on your left, turn left and go under the dangerous railway bridge. first left into killarney, slight left and straight into palmer. Dijo is about the 2nd place on the right after the pub (on the corner).

Theme: Eating Out. The idea is to just meet and eat, but order in Xhosa and have a chance to ask me questions.
Sobonana.

Earthchild Volunteer Opportunity THIS week!!!

Earthchild Project is running an exciting holiday program for 100 children at each of our schools in Khayelitsha and Lavender Hill.

HOW CAN YOU BE INVOLVED?

• Donation of money for healthy snacks and lunch
• Run arts & crafts, drama, dance, music, yoga or any other fun and uplifting activities with the kids
• Join in and assist activities mentioned above, as well as gardening, worm farming and story telling workshops
• Help with preparation of food

Dates: 29th June - 3rd July (first week school holidays)
Time: 09:00am – 1:00pm
Venue: Sakumlandela, Site B, Khayelitsha & Zerilda Park Primary, Lavender Hill
For more information contact: Lisa on 021 462 2218 or 083 644 4980

Weekend Xhosa practice

Hi Guys
a beautiful opportunity for you to practice your Xhosa this weekend, experience ubuntu, give some of your energy back to the poorer communities (they love having you there) and having heartfelt fun.....

Some of the things we'll do on Sunday in Khayelitsha in no particular order..

Work in the garden and prepare it for planting (almost ready, as they've been working on it since the last community day.)

Paint a basic mural

Actiivities with kids: happy mobiles (arts and crafts), african drumming, drama (both acting as well as confidence and team-building stuff), tile painting, face-painting

watch the kids do their dance and drama performances

eat and drink

chill

play soccer against firefighters fc (could definitely use you as a midfielder)

wow that's sounds like a lot, but will be well-organised and chilled. there's also space for other stuff if you keen to lead something.

we'll meet at uct at 9 and be back by 5 at the very latest

If interested,
contact
mich
082 4503950
micheljoffe@gmail.com

Sibanye restaurant excursion

Molweni Nonke (Greetings all)

We are planning a group lunch mission this Saturday 12.00pm to go eat and practice our Xhosa at the Sibanye Restaurant in Imizamo Yethu Informal Settlement, Hout Bay. Bookings must be before Friday eve latest.

We need to book so email me and we can meet at Constantia Nek on Saturday and make our way down together. email info@learnxhosa.co.za

Alternatively, if going individually, let Nathan know numbers by Friday eve latest, so email Nathan direct on: sibanye.restaurant@gmail.com or 082 5687978 for more info and let him know how many people you will be coming with. The restaurant is usually open Mondays to Saturday, at certain hours.

Its going to be a wonderful and unique experience and an opportunity to support entrepreneurship and business in the townships - conscious consumerism is what its all about these days.

The set menu:
1) Starter of mince Mcgwinye and a chackalaka sause,
2) Main: their choice of chicken or beef with a taste of pap and mngqucho(sp?)
3) Desert: 2 home baked koeksisters with a choice of tea or coffee.

The cost of the meal is R60 exlc. soft drinks.

Please put your name on the list ASAP if you are interested. Send your name, number of people and a contact cell phone number to info@learnxhosa.co.za

:)c

Friday evening 22 August - Africa Jam in Athlone 19:00

Molweni nonke,

You are all invited to what we believe will be a wonderful cultural experience happening at the Joseph Stone Auditorium, Klipfontein Rd, Athlone, this Friday evening at 19:00.

Africa Jam, a group of youths from Khayelitsha , who perform in dance, song and drums ,mostly from the Eastern Cape and mostly in Xhosa, will be performing this Friday evening. We have become friends with some of the guys on the team and I believe it will be a great evening.

Tickets are R30 per ticket and will be sold at the door.
Sharp
Jacques

Sosebenza - Xhosa fun in the sun

Lucie McGregor sent a message to the members of Sosebenza Centre for Peace (MASI). maybe join this facebook group then i dont have to keep updating this ;)

--------------------
Subject: Come to Masi this saturday the 23rd of august!

Dear all,
Thanks to everyone who participated in the tree/plant-planting, recycling, gardenning and beaching last saturday!
Please come this saturday for another day of fun! With a focus on finishing the brick laying of the toilets; more gardening; help with lunch-making and maybe another visit to Fishoek beach (weather permitting!)
There will be a pick up from Jameson steps (UCT) at 10.
Call Ben for any more info on 0724752977.

Hope to see you there!
Lucie

Free Township tour this Sunday

I have always said that to own your Xhosa, you really need to use it, and there is nothing like experiencing a language in its cultural context. Rural village trips to the eastern Cape are great and a must, but the local townships also offer lovely opportunities to experience the culture, practice your Xhosa, and have fun doing it.

Thanks to the enthusiasm of one of my current students, Mike Gathercole from 2waytravel, we are offering an opportunity for all of you dying to use your Xhosa a little bit more. This Sunday, we will visit his church in Gugulethu, and then head off to Mzoli's for lunch. Bound to be fun.

Itinerary:

- Meet Mike at 9.30 at Montebello, Newlands. Please request map if you don't know it.
- Car pool and drive together. You are also welcome to go direct.
- Please contact mike@2waytravel.com or 082 940 7737 for directions.
- Church is 10h30 - 12h00, then Mzoli's for lunch, a popular spot.
- Bring R50 for lunch and maybe R15-R20 petrol contribution for whoever you get a lift with.
- Home by 15h00.
- All are welcome. Please RSVP and keep your commitment.

Email: info@learnxhosa.co.za

Saturday Xhosa practice

Greetings
This is one of the great opportunities to connect with a loving, and caring community of people who know how to have fun and get good things done. The kids are Xhosa, and i cannot emphasise how helpful it is for your Xhosa to spend a few hours with kids, practicing what you know and asking questions.

Ben Jochanan Getz sent a message to the members of Sosebenza Centre for Peace (MASI), on Facebook:
MASI is ON for tomorrow!!!! (It is usually every second saturday, so confirm via the cell numbers provided).
We have tons to do and need your HELP!
Come along for building, cleaning, lunching, recycling:)

Where: MASIphumelele near Sun Valley, Capri, Kommetjie) is on tomorrow - WE WANT YOU!

Either make your own way there OR get a lift with Christoph from UCT at 10am (meet him in parking lot between smuts and fuller - his number is 082 491 9124)

Big Love
BEN:)
072 475 2977

Weekend Xhosa Immersion Practice

Hola.

This post will be updated, but its presence signifies the intention to create weekly opportunities for you, the learner, to experience appropriate opportunities to practice your Xhosa with mother-tongue speakers.

The experiences will be:
- free
- close to Cape Town
- with Xhosa people who have time to listen to you and help you with your Xhosa by being patient and understanding
- mutually beneficial in that the people will really appreciate your presence
- cultivating ubuntu

That would mean visits to orphanages, creches, hospices, or volunteer based projects, where you can brighten someones life or contribute to a poor community, in return dramatically improving your Xhosa, consolidating what you learn in the lessons, and making you feel like you belong to a broader community.

Any of you, my students, who work in NGOs who are aware of an appropriate opportunity for interaction, please leave comments on this post, or email me details.

Blessings to us all.