Quite a White Ou SAPA Speech Videos

On Africa Day, QAWO was invited to speak to 500 school principal's at the South African Principal's Association (SAPA)'s Annual conference.  The talk provided an opportunity for Makhosi to share just a piece of the vision and mission for helping to transform global society into a place where we can rebalance the benefits of technology and modernity with the ancient wisdom still contained in indigenous cultures that is ALL of our heritage, but largely ignored or trivialised by western society.

In part 1, the focus is on introducing language as a way to bring people together to address the core issues in society today - separation and mistrust between people, especially across cultures!



In part 2, the focus is on the notion that we need balanced transformation in society, that western cultures have as much to learn from indigenous cultures as we expect them to learn from us!



In part 3 & 4, the focus is on the notion of a calling to service in society, and how ideally education should help connect children with their calling.  Also talking about edutainment as a strategy to compete with media and and other distractions for the attention of scholars and adults.



In part 5, the focus is on cultural immersions in townships and villages as a global strategy for creating balanced cultural respect, multilingualism, distribution of wealth, de-urbanisation and stimulating micro-enterprises in areas of poverty.



In part 6, the focus is on global context and relevance of multilingualism and multicultural respect, as well as how a new world requires a new way of educating!



Thanks for having me, SAPA!!!!

See the script and slides here:  http://ubuntu-bridge.blogspot.com/2013/06/quite-white-ou-sapa-speech-script-and.html

Westerford High School Xhosa and Mr. Cuan Dugmore

In the last few months, I have had the pleasure of being invited to a number of schools to either perform or show my kwaito spoof music video "Ndingumlungu"(viewable at bottom), and then to share my journey with the scholars, and hopefully inspire them to learn Xhosa.

It was a great privilege and I really enjoyed my time with the learners.  Unfortunately due to the new CAPS policy introduced by the Department of Education in the Western Cape, there is now a real threat to Xhosa being taught in many prep schools and even secondary schools.  For a full article on this dilemma, please see here:  http://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/there-s-no-time-to-teach-xhosa-1.1220755

Quite a White Ou and UBuntu Bridge hope to play a role in helping to keep Xhosa consciousness alight, respected and given the due importance that it deserves. 

One of the most delightful schools to go speak at is also one of the schools holding the Xhosa torch most brightly alight.  That school is Westerford High in Cape Town and thanks to their fantastic Xhosa teacher Mr. Cuan Dugmore (pictured above)  and the enlightened enthusiasm of many of their students, they have a wonderful Xhosa programme at their school, most of whom are members of the school's Xhosa society, to whom I had the privilege of speaking.

Nina Bloch, one of the learners who also spent a few days interning at UBuntu Bridge, sent me a great letter written by one of her fellow students and this photo (above) of some of the learners with Mr. Dugmore in the Transkei, where they do annual immersion programmes, to connect with the authentic culture and to improve their spoken Xhosa.  Nice one Guys!

Click here to read the letter....  http://ubuntu-bridge.blogspot.com/2012/12/white-youth-bringing-hope-through-xhosa.html

UBuntu Bridge also offers village immersions sporadically.... http://www.learnxhosa.co.za/tours.html

Email us for next dates, or create your own trip.  Any backpacker in the Eastern Cape or 'Transkei' will usually have a village homestay programme.  Take your Xhosa books and go for it!! 

Left:  The Kwaito video that got some things started!

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

Dijo - African Restaurant

This place rocks - Dijo meaning food in Sesotho.
On Palmer Rd in Muizenberg. Delicious African food, real good value.
Plenty of variety.
Wonderful people. Practice your Xhosa.

021 7884912 for info and bookings.

ps. we will be having food lesson outings here

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

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

Xenophobia Crisis

My beautiful people. The horror of what is happening may finally bring us all together. Perhaps too we may collectively start taking responsibility for the current situation which allows our people to become so desperate that they resort to this madness. That is no excuse, but we must acknowledge it. We all need to give more, we need to do more, actively, not just pray, and pay tax grudgingly. and not just because we are afraid we may be next. people are desperate and this is evidence.

May the rich, black and white, stop fiddling like romans. based on the good i see in these times, i am hopeful.

one example may be www.thirdthursday.co.za of how poeple can give back in the long run, if it aint too late.

For immediate action, in Cape Town:
The TAC HQ in 122 Longmarket Street, Westminster house is a centre for food, clothing, blankets, toiletry donations in CT. call hennie on 021 422 1490.

peace, gratitude and blessings.
:)c