Delegation: Gulshera, Sizwe, Joe and Prenesen
Arrival at Arlanda Airport - 4 May 2009
We made our way down to the subway, and cold conditions greeted us. Confirmed our tickets and destination with other passengers. Getting our 7 bags onto the train was a mammoth task. Gulshera could not carry her bags as her right hand was injured..Found out on the train that we will not be going directly to Soderhamn because of railway repairs. Jumped off and made our way to a bus at Ajevela that finally got us to our destination, Soderhamn.
Here we were welcomed by Thomas and Tomas. They took us to our hotel (Soderhamn restaurant and hotel). We then freshened and hastened off to a welcome by the Mayor of Sodenhamn and other politicians and officials. A powerpoint presentation was delivered. Presented a token of appreciation was given to the major on behalf of UGU District Municipality.
We were made to feel very important and were invited to tea with the Mayor.In the evening we invited to supper at Thomas’s house, South East of Soderhamn, along the fjord bordering the Baltic Sea. We had supper amid picturesque surroundings in the company of previous Global School journey participants. On our return to the hotel, we were taken to see some important historic sites in the Soderhamn community.The time travel team settled down to prepare a report on events leading up to 4 May 2009, before going to bed that night
5 MAY 2009
We woke up and went for breakfast at 7am. We were picked up at 8:30am and taken to the CENTRE FOR FLEXIBLE LEARNING in Soderhamn. Thomas Norgren is the head of this centre.Presentation at CFLA centre for flexible learning. Giving people a second chance to improve on their education.Caters for 2 areas, upper secondary, which precedes university. And the other is adult learning in various fields.It comprises 1200 students, 2000 commissioned students (funded by companies) and 55-60 staff. Thomas is the head.Met will health care students.
Many refugees are studying at the centre. The majority are Somalians. They are given an opportunity to further their education, so that they work in the country. They go through the process of learning Swedish, which is compulsory. The Swedish lessons move from beginner to advanced, so that these refugees and immigrants can fit into the Swedish community.Saw the video conference room. They conducted lectures by video feed. Students can sit in on lectures being conducted at university, 100’s of kilometers away.
Meeting with two students at CENTRE FOR FLEXIBLE LEARNING who are presently involved in an outreach project and has chosen Port Shepstone due to our twinning relationship. They are presently busy raising funds and interested in supporting vulnerable children and women
Exchange of gifts - Appreciation for arranging our programme and cementing future co-operation.
Next School: Norrtullskolan. Students aged between 6 and 16. 2 students- Jonna Birgersson and Cassandra Baglien were the guides. They practiced their English as they guided us through this beautiful school.
The school was recently expanded and a new building was built to accommodate the school population.
Meeting with Education Leadership at Soderhamn.Met with the Head of Education for Child and Education. We were invited to a board meeting. We discussed education from both countries. Interesting facts were shared and we could not keep to time because the was so much to say. Gulshera discussed the SA / Sweden relationship , including projects such as Global School and Time Travel. Our educators did very well in all the deliberations on education.
Supper at Tomas Hartikainen’s home. Met his family and some people we have been to our rural areas as part of the Global School Journey. We discussed everything from sport to education, plane trips to living in a rural area.
EVALUATION:
The days were intense, exhausting and informative. It was surprising that they knew so much about our country, especially our rural areas. They are humble irrespective of what position they hold in society. We were very impressed in the treatment of refugees. Their technology, especially in distance education is amazing. We viewed the video conference room and it was all new to us.Very healthy eating. They were also interested in the political affairs of our country. As we just had an election, there was much they wanted to know.The buildings are well preserved.
Joe: “The education model is a revelation”
May 6
We were fetched by Catherina at 8.45. Packed early and a full programme until departure at 2pm at the bus stop.A full morning programme at Staffangymnasiet Soderhamn, where Tomas is the principal and Catherine, one of the educators.Morning session, we made presentation on South Africa with grades 11 - Catherina's class. Divided in 4 small groups. There were many questions on our climate, to history, economy, culture and lifestyle. Students were very good and interested.
Gulshera contacted Enyenyezi Technical college and linked them to two school programme in Soderhamn. an agreement with Brian Dube of Ugu.
The travel with such a load- 7 suitcases, and with hand luggage needed careful co-ordination, team work and strength-- claiming up and down stairs. in and out of bus,train, flight,hotel rooms, in cars,, unpacking and packing. All in all it is an experience and helps with team work and caring for each other.
Catherine and Cecelia were previous GSJ participants and have been linked to Johnny Rajoo. of Enyenyesi Technical School as this was best suited in terms of the need and age of students.
PSTA is supportive of Ugu and Soderhamn twinning partnership. It is a promotion of our town, about learning and sharing, showing solidarity in areas of democracy, exchange of ideas, development and most importantly about uniting us. Sincere appreciation to Thomas, Tomas, Erick, Catherine, Cecelia and Mayor Eve of Soderhamn, not forgetting the student and many others. We were humbled by this wonderful gesture and by your hospitality.
TACK!
N.B : Please visit web page of the respective schools for further information on our visit
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