e-Uxolo
Periodic Newsletter
of the Quaker Peace Centre
e-Uxolo
Periodic Newsletter
of the Quaker Peace Centre
Vol. 1, no. 3 December 2005
Dear Friend
During the past two months we have put a lot of thought, discussions and planning into our work for 2006. We evaluated the work undertaken this year. This we did internally as well as employed the services of external evaluators. The learnings that came out of the evaluation process were included in our plans for next year. These reflect alignment of our work with relevant issues affecting our communities, such as racism and violence against women.
We celebrated International Human Rights Day in Delft, the community we have chosen as main beneficiaries and which will remain our focus area next year. Please read more about the celebration below.
Our Board has elected new office bearers. Celeste Santos is the new Chairperson, Brendah Gaine continues with her role as Vice Chairperson, Karin Fry has taken over the function as Secretary and Bill Sewell, who is the outgoing chairperson, has taken on the function of Treasurer and Chairperson of the Finance Committee.
We thank all our funders and donors for their support they have given us this year as this helped to sustain our Centre during rather trying times.
We wish you a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year.
Strategic Priority - Diversity Management / Anti-Bias
DiversityFive workshops were conducted with teachers of the primary school in Delft where we run our Diversity project. They generally felt positive about the workshops.
Three teachers said that they had expected the workshops to be different. One went on to describe the workshops as “…educational, informative”, and that he/she had gained insight through the workshops dealing with cultural issues, and especially about his/her “inner self.” Another had “…learned to be more open to the views of others” and had learned that “…the only difference between us is skin colour.” The third had “…a glimpse of our colleagues’ personal experiences” and that “…all is not what it seems: …what you were brought up to believe can still influence your judgement.”
All said it was a worthwhile experience and that they got to know themselves and their colleagues better.
Contact will be maintained with the school and the programme will be introduced at other schools in Delft next year.
Strategic Priority - Promoting Competence at Peace-Building
Youth at RiskThe Youth at Risk pilot programme at a primary school in Delft has been completed.
The joint intervention for the 20 students in Delft culminated in a final weekend camp at Kogel Bay. Judging from their response, it became clear that they thoroughly enjoyed being away from the difficulties of their community and in touch with nature.
During the early part of 2006, a refresher session will be conducted with this group, and additional students have been identified for a similar programme next year. This time, more attention will be given to the inclusion of parents and educators.
Group work at the Youth at Risk residential weekend camp
Other Activities
The Quaker Peace Centre has taken on the following activities as strategic interventions for creating peace in South Africa.HIV/Aids - Nutrition Project
Two Food Preservation and Processing and 2 Growing and Use of Herbs workshops were conducted in November.
Community members are happy that they no longer buy jam, relish, chutney and so forth as they are able to make their own. We found that people are excited about the project. Some participants have started their own small projects selling jams and cordials. They are happy that the remedies they learnt about have helped their families, neighbours and their entire community. People shared their sensitive stories, for example, Florence from Khayelitsha shared a story about her brother who was suffering from TB. He could not eat and drink the tablets because his throat was swollen. She made a mixture of remedies that she learnt at the workshop. The herbs used were: - Dandelion, Chickweed, Sage, Horsetail, Alfafa, Ginkgo Biloba, Echinacea, little Cayenne pepper, Ginger powder and Garlic powder. She told us that her brother didn’t want to go to the clinic, but after using these remedies, he can now eat and can take his TB treatment. He now even joins the support group at the clinic.
A group of women in Khayelitsha is planning to start a soup kitchen in one of the clinics in Khayelitsha to provide soup for the TB and HIV/AIDS support groups when they come for their treatment. They want to give soup to people who stand in queues from 5 am until the clinic opens. One of our partners, Charlene from St Omar’s Farm is willing to assist them with vegetables and herbs. She even went with them to the sister in charge to set up meetings for next year. Our partnership with organizations like Soil for Life and St. Omar's Farm will continue next year.
Women in food preparation workshop
The HIV/Aids - Nutrition Project was made possible through generous funding by the National Development Agency through the Western Cape Networking AIDS Community of South Africa.
International Human Rights Day - 10 DecemberWe celebrated International Human Rights Day at a primary school in Delft. International Human Rights day is the last of the 16 Days of Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children.
The Children's Institute, the Trauma Centre, Life Line, Neighbourhood Old Age Homes, Western Cape Networking AIDS Community of South Africa and the Cape Justice Centre/Legal Aid Institute had their informative materials on tables. The National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders - Western Cape (Nicro) held a workshop on domestic violence. The University of Cape Town's Law Faculty showed movies from theThird Annual 3 Continental Film Festival which is a showcase of cinema dealing with human rights. African dance, gumboot dance, rap groups and the Cape Minstrels gave performances enjoyed by all. Drawings by students who were part of our diversity training at the same school were exhibited.
African dance performance at International Human Rights Day celebration
QPC Annual Report 2004/2005Our latest Annual Report is available on our website. You may view and download it at www.quaker.org/capetown/report0405/QPC-AR0405.pdf
Give now
You may use your credit card to give to the work of the Quaker Peace Centre. Go to www.givenow.org and type Cape Town into the search field which will bring you to the Cape Town Quaker Peace Centre Committee.
More about the Quaker Peace Centre
Please visit our website www.quaker.org/capetown
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