SAHRA

Confronting the past – a group of students from different races united, listening and learning about their history.

With the aim of raising awareness of South African history and heritage in general, and maritime archeology (the study of shipwrecks and other historic remains found under the sea) in particular, SAEP and the South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA) organized educational excursions to Robben Island for a group of over 60 students from four high schools. These trips were made possible by funds received by SAHRA from the National Lottery.

Connecting with SAHRA was a great opportunity for the students to learn about and explore the possibilities within related fields and to discover their rightful legacy and learn about their rich history. The excursion also served to identify students who might want to take study of the nation’s heritage further in their tertiary education and give them a good starting point and network for doing so.

SAEP had previously organised for the SAHRA staff members to visit the schools as to tell them more about what they do and talk about the opportunities that SAHRA offers. The group visited five high schools and identified over 60 students wanting to know more about history and underwater archeology, letting them know about the importance of underwater archeology and the responsibilities of those who undertake it as a career.

Following the visit to the schools, a tour to Robben Island was organised for the students to see and learn about the place where some of our most important national heroes spent part of their lives, a place where great leaders shared their experiences and ideas and which ended up actually facilitating the struggle.

Tour guides explained to the students all the events that were taking place on the island from the moment a prisoner entered the prison to the day he was released. They described the oppression that the incarcerated were suffering, the ways they used to keep in touch with the outside world, and more importantly and relevant to the young people of today, the ways they used to educate themselves and each other.

With ‘education’ a key word and a foundation in place for both SAHRA and SAEP’s interests and involvement with the schools, these outings were used to assess the level of interest students have in the South Africa’s history and heritage.

If further financial support should be forthcoming from the National Lotteries Board, SAEP and SAHRA will work with the teachers on identifying capable students, and to come up with a group of 16 learners to work with over a longer period of time.

SAEP would like to thank the South African Heritage and Resource Agency, and in particular Shawn Berry and Jonathan Scharfman, for giving the students such a wonderful experience, and the schools and students for showing an interest and wanting to learn about their past.