SAEP @ SINETHEMBA 2003 

"Green your mind. Green your soul. Green your body.
Green your world!"

SAEP believes sustainable economic development and protection of the environment begin with exploration of ideas and values, development of self-confidence and creative self-expression, rigorous intellectual discipline, and building organizational and advocacy skills.  SAEP's primary commitment is thus to education, leadership development, and community service at the high school level.  There is where a solid foundation for sustainable economic development and informed environmental activism can most effectively be laid. 

SAEP's programme evolved during the course of a five-year relationship with Sinethemba Senior Secondary School in the township of Philippi, in the Cape Flats area of Cape Town, one of the city's poorest townships. Out of a conventional environmental education project begun in 1999 grew an innovative academic support and enrichment and leadership training programme.   It developed in the course of dynamic interaction between a series of volunteer interns from abroad -- mainly students and recent graduates from universities in the US and the UK -- and a core group of eager, talented, commited, and creative students, three of whom are currently spending a "gap year" of community service with SAEP.

While some academic support is provided in the context of the curriculum or syllabus of the school, most of SAEP's work is done through extra-curricular activities such as debating, student journalism, study and writing of poetry, discussion groups, and community research and action.  

The programme has been so successful that SAEP has, with the help of "graduates" of its programme, expanded its programme to other township high schools, while expanding and refining it at Sinethemba, its home base.  The first two were Zisukhanyo Senior Secondary School in Samora Machel, a neigbouring area of Philippi, and Oscar Mpetha High in Nyanga.  At these schools, SAEP provides support and training in debating and student journalism as well as use of computer and the internet.  In February and March, the programme was extended to an additional six high schools in collaboration with the Debating Union at the University of Cape Town.  This was done through launch of a Township Debating League involving a five other township high schools in the Cape Flats area.  They are Sophumelela (Samora Machel), Vuysiseka (Philippi East), Phakama (Lower Crossroads), Dr. Nelson Mandela (Nyanga), and Fezeka (Guguletu).

 SAEP's programme has two primary components: 

The first is a "gap year" for a small group of Sinethemba's brightest recent graduates, during which they are devoting most of their time to community service at Sinethemba as a way of "paying back" for the skills they learned from SAEP, while at the same time preparing themselves for entering tertiary education in 2004. 

The second is a broad and innovative programme of academic support and enrichment for Sinethemba and other township high schools, building upon SAEP's experience working at Sinethemba over the last four years.  An additional output will be development of  a "model" programme for interventions in under-resourced township high schools.

Sinethemba Programme 2003: Core Group
Luyanda Bolisi, Bulelani Futshane, Norton Tennille, Ndzuzo Mazaza, Nosisa Mhlathi, Luzuko Hina

I.  SAEP “GAP YEAR” PROGRAMME FOR RECENT SINETHEMBA GRADUATES

   In November 2002, Bulelani Futshane and Luzuko Hina, student leaders in SAEP’s programmes at Sinethemba Hig School,  Philippi Township, during 2000 and 2001, approached Norton Tennille, Executive Director of SAEP, to ask to join SAEP as volunteers during 2003.  Futshane wrote:

 “I’m still uncertain about my future, I thought of SAEP because we always turn to you guys when we are in trouble. I would love to do some voluntary work with you guys. Hopefully, I will be accepted because you are the last hope for me to determine my uncertain future. You people have done a lot for me, I think now it’s time for me to give back what is not mine but is for us.  That is the skill that you gave to me.” 

In a series of meetings that followed, and related meetings with Winter Busika, Principal, and Theodore Linderts, Vice-Principal, of the school, Messrs. Futshane, Hina, and Tennille developed a proposal for an SAEP “gap year” that would combine the community service proposed by the recent graduates with a programme of personal development and skills enhancement that would help them make more informed decisions about their academic future and career options. Another Sinethemba graduate, Ayanda Mpu (diplomate in Programming Technology, Imperial Underwood College, Cape Town), joined the "gap year" programme soon thereafter to contribute his skills and experience in computers and information technology.

Twoother recent graduates of Sinethemba have also volunteered to participate in the programme, including Nosisa Thubela Mhlathi (sophomore student in journalism at the University of the Western Cape) and Ndzuzo Mazaza (first year student in Information Technology at Peninsula Technikon) have also joined the programme to share their experience and skill as mentors at Sinethemba High.

       ELEMENTS OF "GAP YEAR" PROGRAMME

 Community service at Sinethemba S.S.S. and broader Philippi community (SAEP @ Sinethemba programme)

•  training/coaching in debating and other forms of public speaking (Sinethemba, Zisukhanyo, and other High Schools) Launch of Township Debating League (Feb 2003)

• training/support for publication of student newspaper (Nazo Mfundi)(Sinethemba and Zisukhanyo)

• support for study and writing of poetry and other creative writing

• development of computer/IT skills

• development of art programme at Sinethemba

  • Art training and teaching: Frank Joubert Centre for Art and Design

•   environmental awareness/community environmental improvement

•  other service projects

  • Learning by Service Project Jan 2003:  World Universities Debating Championships 2003, Stellenbosch   

Academic and career choices

•  learn more about tertiary academic institutions and the programmes offered

•  explore of a range of career options 

• "shadowing” or short-term jobs (e.g. Two Oceans Aquarium)  First "shadow:" Nosisa Thubela at Associated Magazines Company, December 2003

Skills development

•  typing, computers, Internet and WWW

  • Development by Ayanda Mpu and Luyanda Bolisi of web site on Philippi Community: "Township Connection"

•  oral and written use of English

• crticial thinking: Introduction of Touchstones discussion groups

• organisation and project management

•  public relations and fundraising

•  teaching/mentoring

Creative writing and exploring the creative process in art and literature

•  reading and writing of poetry and prose

  • Ongoing project:   SAEP Poetry Group

•  explore the creative process generally in the visual arts (especially painting and prints), drama, films, and music

Cultural history and enrichment

•   Robben Island Educational Tours First tour: December 8, 2002

•   Lectures and seminars: Attendance at lecture by Dr. Harry Garuba, Centre for African Studies, University of Cape Town: "Reading Africa, Writing Africa: Perspectives from African Literature," January 23, 2003

•   Meetings with local poets, artists, and leaders in other areas: Visit with Tony Grogan, Watercolourist and Cartoonist: November 28, 2002

•   Local museums and galleries

 Outdoor excursions and leadership experiences

• Partnership with Mountain Club of South Africa.  Sinethemba is participating during 2003 in the MCSA Outreach Programme.  See below.

• Outdoor environmental activities and excursions (e.g. hiking, camping, trips to national parks and nature reserves) 
  First excursion: Muizenberg Beach and Cape Peninsula
  Second excursion: Mountain Club of South Africa hike in Cape Peninsula National Park on Saturday, February 22, 2003

•  SAEP hopes its interns will be able to participate in the programmes of the Wilderness Leadership School,
  

II. SAEP@SINETHEMBA  2003

 
At the initiation of student leaders Bulelani Futshane, Luzuko Hina, Ayanda Mpu, and Sandiso Phaliso and based upon discussions with Winter Busika, Principal, and Theodore Linderts, Vice-Principal, SAEP would provide a broad academic support and enrichment programme at Sinethemba S.S.S. with Futshane. Hina, and Mpu (working as SAEP interns) as project managers.   Norton Tennille, Executive Director of SAEP, would have overall responsibility for the programme.   It would build upon the successful projects developed by SAEP at Sinethemba during 1999-2001 but which had to be discontinued in 2001 due to lack of funding.  The following describes the proposed programme, subject to availability of funding:

 PRIORITY AREAS OF COLLABORATION

 1.     Creative Writing and Public Speaking (Extra-Curricular) 

•  Debating and other forms of public speaking (including SA High Schools Debating Programme, SACCE Discussion Forums, Anglo Gold competition, Toastmasters) Launch of Township Debating League (Feb 2003)

•   Study and writing of poetry (with objective of publishing small volume of Sinethemba student poems) 

  • See ongoing SAEP Poetry Project

•  Resume publication of student bulletin (Nazo Mfundi) begun in 2000 with help from SAEP intern Eva Du Buisson

 2.     Art (Co-curricular)

•  Support for Frank Joubert-Sinethemba collaboration initiated by SAEP in 2001

•  Provide additional resources (Former SAEP Fellow Michel Roger, others)  

• Photography Project: See, e.g., portfolio of Khangelani Mtyahalela

 3.     Computer Literacy and Information Technology (Foundation Skills)

• Provide training is computer literacy and use of internet  

• Help school make good use of new computer facilities (two new fully equipped computer rooms) at the school

• Priority training for participants in debating, poetry, school bulletin, and art activities

 4.    Academic Support (Matric Year Learners)

•  Focus on small number of students who have been leaders in SAEP programmes

•  Use of both “live” and “cyber” volunteers See, e.g., CyberVolunteer programme based in USA

5.   Academic and Career Counselling (Matric Year Learners and recent graduates)

•  Exploration of and application to tertiary institutions

  • 2002 Matriculants: Post-matric forum provided for recent matriculants.
    Assistance provided to four matriculants seeking admission to University of the Western Cape, Peninsula Technikon, and Cape Technikon

  • 2003 Matriculants

•  Application for bursaries

•  Exploration of career paths 

6.       Environmental Education for Public Health and Sustainable Development

•  To be accomplished in large part by use of themes in other SAEP programme activities (debating, poetry, art)

•  Resume SAEP outings and excursions (Kirstenbosch, West Coast National Park, Zeekoevlei, Rondevlei, Sandvlei)

•  Community awareness and action projects (waste management, wetlands

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES 

• Mobilize resources for the School

• Volunteers (local and foreign)

• Partnerships with other organisations

• Funding for activities/facilities

• Foster academic and personal development of learners 

•  Self-confidence

•  Leadership

•  Critical thinking and analytical skills

•  Creativity in writing and the arts

•  Research skills

•  Social responsibility  

•  Promote the culture of learning at the school

• Provide foundation skills in computers and IT 

• Help Sinethemba continue to grow into model of excellence among  high schools provincially and nationally 
   

• Help Sinethemba to share its successful programmes like debating and school bulletin with other township high schools 
  

• Promote environmental awareness and environmental improvement in the Philippi community

BUDGET and FUNDING

The budget for both programmes described above is US$10,000 (about R110,000).  For detailed information, see our Budget 2003.  To date, $4800 has been raised, leaving $5200 to be raised.   To expand the programme further to high schools such as Zisukhanyo in Samora Machel and Oscar Mpetha in Nyanga, we will be seeking to raise an additional $15,000, for a total of $25,000!

The Sinethemba initiative is being made a special project by members of the RJ Reynolds High School Class of 1958, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  RJR '58 @ Sinethemba '03.  They have to date contributed $2250 of the total pledged to date.

IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN FUNDING OR OTHERWISE SUPPORTING THESE PROGRAMMES, PLEASE CONTACT
 
Norton Tennille, Executive Director, Southern Africa Environment Project (SAEP)
 saep@worldonline.co.za
Tel/fax: 27-21-689-2020

Sinethemba Students on SAEP Outing to West Coast National Park