Facing the Past –Transforming our Future is Shikaya’s core project in partnership with the Western Cape Education Department and Facing History and Ourselves.

Since 2003 the project has been supporting teachers to develop a culture in schools whereby young people learn to become active, tolerant and responsible democratic citizens who value  diversity, human rights and peace.

Facing the Past – Transforming our Future uses the case studies of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust and apartheid South Africa to help young people connect the past to the moral and ethical decisions they make today.

The Facing the Past methodology and approach allows young people to connect history to the moral questions inherent in a study not only of violence, prejudice and racism but also of courage, caring, and compassion and individual responsibility in a democracy.

In working with personal experiences and choice in these histories, links  are  made to the issues and moral dilemmas facing young people today.

So far over 200 teachers from more than 60 schools in the Western Cape have participated in Facing the Past. Nearly 10 000 young people in History, Life Orientation and English classes, have been engaging with the past to learn about themselves.

Facing the Past is based on and supported by the work of Facing History and Ourselves. Click here to find out more about Facing History and Ourselves.

The Facing the Past website is currently undergoing revamp. The website will be relaunched in January 2010 and Facing the Past teachers will be able to download resources and lesson plans.

In 2008 Shikaya produced History Updated – a series of thirteen filmed lectures by leading South African historians on the history teachers are required to teach. The lectures are hosted by Professor Bill Nasson and include lectures from Professors Nigel Worden, Nigel Penn and Lungisile Ntzebeza.

To order the DVDs or to apply for a sponsored set for your school, contact us.

In 2009 the Western Cape Education Department chose Facing the Past as their core project to implement their Anti-Racism in Schools and School Integration interventions. This will see Facing the Past reaching a further 220 teachers from 94 schools in the Western Cape.

Shikaya was invited by the Western Cape Education Department to use aspects of the Facing the Past programme to work with teachers from the six schools in the Hermanus area as part of the WCED’s anti-racism work.

The seminar began with the exploration of individual and group identity and the creation of ‘difference’ within a group. Understanding how race was constructed in the 19^th century provided the context for examining the case study of segregation and racism in the US.

Throughout these sessions, deep connections were made with the South African experience during apartheid. This facilitated dialogue in a way that would have been difficult if teachers had not used a ‘distant’ history as a point of entry. This opened the way for teachers to examine our apartheid past from a personal perspective and the legacy of racism that still divides us nearly 15 years later.

The four-day journey ended with participants exploring strategies for making a positive difference in school and community and ways in which young people in schools can be encouraged to participate in making a stand for human rights and democracy. Throughout the seminar, methodologies were used that teachers would be able to use in a classroom situation.

Below are  some extracts from some of the participants’ journal entries:

“As a white man I experienced a lot of guilt as we progressed through the day.

-       What part did I play in that what is wrong in society?

-       How can I remedy it?

-      Am I really suitable for the post I’m taking up? Will I be able to bridge all the differences and    prejudices?

-          I have a lot to think about tonight.”

“Today we started to unpack and cleared ourselves to take off those masks that were indoctrinated to ourselves. We start to know each other slowly, if there can be a forum for all schools in Overberg district from primary level to secondary level that can break the barrier, gone are those days[of sitting] in the corner. Come Out!  Get on the Bus! It’s leaving you.”

“Was quite distressing to learn about America’s turmoil regarding race conflict. How can you? How dare you? More distressing to be reminded of SA’s past. Stuff that I experienced during the 50s and 60s – stuff that was the norm – it felt right that time – I grew up with that. Then the realisation that it’s wrong – how can you treat other people like that? Then the thought – what did I do about the situation? Could I do anything? How did I address the wrongs in working sphere? Can people see in my behaviour that I’m trying to address the wrongs? What about the black people? Are they responsive/positive when they come across a white who tries? Some who has made the paradigm shift? Will they trust such a person?”

On the 21^st October we held a one-day follow-up workshop for the Hermanus teachers that have already completed the Facing the Past Introduction Seminar. This was held at Volmoed Retreat in the Hemel and Aarde Valley.

12 teachers from the group attended. The focus was on sharing experiences they had around integration in their schools post the seminar. We also spent time working at a deeper level around issues of integration in schools, analysing the most common approaches in South African schools which they used to interrogate their own practice.

At the end of September 2009 Shikaya hosted Dialogue for Hope – The Young African Leaders Conference in partnership with the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. The conference provided the opportunity for dynamic young leaders from a diverse group of schools to gather, together explore what it means to be a democratic leader, and to assess the governance of South Africa and a number of other African countries from the perspective of the youth.  View a clip from the conference

The conference focused on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s highly regarded Ibrahim Index of African Governance.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is an African initiative that has been created to stimulate debate on good governance across sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world, and to provide objective criteria by which citizens can hold their governments to account.

A main product of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, a new comprehensive ranking of sub-Saharan African nations according to governance quality.

42 learners were chosen from Facing the Past classrooms to attend the conference. The learners had to apply, outlining their leadership experience and submit an essay on democracy. To read some of the essays click here.

The conference ran from 29 September to 1 October and was held at Provincial Parliament in the Parliamentary Chambers. The conference was supported by the Speaker of the House who had agreed to letting the conference take place there.

The young delegates spent the three days reflecting on the state of South Africa’s democracy.The Ibrahim Index of Good Governance was the starting point for the discussion and allowed the learners to see democracy as much more than just voting.

Ahmed Kathrada, Denis Goldberg, Premier Zille, Mail and Guardian editor, Nic Dawes, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of UCT, Professor Crain Soudien and ex-IFP MP, Gavin Woods all spoke to the young leaders about various aspects of South Africa’s democracy. Throughout the three days the young delegates used History as a tool to understand more about South Africa’s democracy and the choices and responsibilities we have as citizens.View a clip from the conference

A Gala Dinner was held at Old Mutual House for the young leaders, their teachers and principals. Premier Zille was due to speak at the event but due to other commitments she asked DA MP Ryan Coetzee to speak on her behalf. She did, however, come to the dinner to personally apologise to the delegates and introduce MP Coetzee.

The week after the conference the young leaders had the opportunity to meet with the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s Board during their visit to Cape Town. The members of the Board who attended were Nicholas Ulanov, Nathalie DelaPalme, Lord Cairns, Mo Ibrahim, Mamphela Ramphele, Salim Ahmed Salim, Lalla Ben Barka and Sir Ketumile Masire. Former Botswana President Festus Gontebanye Mogae also took part in the discussion which was held at Rondebosch Boys High School. For two hours the leaders, both young and old, discussed the state of South Africa’s democracy in light of the Ibrahim Index of Good Governance.

The conference was a great success. Besides the overwhelming support we received from the guests who spoke at the conference, we received great encouragement from various other leading South Africans including the Deputy President (who tried to change his diary to attend), Graca Machel, Adam Habib, Vincent Mphai and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Between August and October Shikaya partnered with the Development Bank of Southern Africa, The Field Education and the Mail and Guardian to host Education Conversations – a series of four talks on education that took  place around South Africa. Education Conversations aimed to engage South Africans in a dialogue about the state of education and the solutions around to improve teaching and schools,using the Education Roadmap and the 10-Point Plan along with expert perspectives to engage South Africans in constructive, engaging and solution-driven conversations about the issues facing education today. Speakers included MEC’s Grant and Creecy, Professor Jansen, Dr Badat and Dr Mamphela Ramphele.

The initiative was a resounding success and exceeded all expectations. The four talks were attended by over 900 people and received extensive media coverage. The success of the talks underscored the fact that South African’s are passionate about improving education for everyone and are ready for change. The topics covered were:

BUILDING OUR DEMOCRACY – “How do we prepare young people in schools and universities to be active and caring citizens?” (Free State University) Rector Professor Jonathan Jansen and Graeme Bloch

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION -”What can each of us do to turn our schools into centres of excellence?” (University of the Western Cape) MEC for Education Donald Grant, Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, Professor Brian O’Connel and Graeme Bloch iii)

LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOLS – “How can we encourage great leadership to emerge in schools?” (University of Johannesburg) MEC for Education Barbara Creecy, Ms Matshiliso Dipholo (SADTU Vice President), Dr Mduduzi Mathe (Principal, Bukhulani High School, Soweto), Ravi Naidoo, Nolulamo Gwagwa

FIXING SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS – “What can we all do to ensure that our schools deliver the best possible education and opportunities to our children?” (Rhodes University) Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat and Graeme Bloch

To download podcasts of the talks visit www.educationconversations.org

Shikaya is partnering with filmmaker Molly Blank to produce the documentary Where Do I Stand?

Across South Africa last May, hundreds of youth were caught up in xenophobic violence. Many picked up pangas, others, clad in the bright greens and maroons of their school uniforms, looted shops, while some of their classmates, refugees themselves, fled to safer ground. Some tried to help and still more stood by watching. The documentary Where Do I Stand? explores these young people’s experiences during the attacks. The documentary will be launched at the end of February 2010 and will be used in schools across South Africa.

Where Do I Stand? is generously funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and Wallace Global.

]]> http://shikaya.org/our-work/where-do-i-stand/conversations-with-our-past/feed/ 0 http://shikaya.org/our-work/projects/conversations-with-our-past-2/ http://shikaya.org/our-work/projects/conversations-with-our-past-2/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:23:28 +0000 Amanda http://shikaya.org/?p=379

In 2009, Shikaya launched Conversations with Our Past – a series of intimate filmed discussions between leading South African historical personalities and History teachers talking about the past they experienced and the past they teach. Anti-apartheid stalwart, Ahmed Kathrada, began the first conversation. The talks are filmed so that they can be distributed to History teachers in the Western Cape and in other Provinces across South Africa.

In 2010 other leading South African historical personalities like Professor Denis Goldberg will be participating in Conversations with Our Past. To find out more about the next Conversations with Our Past or to reserve a space, contact us.

In 2009 Shikaya was invited to run a 5-week Facing the Past course for all of the 40 pre-service High School teachers at the University of Cape. The course centred around school integration and used the historical case-study of Little Rock in the USA as a means to help students grapple with their role as educators in creating inclusive classrooms and schools. The students worked with Facing History and Ourselves’ module Choices in Little Rock. To download this resource visit http://www.facinghistory.org/resources/units/choices-little-rock

Below is some of the feedback from the students:

“I found reflecting about who I am very challenging. I’ve always thought I knew who I am. But in now realise that there is still a lot I need to figure out. As difficult as it was I still think it was a useful exercise. I also learned a lot about other people and how they deal with things, and also to try and be more understanding even though I don’t particularly agree with them.”

“I enjoyed being able to cover specific issues in the classroom, such as how to effectively cover certain aspects. It is important for us as new teachers to go out ‘in the field ‘and be able to deal with particular situations. felt that some of us were perhaps not aware of issues and concerns .there was maybe a bit too much focus on racism ,but clearly some people feel strongly about this and appreciate it. Thank you for all the help and guidance.”

“This course has helped me become aware of prejudice and diversity and the way my classmates view different issues around this. I learned a lot about American history which I knew nothing about before, this was very interesting .I learnt to reflect and write down what I was feeling and then share my feeling with the class. I learnt that dealing with diversity might not be as simple as one might think.”