Pupils share bigger world
Daryn Wood
FIVE pupils, aged between 15 and 18, from the Masifunde Learner Development based in Walmer Township flew out to Germany last month to work on a film and research project about cultural diversity in Germany.
They joined five pupils from the German organisation Evangelische Stiftung Arnsburg (ESTA) who came to South Africa last year. The two groups worked on a documentary, Togetherness: Many Languages. One Voice that took a look into South African society.
For their new project, Togetherness: Many Identities. One Voice, the same pupils from Walmer Township travelled to Germany where they have researched its many subcultures.
Siphokazi Maxamba, 18, Busisiwe Sibuta, 16, Asanda Ngwendu, 15, Amanda Mncono, 18 and Wonga Mamkeli, 20, return from their dream trip on Sunday.
None of them had been overseas before.
Wonga who attends the Ethembeni Enrichment Centre, said he was grateful to Masifunde for the "once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. Walmer High pupil Busisiwe said she was nervous but excited before her first plane trip.
Masifunde communications officer Racheal Chikadaya said the experience would help the pupils realise the world was not limited to South Africa.
"The Walmer Township has been their world. This trip will broaden their knowledge.”
Masifunde, founded in 2003, is a proactive youth development organisation.
There are around 250 children in an educational and interactive life-skills training programme that supplements their school syllabus.
It includes weekly lessons, regular project work, study trips and a homework club, and sponsors 50 pupils with quality education at schools outside the township.