Sarah Oliver CTII Schools Programme, Peace

Celebrating the Grade 10 learners of MSYIIP

Despite the very different year it has been, our schools programme ended with smiles (albeit behind masks!), as we were able to successfully visit all the schools that participate in the Marlene Silbert Youth Interfaith Intercultural Programme, and hand over certificates to this years cohort of Grade 10s.

This year the programme has had to adapt to moving to an online curriculum, which has offered learners a new opportunity to engage in rich content covering the programme themes of youth activism, social justice and peace-building. We were delighted to be able to award all participating learners with a unique certificate to mark the completion of the year.

We’re so grateful to each of these incredible learners for their commitment to creating peace, justice and healing in the world. We hope you enjoy these pictures below!

Asemahle and Clementine from Spine Road High

IMG_7595 IMG_7556 IMG_7520 b72170b4-713c-47cb-b8ab-bd26929d409f

WhatsApp Image 2020-11-27 at 12.26.22 (1) (1) IMG_7705 IMG_7678 b2293774-4e59-41e5-8949-10362320e325 8c9c509b-a68d-402e-ae3b-29a79a54ec32

Sarah Oliver CTII Schools Programme

Schools Programme Mid-Year Report

In this new and constantly emerging world, we need young people who are ready to take the lead with passion and conviction, grounded in values of social justice and compassion, and equipped with skills of critical thinking, dialogue and leadership.

The Marlene Silbert Youth Interfaith Intercultural Programme strives to achieve exactly this. We believe in this current moment our programme is more relevant than ever in providing young people with the skills that will help them reimagine a post-covid world.

It is our pleasure to update you on the progress of the Marlene Silbert Youth Interfaith Intercultural Programme, for 2020, which you can read the details of in this report:

MSYIIP Progress Report 2020

In beginning the year, we were able to successfully start the programme with 9 participating schools contributing a new cohort of Grade 10 learners. We were particularly pleased this year to have learners from Langa High School join the programme, through a partnership with the organisation Just Grace.

We were also pleased to begin the year with a full Programme Coordinating Team – led by Babalwa Ngcongolo, John-Paul Roberts and Sarah Oliver. Sarah has worked on the programme for the last three years, along with Rev. Natalie Simons-Arendse. Babalwa and John-Paul were both facilitators on the programme in 2019, and so we are very pleased to have their skills and expertise in a leadership role this year. This is made possible through our continued partnership with the GOAL Trust – Giving Opportunities to Aspiring Leaders.

As you will read in the attached report, this year has had its challenges with the changing world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We were fortunate to be able to hold our annual 5 day camp programme at the beginning of the year.. Highlights of this camp experience included having participants share a significant part of their religions and cultural traditions with each other, in the spirit of interfaith dialogue and respect. Other highlights involved learning about topics such as power, privilege, gender and sexuality, responsible citizenship and leadership. The most impactful part of camp is the sense of deep connection and unity felt in the group. The facilitators of the programme are very intentional about creating a safe space, where learners feel free to express themselves and build friendships based on trust, kindness and authenticity. We encourage you to read the attached report, which includes comments from the learners themselves.

IMG_6596

With the changes necessitated by COVID-19, the programme too needed to adapt, making sure to always hold true to our purpose of building social cohesion, interfaith dialogue and peace between high school learners from different faiths, traditions and socio-economic backgrounds. Empowering young leaders to respond critically and consciously to the world around them is a critical outcome. Due to not being able to gather physically, we had to re-think what the programme would look like for the rest of the year.

We are proud to share that we have risen to the challenge, with the development of an online
curriculum, which has allowed participants to continue their engagement with each other and learn about relevant topics such as youth activism, social justice and human rights. The virtual learning site has been accompanied by monthly online meetings as well as conversations in dialogue groups through Whatsapp. New challenges such as costs of data and lack of internet access have emerged, which has been a barrier for some in participating fully in the programme. This is very concerning for us, as we work on a principle of inclusion, and we want to make sure that everyone has access to the full experience of the programme. Going forward we are working to be innovative and creative in making sure all participants have full access to being a part of the programme.

MSYIIP Online Group Photo

While our Grade 11 Tutoring year had to be put on hold, again due to the coronavirus, we are taking time to reimagine what a Grade 11 year of action can look like, and are confident that from next year the programme will launch with a powerful cohort of Grade 11’s who are ambassadors of peace, healing and justice not just in their schools, but their communities and country as well. With the coronavirus, we have also had to face the challenging situation of some funders changing their priorities to focus on COVID-19 relief efforts. While this is of course crucial, it has meant that our programme budget has been reduced, and we are in an urgent position of needing to ensure financial sustainability at a time when our programme is more relevant than ever in providing young people with the skills that will help them reimagine a post-covid world.

We invite you to join us on this journey and welcome your input and feedback!

Sarah Oliver Cape Town activities, CTII Schools Programme, News Article

Meeting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

During their visit to Cape Town, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex went to the Auwal Mosque where they interacted with six learners who have participated in the Interfaith Intercultural Youth Programme. Marlene Silbert gave a short overview of the programme and thereafter, the young people shared their experiences, spoke about the impact the programme has had on their lives, and their commitment to create a unified society in which we can all live together in peace and harmony.

PHOTO-2019-09-24-19-37-45

(Photo above: Bashiera Parker, Channel24)

The Duchess said she was so emotionally moved to hear what the young people had said, and Prince Harry stated, ‘There are so many problems and hardships across the world, and it is truly heartening to listen to the voices of these young people who will become the leaders of tomorrow, and make this world a better place.’ While shaking our hands before departure, he said ‘I hope you will continue with this wonderful programme.’

71481715_2499126800318383_7607032885383528448_n

(Photo above: Tim Rooke) 

One of the learners, Banzi Bottoman, from Gardens Commercial High School had the following reflections to share from the experience:

Having met the royal dukedoms has been a very monumental moment in my life!  As they entered the Mosque, my eyes grew ablaze to their graceful presence and humble appearance. For royals, they seemed rather welcoming, kind and very friendly. When it was my chance to speak, I spoke about how the interfaith programme has left an indelible mark in my life and how it managed to transform me from a ‘typical stereotypical’ individual to a non-judgemental and loving person, regardless of one’s religion, gender, race etc. And my focus was how stereotypes have been prevalent trait in society. I also referred to the dangers of conventional practices that are the predominant causes of fallacy in society. If I remember correctly, Prince Harry subsequently sang my praises and said that I spoke with passion, confidence and in a thought-provoking and intriguing manner.

I must say that it was a wonderful experience and all of us in the conversation successfully swept them of their feet with our thoughtfulness.

048e067f-75ae-4a86-8d30-9adce9a2fdc9We were so incredibly proud of the learners for speaking from their hearts and sharing the important message of interfaith with the Duke and Duchess. Following this exciting event, Banzi, Imaad and Zaafierah were interviewed by Berry on Open Studio, on Cape Town TV. Watch what they had to say below!

 

 

Sarah Oliver Cape Town activities, CTII Schools Programme

The Radiant Current of Interfaith – Interfaith Indaba 2019

In Collaboration with Novalis Ubuntu Institute, The Gatehouse Community and URI, we co-hosted a highly successful Interfaith Indaba from 26-28 April.

The three day bonanza started with a workshop at which David Karchere, Spiritual Director of Emissaries of Divine Light, shared some of the teachings expressed in his recently published book, Becoming a Sun. The morning session was followed by an Intergenerational workshop facilitated by Sarah Oliver and Uzair Ben Ebrahim, during which we engaged with learners from New Eisleben School in Crossroads received insights into how young people experience the concept of Freedom. We looked at how perceptions and ideas have changed over the years since the euphoria and hopes of 1994.

Exploring our understandings of freedom, through creativity and intergenerational dialogue
Exploring our understandings of freedom, through creativity and intergenerational dialogue
Playing interfaith bingo!
Playing interfaith bingo!

Our Freedom Day Bus Tour took our intergenerational group to Tana Baru, the Slave Lodge, Groote Kerk and finally, to the Planetarium where we watched an amazing presentation on the role of the Sun in  caring for our planet.

Mohammad Groenewald briefing the group at the entrance of Tanu Baru
Mohammad Groenewald briefing the group at the entrance of Tanu Baru
Visiting the Groote Kerk
Visiting the Groote Kerk
Students from the MSYIIP joined in the fun for the Freedom Day Bus Tour
Students from the MSYIIP joined in the fun for the Freedom Day Bus Tour

The Interfaith Indaba concluded on Sunday 28 April with Sacred Connections. Novalis Ubuntu hosted it this time and between Anne-Lise Bure and Howard Goodman an enriching programme was presented. We were treated to a Hawaian dance, Khoi San poetry, drumming and musical gifting from Nic Paton and friends. Berry Behr and David Karchere shared messages from their heart… concluding that Interfaith as a movement has the power to save all our religions by creating a safe space where we watch out for each other.

admin CTII Schools Programme

CTII Schools Programme Celebrates End of Year Final Function

The final function of the Marlene Silbert Youth Interfaith Intercultural Programme (MSYIIP) took place on Sunday the 28th October 2018. We were graciously welcomed by the Deputy Mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson who hosted this special event.

IMG_0839

The programme this year has been a great success, with nine schools participating in the Grade 10 and Grade 11 programmes. The monthly learning sessions have allowed learners to forge new relationships on the basis of humanity, equality, and social justice, and to create a greater understanding of self and others, building respect between people from different religions, faiths, cultures, and backgrounds and develop an appreciation of the value of diversity.

 

As part of the programme for the evening, each school shared a short presentation on what they had learnt throughout the year. Many learners reflected on the experience of becoming friends with fellow learners they would have never normally had the opportunity to interact with. As Programme Facilitator, Sarah Oliver shared,

IMG_0872I think what is so remarkable about a programme like this is the exposure that it gives the students to worlds and lives of fellow young people that they just never would have engaged with otherwise. The intention here is to start to unravel our built up prejudices of ‘the other’, whether ‘the other’ is of a different faith, race, gender, sexual orientation, or socio-economic class. 

Moving forward from this final year end event, the intention is that learners will leave this programme with a greater understanding of our countries different cultures and experiences, and be able to apply this in their lives as active citizens. One student highlighted this by saying,

From this programme I have learnt a lot of things that I can apply in my life. I grew as a person and have made new friends. I loved the experience. I have learnt that we shouldn’t judge and make assumptions about people we don’t know without knowing their stories and what made them who they are.  

IMG_0878

A big thank you to the Programme Founder, Mrs Marlene Silbert, who continues to guide and support the programme with incredible care and commitment. Thank you also to the Programme Coordinator Natalie Simons-Arendse, and lead Facilitator, Sarah Oliver, for their tireless efforts in making sure the programme runs smoothly and efficiently.

This year we have also had an amazing team of young facilitators from the GOAL Trust, who have played an important role in mentoring and guiding our young learners. Thank you Uzair Ben Ebrahim, Izzy, Salwah Salie, Adeeb Fakier, Sherry Tapfuma, Sima Gcora, Phelo Krakri and Xola Maswana. 

Thank you also to the programme donors who continue to see the important value of this programme as not only an investment in the lives of the learners, but an investment in building a more peaceful and inclusive society.

Finally a special thanks to all the teachers, parents, and learners for their commitment and willingness to engage in interfaith and intercultural work! Sparkles to you all!

Sparkles