This year has started on a good note for Facing the Past. In the last month Facing the Past has had an Introductory Seminar for a new group of teachers from schools across the Western Cape and, working with the Western Cape Education Department, held an anti-racism in schools seminar in Hermanus.

Eighteen teachers from six schools attended the four-day Introductory Seminar. Teachers explored the case-studies of eugenics, Nazi Germany and the Holcoaust and apartheid South Africa and focussed on issues of identity, human behaviour and choices. Engaging with these histories also helped the teachers to explore the impact of their past on them personally. The seminar ended with “Choosing to Participate” in which teachers explored what it means to live and act in a democracy.

During the seminar Denis Goldberg, spoke to the teachers about his life and involvement in the struggle for democracy and human rights in South Africa.

Teachers’ responses to the seminar:
”I’m sure it has made me grow as a person, citizen and professional. It has also made me realise again how easily one’s freedom can be eroded if it is not jealously protected. Also how by the responsibility, as teachers and South Africa have to help make this human rights culture (and democracy) a real thing for every person.” Louis Marais, (Wolseley High School)
“Helped me to explore my own feelings about apartheid and human atrocities in general .To be reminded that to feel deeply my own pain and that of others is an intrinsic part of my ‘humanness’.” Roy Hellenberg (Rondebosch Boys High school)

“Oh! I like the personal and spiritual journey it has put me on. I can’t only teach good citizenship must be the example.” Bonita Belelie. (Settlers High School)

To read more about Facing the Past, click here
Shikaya recently hosted a seminar in Hermanus as part of the Western Cape Education Department’s anti-racism in schools intervention. Teachers from five of the six schools in the area attended. The seminar used the historical case-studeis of eugenics as well as segregation and desegregation in schools in the United States in the 1960s to help teachers think more deeply about issues of racism in their schoolsand their roles to promote integration in their classrooms.
“The fact that I could share my deepest emotions with people I did not know 4 days ago actually set me free. I realised I can talk without the fear of being labelled as a racist or a privileged white man. In this sense I gained self-confidence –now I know I will be able to run a community school. I am able to throw my mask away.” George Edwards (Gansbaai Secondary School)
“I’ve been developed to treat others equally and fairly to understand and accept, to be open and speak out, to respect others, to share and unite with others.” Primrose Jimlongo (Qhayiya Secondary School.)