Carolyn is a school governor and ex-Headteacher. On the Crossings project she is representing Gatehouse Primary and Westcliff Primary Schools in Dawlish, together with Bishopsteignton School in South Devon.

Her interests are:

• African music
• Ecology and travel
• Gourmet food and wine
• Skiing and roller-skating
• Textiles

Her aspirations for the project:

• To meet wonderful people
• Share creative interests
• Experience a quite different culture
• Bring it back for the children
• Create links for the future

Impressions of Capetown

South African society is in the midst of transformation and I feel honoured to have been able to visit Cape Town, as part of the Crossings project and experience what is happening there. I was asked by many people I met what sort of Country I expected to find: a land of contrasts with areas of wealth and privilege and areas of deprivation and despair. These things were in evidence but despair had been replaced by hope........ hope for regeneration, and a belief that through working together, life can and will be better in the future.

I greatly valued the chance to "share perspectives" with South African teaching colleagues, some of whom are achieving so much with so little, in terms of resources and classroom support, with large classes and perhaps the added problem of up to four different first languages being spoken by their children. The Education Conference gave us the opportunity to create further school links and I hope that those forged with Cynthia Cimani of the Stormont School, Nyanga and Simphiwe Dyasi of Ishtingua Primary in Guguletu, for our schools in Dawlish, will strengthen and grow.

I found the chance to make personal contact with the staff and children at Herzlia Constantia Primary ( on behalf of Gatehouse Primary ) and Rustenburg Girls School (representing Westcliff Primary) very rewarding, Electronic mail, however efficient, can never replace the chance to experience the warm welcoming atmosphere and friendliness I met at each School. I feel sure that in our future e-mail links we will be able to share in developing the curriculum with a multicultural dimension, and enrich Dawlish children’s learning as a result.

Our trip provided a rich and varied patchwork of experiences: We had a stimulating and enthralling introduction to African music and dance in a workshop led by the students of the Music Department at the University of Cape Town. As we tried to pronounce the traditional lyrics and dance intricate step patterns, to the rhythm of marimbas, drums and horns, I was reminded how difficult it can be to learn something new! I was lucky to be able to follow up this experience with Mzwakhe Hlatshwayo’s Marimba music group at Bishop’s High School, Rondebosch, and Rustenburg Girls’ African Dance and Music Class where the girls danced and played through Mzwake’s programme with verve and finesse. It was apparent that they all enjoy his teaching immensely. We were also treated to the talented singing of the Simon Estes School Choir and were privileged to join in the singing of a township gospel song with them. Back at their School the whole choir performed for us and I shall never forget their harmonious and joyful music, which reached out to touch the spirit.

Other magical moments included singing " Hosanna" at the township Church service and saying hello to the babies in their baptism finery. A little boy dancing outside was as "moved" by the Gospel music as we were. We were honoured by the singing of the children and staff of the Chris Hani School , and the Stormont School. I enjoyed listening to Cynthia‘s literacy lesson and apologise for the fact that it turned into a Geography lesson as I tried to explain to the children where I came from and answered their questions about how long it takes to get to England using various modes of transport!

I was amazed by the vast nature of the townships and appreciate the scale of the problems facing people there with the need for rehousing in many areas, and the provision of basic services which we all take granted such as electricity and running water, and even toilet facilities in some places.

I will never forget the dignity of the township people we met and the vital work going on in the communities to combat high unemployment and deprivation with self help projects. I was particularly impressed by the creativity and technological mastery in recycling everything possible into useable objects, craft artefacts and artwork. We have a lot to learn about saving resources and energy in our "throwaway" society.

It was poignant to listen to Tatamkulu Afrika’s reading of his poem about District Six, and the feelings expressed by students of Westerford High School interacting with it; their relatives who had lived in District Six having been forced to move to segregated areas in the apartheid system of the past, as the district was razed to the ground. The plans to rebuild the area are a positive sign of regeneration in the New South Africa. Another moving experience was listening to the ex political prisoner of the Robben Island gaol explaining that despite incarceration for long years after the School riots, and inhumane treatment at the hands of the Prison authority, he did not bear any grudges. Those years had been a learning experience.

I revelled in the wonderful Pan African crafts: batik, resist printed and painted fabrics, drawn thread work, screen prints, weavings, intricate beadwork, hand carved masks, interesting percussion instruments: mbiras, marimbas, shakers,and hide covered drums. The Zimbabwean Sculpture exhibition at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens was not to be missed, an unexpected treasure. Yet for me, the opportunity to listen to artists talking about their art, background and influences surpassed all this. Their talented responses shaped by the oppressive age they had lived through. We were immensely privileged to share the hopes and fears apparent in Cameron Voyiya’s richly patterned printmaking. Randy Hartzenburg spent time helping us to understand the message in his work as a catalyst for thinking and finding a better kind of humanity through living and working together. Garth Erasmus, after entertaining us with his superb didgeridoo playing, took us through the powerful images he had produced during the years of Apartheid finishing with his mixed media art of today. Seeing his portfolio of work together like that touched a deeper chord in me than the "Mute Testimonies" exhibition at S.A.N.G., although I shall never forget my first impressions of Jane Alexander’s "Butcher Boys"--wow! I enjoyed the visit to Jill Trappler’s workshop: the abstract nature of her work, its colour composition and qualities of line. I admire the concept of the Thupelo Workshop which Jill organises and appreciated the chance to meet and talk with the artists working there ( Hi, Twinkie!). We were welcomed into two other studios, of Vilele Soto, and of Zwelethu Mthethwa. Both use township life as their source material but in very different ways. Zwelethu has achieved considerable international acclaim for his amazing photography and images depicting cultural influence in a variety of media......... We are indebted to Emile Maurice for introducing us to these kind and talented people, who gave us so much of their time and company. I hope I shall do them justice in being able to pass on my appreciation of their art , and the social and political understanding it has given me, in the art projects I hope to introduce with teachers and Devon schoolchildren in the future.

We are very grateful to the project’s Dawlish sponsors who have given us their support:

B & N Home Improvements,
Somerfield Supermarket,
Watts Blake Bearne.

Carolyn Ballard

9th Nov 98