Dancing beads- some history

Yesterday we sat around the table in the GAPA centre chatting and singing with the grandmothers as they made beaded necklaces and knitted teddy bears. The grandmothers gather everyday to do beading and learn new designs from Florence (Income-generation coordinator).

Mrs Bokwe began telling her story of the beautiful necklace she had carefully wrapped in her bag. I thought is was so special and asked permission to publish it on the blog.

Mrs Evelyn Bokwe had in her hand her necklace that she describes is almost 40years old. She made it when she was in her early twenties when living in Queenstown, Eastern Cape. Her mother taught her how to make the design. She says the beads are no longer available in today's bead stores and she regards it as a very special heirloom. The necklace is made in a traditional Xhosa design with colours that indicate the Xhosa tribe. She used to wear the necklace on special occasions, like dances on the weekend, together with beads on her head and a beaded belt. Mrs Bokwe says is was very important to look pretty at these events, its also where one could find a husband (she giggled).

Mrs Bokwe says sadly her daughter doesn't need the necklace but she is making similar necklaces for her granddaughters.

Now that she is a grandmother she also has a beaded pipe, which she doesn't smoke, but has to show her status.

This is a new necklace she has made to be sold for R200 in the GAPA craft store. Each grandmother keeps 90% of the sale and 10% goes towards running the store.

Celebrating spring

This month spring ("ntwasahlobo"- meaning before summer in isiXhosa) was celebrated in the aftercare with the children. To my suprise it had not been celebrated at the school, which I celebrated as a South African school child by wearing 'civvies', no school uniform on 1 September.


In South Africa there is not such a clear distinction between the seasons. For example we are still feeling cold and trying to cope with heavy winter rains.


Arbor week

We participated in caring for and learning about our natural environment by planting an indiginous tree for arbor day.

We spent some time with each age group learning about trees.



Grd 4-Grd 8 Girls group - "the uses of trees in everyday life"











Grd R - Grd 2 - "making leaves by practicing tracing and cutting skills"












Grd 3-Grd 4- "the uses of trees"







Grd 4-Grd8 Boys group -" the uses of trees"





















Our thanks to Deborah Kleynhans for her kind donation of the tree. Mr Moceia and Mrs Ngewu explained to the children how a tree grows and what is needed in planting and caring for a tree.

Learning and Growing

The week of 25- 29 August was full of vibe!

Grandmothers from all over Khayelitsha gathered for our monthly workshops and Indaba. This is an opportunity for GAPA grandmothers to invite friends and neighbours to learn the skills and participate in discussions

Workshops
On 25 August the Nutrition Workshops continued with the UCT students- this was the day for making posters of the different food groups, as pictured in the last post.

On the 26 August the voices of grandmothers from near and far welcomed the opening of the workshops with much singing and dancing

Gardening workshop

26 August Mr Moceia gave an experiential gardening workshop in the GAPA vegetable garden.

Step 1: Line the prepared hole with cardboard to prevent water loss. The hole is the size of a door and about 1m deep.

Mrs Madzinga assists Mr Moceia as a co-facilitator

Step 2: Break pieces of cardboard into hole and then fill with compost from heap.

Step 3: Filling with soil. Grandmothers took turns to shovel and the hole was filled in no time

Watching an asking questions

Step 4: Mr Moceia measures where the rows should be planted

Step 5: Planting beetroot seedlings and cabbage & carrot seeds

Finishing off with some water

Human Rights

Mrs Sohena gave a workshop covering topics such as the different types of elderly abuse

Nutrition

UCT students continued workshoping on what a balanced meal included

Parenting skills

Mrs Hoza spoke about the prevalence of pregnancy amongst the youth and the types of support they should receive. She also covered some of ways in which parents can communicate with babies aged 1-3 years.

27 August the workshops continued...

HIV/AIDS

Vivienne ran a whole day workshop covering topics such as: Basic awareness, Myths and Facts, Care and Support and How it affects me.

The workshop started with gentle exercise which the Grandmothers thoroughly enjoyed - this one is called 'coconut' in which one spells out the work with your arms.

The UCT students Incorporated their workshop on nutritional needs for people with HIV/AIDS under the care and support component.

28 August...

Business skills

Mrs Hoza covered the 7 P's with the participants. This included discussions about: Profit, Price, Production, Place, People etc.

Bereavement

Mrs Mdaka held discussions about Death and Dying, including topics such as coping skills and preparing for the death of a loved one. The workshop closed with presentation of some of the places people can go to for care and support.

29 August...

The INDABA

This is a large gathering of all grandmothers and guests. It is held every month on the last Friday and creates an opportunity for meeting and listening to a guest speaker.

Every month a Grandmother volunteers to find a guest speaker for the event. This month Mrs Nduku invited the Khayelitsha Talent Exchange. This forms part of the Community Exchange System. The speakers started with a skit explaining the principles behind the organisation and later divided the grandmothers into four groups to discuss the system. Grandmothers asked many questions ranging from..."what do I do with the extra materials from building my house?" to "how does the talent exchange help me to build another room onto my small shack?" The grandmothers left wondering how they would like to use this system and no formal decision was made. GAPA has not formed a partnership with this organisation but rather leave it to the Grannies to make their own informed decisions.

The Indaba ended with a delicious lunch served by the Grandmothers working in the kitchen

What happening in the Afterschool care?

This week we put our workshops on hold and did some in-action learning. Althea spent one lesson a day with different teachers. The teachers choose which type of lesson/class they wanted to have her sit in on. Following this we would have a reflection workshop.

The afterschool cares for children from Grade R to Grade 8 (5yrs old to 16 yrs) with about 93 children attending daily. Vulnerable children are referred here by teachers at GAPA's neighbouring school.

On Monday Mrs Ngewu held a free-play class for the Grade R - Grade 2 children. During this session we provided the children with toys and dress up materials and observed the different types of play the children engaged in.

As afterschool caregivers we have identified play as the main occupation through which children learn and develop. We have incorporated these opportunities to play within our programme

Dramatic play inacting social roles and fairy tales (Takata's Play Epoch, 1974, Parham, 2008)

Pretending to be a construction worker with a jack-hammer

Pretending to be the superman

'Peeling potatoes'

Practising our gross-motor balancing skills and pretending to be princesses

'I can balance and dance!'

Singing dancing and making music

Tuesday Mrs Mangxilana held an exercise group. The boys aged 8-12 all love soccer. The session started with some warm-ups, some balls skills, some agility training and finally a soccer match

Game (Takata's Play Epoch, 1974, Parham, 2008)

For this age group soccer is not only enjoyable but it provides an opportunity to learn cooperative play, practising sports skills and learning to master and make rules in a group

On Wednesday Mrs Mavilo had an exercise group with children aged 5-9. The exercise included and obstacle course for developing gross motor skills such as balancing, bilateral jumping, hopping on dominant foot and aiming a throw.

On Friday Mrs Hoza had a free play session outside with the children aged 10 to 16. Since there were not many girls this day and the girls were present agreed to play with, the game of choice was once again soccer. Very often the girls find meaningful occupation in watching and cheering the soccer while styling each other's hair. This time Mr Moceia assisted as referee.