Building a Values-driven Society

In pursuance of the aim of ‘Step-Up 4 Life’ to promote a strong sense of values, rights and responsibilities amongst youth, we engage in partnerships with other initiatives working with youth to explore the themes of belonging and contributing. One of our trustees collaborated in this regard, with Peace Jam in a series of workshops entitled ‘Slavery - then and now’, with a group of 12 youth from townships in Cape Town. Participants in this project comprised of learners from Heideveld High, Peak View, Ned Doman, Zonnebloem Nest, Sans Souci Schools and young people from the Oozi Project in Khayelithsa.

The earliest recorded case of philanthropic giving in South Africa was that of a freed slave woman who had become a successful market gardener in the City after her manumission. Her name was Armosyn van der Kaap and she had been a slave in the Slave Lodge in Adderley Street for most of her life, acting as the matron of the Lodge. After gaining her freedom and on her death she had a substantial amount of money, most of which was bequeathed to her large family. But a significant portion was set aside for the poor and destitute of Cape Town. Armosyn had throughout her life, regardless of the misery of slavery, given service to her fellow slaves and in so doing rose above adversity. All of the evidence at hand shows that this spirit of giving lives on amongst our people across the Cape Peninsula and Flats.

One of the programmes of ‘Step-Up 4 Life’ is dedicated to promoting a commitment to a values-driven and socially responsibility society. It involves building character and using lessons in our heritage to build social fabric amongst youth in our communities. We believe that by knowing where we come from and appreciating the past spirit of overcoming adversity, our youth have a greater ability to tackle the challenges of the present and future.

One of our trustees working in partnership with an initiative of Peace Jam at the District Six Museum, engaged 12 young people around our heritage rooted in slavery at the Cape. The workshops explored the spirit of rising above adversity, the ties that bind us across community identities, community ethics and the role that social contribution plays in our lives. It also looked at the false sense of identity that is drawn from gangs, drugs and commodity cultures. Through the programme the youth involved produced a calendar and illustrated books based on their heritage and their outlook on peace and social contribution. The calendar used the old slave names that were taken from the names of the month. Each month carried an illustration done by individuals in the group plus a story associated with their family. Sales of the materials produced, partially funded the programme.

Participants were: Thenjiwe Magini, Nontlahla Baba, Callum Scholtz, Shameeg Theron, Jonathan Muzang, Atheena Ferguson, Elvin Hendricks, Melihlanga Ntiya-Ntiya, Kh.ayalethu Ndolela, Akhona Makelelni, Nokubonga, Toni Sam, Dooling Durnas, Joshua Klein, Thabo Xinindlu, Randy Pierre, Simon Mojoko and Vuyokazi Nqozomba. Financial contributors were made by PEACEJAM, DISTRICT SIX MUSEUM, and THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SAFETY OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF THE WESTERN CAPE.

This activity was followed up with a number of other workshops of a similar type. By using the fun formula of exploring family roots and heritage we have been able to explore family and community values and apply these to the challenges of the present.