May
26,
2007
REFLECTIONS ON THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY
The South Africa Initiative (SAI) recently celebrated its’ 5th Anniversary with an Evening of Reflections and Silent Auction. More than 100 SAI alumni, dignitaries, supporters and special guest, including South African educators and partners Claude de Jager, Estelle Fontain and Karin Smith, met on November 4th at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Museum on the Rutgers University campus in New Brunswick, NJ. to mark the achievements of SAI in the first five years and plan for a future of continued growth and innovation. Guest were treated to a reception catered by Café Z, a South African wine tasting, provided by the "Vision" maker President and CEO of 57 Main Street Imports, Peter Morales, fabulous entertainment by, pianist prodigy Chelsea Dock and the Lesole’s Dance Project. Victor Nichols, a Partner with Diversity Marketing & Communications, graciously served as the 'master of ceremonies”.
This celebration marked the 5th anniversary of the annual study tour to South Africa. Under the direction of Dr’s. Darren Clarke and James Giarelli, transformation of approaches in education are being realized both in the US and South Africa. Tangible results have been felt and seen in classrooms, schools, homes, businesses and entire communities. With the help of (37) donated items, the Silent Auction event helped to net over $6,000; a remarkable accomplishment for the first- ever event of this type for the Graduated School of Education.
This year’s anniversary marks culmination of five years of remarkable growth and progress since the first study tour experience and the beginning of an expanded “Vision” of bridging cultures and connecting US and South African children and schools. The theme for 2007 is, “Educating the Whole Child for Wellness and Empowerment.” This theme will allow those selected to participated, to focus their educational efforts not only on individual students and teachers, but also on wider context of schools, businesses and entire communities.
One such project that is evolving in stages is the partnership in Sutherland, with the South African large Telescope, The Local Economic Development Agency, The Karoo Hoogland Tourism Office and Rutgers South Africa initiative. While still centrally focused on farm schools and under-resourced areas in the Western Cape, the SAI involvement in Sutherland will provide an opportunity to study learn and help educators in the more isolated communities of the Northern Cape.
|
