Cape Town

Finally we are back in Cape Town based in our accomodation where we'll be until we leave. It's OK. Reminds me of Newtown in Wellington - it's just a bit seedier with homeless people standing around in the doorways to the shops. (Not that they can enter, as the shops are all gated, and we need to be let into the shop by the shop assistant and then locked back inside).

It's pouring with rain and my new waterproof shoes, bought for such weather, have not lived up to expectation.

We've had several days with the Ark School Teachers. Everything is all so new to me. The level of poverty is just overwhelming. It is better in the Ark Refuge for the homeless than in the surrounding Townships of squatters living in shacks.

I'm making friends with a young Zulu mother of two girls, Nolundi. She begins teaching our equivalent of Year 9 &10 next week. She has had no teacher training at all, but as a resident of the Ark shelter, has been assigned this teaching position. Naturally I'm finding lots of help her with.

Our two days of PD with the teachers at Betty's Bay beach was interesting. Most unexpectedly the teachers did not like the food we provided (first class food in my opinion) and they complained they wanted fizzy and chips... We sp;otted them down at the shops after we left them buying up lots of carbohydrate... Most teachers had not seen a beach and so it was their first time seeing the outstanding African Penguin colony.

We are building relationships with the teachers and teacher aides (they're called monitors here and teach two subjects each).

This morning we had breakfast with an African freelance reporter. Also very interesting... as she told us the SA teachers in white Cape Town do NOT like what we are doing. However, most South Africans we have met on the Cape Flats are very encouraging of what RATA is trying to do i.e to raise the standard of teaching for untrained teachers and thereby giving the kids an opportunity to matriculate from school - their ticket to employment and a better life.

On Saturday evening we are meeting Tim Barnett and the NZ consul, Fr. Michael Lapsley.

The RATA Ghana team arrived safely this morning. They have had some very hard times. It is great to be altogether as a team again. They will be with us for two days and help us deliver the Conference. They've witnessed much physical abuse of children in the three schools they've been in, and have clearly stated that unless that changes, RATA cannot partner with them.