The Ubuntu Spirit Blog

How do we create a Healthy School, a Beautiful School?

That is the question we put to the children in 3 very poor schools in Parkwood, Cape Town, when we embarked on the ‘healthy schools project’ in partnership with Stadtoasen from Aachen, Germany in April this year.

It was a marvellous day, celebrating with Mayor Dan Plato, the success of the first phase of this project on the 3^rd June.  We are proud to showcase the work done by the children with the assistance of the adults in the partnership with Fairview, Parkwood and Perivale Primary schools.

The successes include meeting the aims of the project :

Designing and constructing so-called trim parks with specially designed gym-elements and adventure playgrounds, as well as mini-soccer fields, and gardening projects.

Establishing herb and food gardens at the schools, and learning more about nutrition and healthy food.

We also initiated  a school network in Grassy Park including all 12 schools in the area with linkages to several partners who will take the project into the next phase and leading up to the annual celebration of Agenda 21 later this year.

An unexpected outcomes, was the painting of the mural – see pictures attached.

It was wonderful to receive a gift of R20 000 from Cape Talk and Dischem Foundation to continue the next phase of the project.

Project partners:

Stadtoasen e.V., www.bauwagen-goes-south.de

Novalis Ubuntu Institute, www.novalis.org.za

Fairview Primary School

Parkwood Primary School

Perivale Primary School

City of Cape Town – Dep. Of Environment

On Friday, 31st April 2010 the management, staff and children said goodbye to Liesel Oosthuizen, the resident social worker for the last few years. It was a heart wrenching sight to behold as neither the boys nor Liesel could keep the tears from flowing.

Sharing the stage with Liesel was Reinhard who has been a volunteer at St Francis. Reinhard was responsible for creating quite a number of the art so dominantly displayed in the building. Reinhards commitment to the boys was truly amazing and his participation in the OVC Programme activities always appreciated.

As was quite evident in the speech made by Sharon Henkel, Director of St Francis Children’s Home, both Liesel and Reinhard will be missed as they were an integral part of the St Francis Family. As she stated “it’s like losing two of her children”.

I would like to acknowledge what a privilege it has been for me to work so closely with Liesel in her capacity as liaison for the OVC Programme. I truly appreciate her love for the boys as well as her commitment and dedication to the boys and the caregivers. A heartfelt thank you Liesel, for never compromising but always acting in the best interest of the children.

We would like to wish you well on your journey.

Following on from the well received visits of Vidyaker from the Oneness University (India) to Bonnytoun (Wynberg), three of his students of the University agreed to continue with the contact and support of the boys and gave up an afternoon to spend time with them today, Wednesday 21st September.

We had time for deeksha blessing (energy healing) sessions, but unfortunately the skype connection would not work.

However, it was an afternoon well spent, and all the boys responded that they felt calm, at peace, loved the afternoon, learnt much, and Mr. Andy Williams, who co-ordinated the event from Bonnytoun side, invited more contact and would love to see the skype video call succeed and invited us back.

On Friday 16th April, Eva Schoenfeld gave a talk to the caregivers of St. Francis Care Home and Bonnytoun Detention Center before lunch here at the Novalis Ubuntu Centre, on the value and beneficial results possible from supplementing our food with taking tissue salts. As we know, and it was further confirmed, all of us in the profession of therapeutic care and education in these extreme circumstances within the Orphan and Vulnerable Care Homes and ‘prison schools’ for boys awaiting trial, need to keep our health at optimum levels. Because of the depletion of tissue salts in our soil, we are all quite depleted to start with.

We were appreciative of the new knowledge and information, and delighted that Eva could give each participant a personal facial analysis, pointing out the main deficiencies for each person, making it easier to spot the supplements required for each unique body patterns.

Thank you very much Eva Schoenfeld for sharing with us your ‘second chance’ experience with Tissue Salts and the wonderful work you do with training people in this modality.

For further information please visit website : www.facialanalysis.co.za