From the Head of School's Desk - Epworth School
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Term 3 edition 2, 2019
From the Head of School’s Desk
Femicide and gender-based violence in South Africa is being
referred to as a scourge and many have voiced the need for
the government to declare a state of emergency. Media
platforms have been filled with news of the horror of violence
and abuse against women and children. At a recent assembly
I was joined by our Grade 12 school heads to speak to this
very concerning and sad reality in our communities across the
country.
“’There is a Doctor Who episode where a creepy monster
hides in the shadows. The Doctor explains – not all shadows,
but any shadows.’ This is how it is for women. We know that
not all men, but it is so prevalent that we have to assume that
any men could be violent.” (quote on Facebook)
Ruth Dube, one of our Deputy Head Girls, welcomed our
assembly to the topic of “’Enough is Enough: siyathula siyafa, siyathetha siyafa, kungcono sife sisilwa’. As many of you know, our
home has been facing turmoil. Women have been oppressed massively. Every day women are faced with violence, backlash for self-
expression, oppression, injustice, assault and the list goes on. Women are some of the most endangered people in this country.
Women and children go missing in South Africa every day. Gender-based violence has remained a hugely unaddressed issue in our
country, people turning a deaf ear to our voices, until now. The recent assault and murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana, a student at UCT,
has been a catalyst for the uproar in our country and the speaking out against these injustices against women in South Africa. Be-
cause of our voices, many more cases like Uyinene's have been brought to light and the statistics are alarming and saddening. This
should not be happening to anyone, this should not be happening to women. There is no time to be silent, not now and not ever.
Our voices will not die down. Let us have a moment of silence to remember the women in our country.”
Our Head Girl, Kimberley Gemmell, continued:
“Although we are commemorating the life of Uyinene today, today, we, as the Epworth community, also stand in solidarity for all
people who have been victims of gender-based violence.
Gender-based violence is a profound and widespread problem in South Africa, impacting on almost every aspect of life. This violence
is systemic, and deeply entrenched in institutions, cultures and traditions in our country. It is a historical phenomenon rooted in
gender inequality, and continues to be one of the most notable human rights violations within all societies. Gender-based violence
occurs as a result of unequal power relationships between genders in a society. In South Africa, gender-based violence affects
women more than men because of patriarchal structures which allow men to continue to hold positions of power. This social and
political system that treats men as superior to women means that women cannot participate fully in a society, nor access and
uphold their rights because they have been made voiceless by a system which favours and is controlled by men. Often, women are
unable or afraid to speak out about these injustices because they fear being ridiculed, shamed or targetted by men, who hold the
victims accountable, instead of focusing on the actual perpertrators.
Today, we, as the Epworth community say ‘no’ to gender-based violence. We say ‘no’ to having our basic human rights violated. We
say ‘no’ to being treated unequally because of our gender. We say ‘no’ to accepting the mistruths that victims are to blame for their
situations. We say ‘no’ to letting perpertrators get away with their actions. We say ‘no’ to accepting the status quo. We say ‘no’ to
keeping quiet.
Today, we, as the Epworth community, say ‘yes’ to speaking out against perpertrators. We say ‘yes’ to holding those responsible for
these henious crimes, accountable for their actions. We say ‘yes’ to raising awareness about gender-based violence. ‘Yes’ to
encouraging men and boys to join us in our fight. ‘Yes’ to standing together as women and men against femicide.Today as women,
we say ‘yes’ to taking back the power, of which we have been stripped for centuries. We say ‘yes’ to accessing our basic rights such
as those to safety, security and bodily autonomy because we too are humans and deserve to be treated as equals in a democratic
society.”
Our Deputy Head, Tiara Joseph said, “We have always overcome, despite the challenges that we have faced. May we remember the
women before us who have made the mountain taller so that we can see. May we never forget our inherent value and our ability to
re-write history. ‘Strike a woman, strike a rock’“. She concluded with a beautiful poem by Reese Leyva, reminding women of their
strength and ability to overcome:
Remember, Woman, you were born life giver, miracle creator, magic maker.
You were born with the heart of a thousand mothers, open and fearless and sweet.
You were born with the fire of Queens & conquerors, warrioress blood you bleed.
You were born with the wisdom of sages & shamans, no wound can you not heal.
You were born the teller of your own tale, before none should you kneel.
You were born with an immeasurable soul reaching out past infinity.
You were born to desire with passion, abandon, and to name your own destiny.
Remember, Woman, remember you are more than you can see.
Remember, Woman, remember you are loved endlessly.
Remember, Woman, your power and grace, the depth of your deep sea heart.
Never forget you are Woman, divine, as you have been from the start.
At this time in our community and in our country there is a need for all to take stock of what we, men and women, adults and youth
in our communities, need to do to make a difference to our society and how we treat each other. These words spoken from the
heart of a father resonated with me:
“Deeply saddened and angered as I both read and see the news, overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness and the inability to make
a difference. So, what can I do? I am a husband to an amazing wife and father to three stunning daughters. I know I cannot protect
them outside in the big bad world, but what I can do is I can choose. So here goes, I choose to:
Build a home where they will feel protected and valued
Love them always and without condition
Accept their choices even when I cannot agree with the choice
Never watch anything which demeans or degrades women
To do the dishes, make dinner and hang up the washing
Celebrate their victories and be tender in their defeats
Listen to understand and to be less enthralled by my own opinions and insight
Reject any religion or culture which positions men as superior to women
Offer all of me so that they might live life to the full
Acknowledge that even if I am always a bit of a mess and am darned blessed to have these four amazing humans in my life. They
are heaven’s gift.”
Laura Bekker
FIDA HUMANA FORTIS
Epworth on the move
Epworth’s on-the-Move programme is an annual highlight of the third term. The initiative grew out of a bi-annual critical
skills-development programme designed specifically for the Grade 8’s. It now provides all pupils in Grades 8 to 11 with a
meaningful learning experience out of the classroom.
The Grade 8’s participated in workshops with external organisations, Life Changer and Sexy Smarts, and listened to a
guest speaker talking about his journey with HIV. They also engaged in a self-defence course, played laser tag and made
bags out of old T-shirts, which will be donated to charity.
The Grade 9’s spent time at Wagendrift Dam where they participated in a “journey” that included a variety of physical,
challenges, team building sessions and time for reflection.
As part of the Vogue Programme, the Grade 10’s worked at Little Lilies crèche in Edendale.
The Grade 11’s participated in a leadership camp, facilitated by Spirit of Adventure, at Shongweni Dam. Working
together, they had to accomplish a series of challenges that tested their mental and physical resolve.
Vogue Ball
“Blast from the Past” was the theme of this year’s Vogue Ball, which marked the 34 th anniversary of the event.
Former pupil visits boarders
Epworth Deputy Head Girl from 2009, Nonji Mncwabe,
recently visited the current Epworth boarders. Nonji is a
qualified chartered accountant with her own corporate
wear clothesline. She told the boarders her story and
offered them relevant advice on how to be the best
versions of themselves, how to brand themselves and how
to cope with life after school. “What a privilege it was for
the pupils to have the opportunity to hear her story and
learn from her. Thank you, Nonji, for giving back to your
alma mater. What an inspirational role model you are,”
said Head of Boarding, Lynne Bennetts.
Julia Martin launches book at Epworth
On 29 August, Julia Martin returned to her childhood
home of Pietermaritzburg, and to her alma mater,
Epworth, to launch her new book, The Blackridge
House. In the presence of some of her former class-
mates, former heads of school, current staff and friends,
Julia held a conversation with her former English teach-
er, Mary Gardner. The book centres around Julia’s
mother, Elizabeth Martin, who taught at the Prep
School in the sixties and seventies, and her quest to find
her childhood home in Blackridge. “Having myself been
one of the exceptionally lucky people who grew up in
the rich educational system of Epworth during those
years, it is moving now to be returning to the place
where I learnt to read and write,” said Julia.
Connecting with Peter Storey
Members of Epworth’s management team had the
fortunate opportunity to meet with Peter Storey, a
former Methodist Bishop, Distinguished Professor
Emeritus of Duke University, once chaplain to both
Nelson Mandela and Robert Sobukwe, chair of the
National Peace Accord which intervened in the pre-
1994 election violence on the Witwatersrand,
member of the panel that selected the members of
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and founder of Life Line and Gun Free SA.
As author of the recently published I Beg to Differ: Ministry amid the Teargas, Storey was invited to this year’s Midlands
Literary Festival, which gave Epworth the opportunity to interact with this luminary of the Methodist Church of South
Africa’s Struggle narrative. The Epworth team wanted to talk about ways in which Epworth can continue to live into our
Methodist roots and Christian ethos to educate boys and girls as well as confront our undeniable historic past, as a privi-
leged South African school. As Storey declared, “The great challenge is not to become bubbles of privilege – black or
white – in our South African context,” – and our conversation resulted in pages of notes and much food for thought as
we take our Transformation, Diversity and Inclusivity agenda forward.
Celebrating Heritage Day
With Heritage Day falling during the holidays, the pupils were allowed to celebrate their heritage on 13 September by
wearing something culturally significant.
Building relationships
September 3rd was another significant day at Epworth. Head of School, Laura Bekker; Deputy Head: Pastoral, Pamela
Neethling and Epworth Foundation Director, Ingrid Roberts connected with a notable guest for lunch and a lengthy
afternoon discussion. Scott Gilpin is Director, Global Development
and Fundraising Resources, Higher Education and Ministry for The
United Methodist Church. “Determined as Epworth School is to
grow the capacity of our school to receive funding in order to offer
places to deserving potential pupils who otherwise would not be
able to enrol, we gratefully picked the brain of this consummate
development officer”, said Pamela Neethling. Gilpin was generous
with his wisdom and practical advice. (Follow him on LinkedIn for his
blog, too.)
Transformation activist inspires pupils
The pupils had the honour of listening to
Phumelela Mbande, South African field
hockey player and advocate for
transformation and social justice. She
inspired with a heartfelt rendition of her
life’s story, highlighting her quest to excel
in sport, despite the challenges, and her
determination to change the way society
views women and people of colour. She
explained how she came to be a founding
member of Players for Transformation, a
quasi-union of hockey players of colour, as well as an ambassador for the Girls Only project. Above all, Phumelela
proved that a young woman, from humble beginnings, can, with ambition and courage, affect change and make a
difference to our world.
Transformation, diversity and inclusivity at Epworth
Things Ahead
Epworth School, since its inception in 1898, has always been a transformational space which has reflected
changing and evolving socio-economic and political norms – but this has never been a more necessary part of our
holistic ethos in these years since our first democratic election in 1994. Author Michael Fullan, in Leading in a
Culture of Change, offers the necessary conditions for social change, which must be driven primarily by a moral
purpose:
Ensure the legitimacy of change through democratic participation in the process
Intellectually scrutinise the process and the outcomes
Enable adequate resourcing
These conditions align exactly and beautifully with what we, at Epworth, have been working towards at our
regular Transformation, Diversity and Inclusivity Task Team meetings. Our Team represents our entire
community: parents, pupils, staff (High school, Pre- and Prep School), the Board, Epworthians and School
Management. Together, we are working towards identifying the key diversity issues (KDIs) in our community
which need to be explored and ultimately, we will use the KDIs to draft our School’s Transformation, Diversity
and Inclusivity Policy. (Everyone receives emailed copies of our Team’s Minutes of meetings or can access these
via the d6.) Before the September holidays have finished, everyone will be emailed a link to participate in our KDI
survey: please do? With your participation, we will continue to meet Fullan’s conditions as we carry on making
any changes necessary for Epworth to continue to grow in relevance. As C. S. Lewis said, “There are far, far better
things ahead than any we leave behind.”
Join us in looking towards our future.
Pamela Neethling, on behalf of the TDI team.
Academic and cultural achievements
Epworth’s Senior Debating team won Hlumelo Mkhize, received a merit prize Maryam Mahomed was placed
the Pietermaritzburg Debating League for an essay she submitted for the Royal in the top 50 entrants of the
for the third consecutive year. Society of South Africa’s national essay English Olympiad and received
competition. a scholarship for her first year
of study at Rhodes University.
Alida Esterhuizen Tiara Joseph and Jessica
won six trophies Freedman presented papers
for her recorder, at the annual Advanced
violin and piano Programme English
playing at the conference and dinner at
Queensburgh Hilton College. Jessica tied
Eisteddfod. for first place.
Sports achievements
Micaela Viljoen and Asanda Sithole Juliette Goebel and Jade Miller Courtney Smith was selected
were chosen to participate in a were selected for the KZN to participate in the South
“Visions in Education” international cross-country team. African Rhythmic Gymnastics
netball team that will tour Italy and Games.
Switzerland.
Sports achievements continued...
Lisa McKenzie was re- Squash players Kayleigh Els, Nicola
In the SA Schools’ Squash Tourna-
selected for the KwaZulu- Bentley, Yasmin De Meyer and Nirmeen
ment, Epworth caused a major upset
Natal Inland U19 girls’ Khan, have been ranked in the top 10 in
by beating Clarendon High School for
cricket team for the South Africa in their respective age
Girls, and claimed third place overall.
fourth consecutive year. groups.
Dates to diarise
Fusion: Under African Skies The Epworth Foundation Annual
The official opening of the Performing Golf Day
Arts Centre
Friday, 01 November
Friday, 4 October 10:30
16:00 - 18:45 Victoria Country Club, PMB
RSVP: online (as per the invitation on the d6) Contact: foundation@epworth.co.za
Bookings: www.quicket.co.za
Advertising in the 2019 Epworth Epworth Christmas Family Fun Day
Magazine
Friday, 23 November
Booking deadline: 21 October Epworth campus
Material deadline: 31 October For stall applications, please contact
Contact: marketing@epworth.co.za ddavison@epworth.co.za
(booking deadline: 25 October)
You can also read
