Introduction
Madam Speaker, Mr Mayor, Councillors, Officials and friends.
INTRODUCTION
I bring warm greetings from the people of Port Shepstone with whom you have created something really special.I am not aware of any other twinning programme that has endured for more than 16 years, directly involved some 127 persons from Port Shepstone in exchange programmes that has directly impacted on thousands through our projects and programmes.
We are literally some eleven thousand kilometres away, across countries and seas, and yet the friendship and commitment to one another, from a developed to a developing nation is so strong and unique. There are many individuals who made an important contribution to this relationship - but it is well documented that there was one individual whose stand against apartheid and passionate campaign for equality, solidarity and human rights has endeared him to millions as one of history’s outstanding leaders. I speak, of course, about your own hero: Olof Palme. Today we pay tribute to him, your country and many individuals.
Olaf Palme’s relationship with Oliver Tambo and his taking the lead in the campaign to liberate South Africa is appreciated. All those who were members and supporters of ISAK have made a huge contribution towards our liberation
FIRST CONTACT
In 1992 one of the most committed members of ISAK and a son of this town, Tormod Nesset, was sent as an observer to our region. It was a difficult time, a time of much violence and death, especially in our region.
In 1992 one of the most committed members of ISAK and a son of this town, Tormod Nesset, was sent as an observer to our region. It was a difficult time, a time of much violence and death, especially in our region.
This was followed in 1993 by a delegation of ten, which included Lillemor Nesset. She stayed at our home in Port Shepstone and came into contact with all the activists and leadership of the liberation movement in our area.One of the tasks of this delegation was to identify a town in South Africa that would be an appropriate twinning partner for Oskarshamn in a post-apartheid environment. While there are geographical similarities in our two towns being coastal areas on the eastern seaboards of our respective countries, I believe it was the passion and commitment of our respective activists that sparked an immediate bonding and led to the eventual twinning agreement.
FLOYD DLANGAMANDLA
At the doctor’s surgery the other day, I met Floyd. Floyd Dlangamandla was a street child during the height of the violence in the 1990’s during our apartheid years. Immediately on seeing me, he gave me a “Swedish hug” to the amazed glances of many who are not used to a Zulu man hugging an Indian woman. He wanted to know all about Oskarskamn. When I said I was visiting you, he was delighted and asked that I pass his best wishes to all of you.
Floyd has become a product of the Twinning. Floyd was a delegate in 1996 and after his return, he felt literally liberated, like all of us. I cannot over-emphasise the impact on our psyches and souls, which this experience gave us. We had lived in a society that treated us as inferior. For many there was not only a physical oppression but a mental one as well, which undermined our confidence and sense of self-belief. Then we arrived in Sweden where we were unquestioningly and naturally treated as equal human beings.
Floyd walked in the streets of Port Shepstone continuing to use the hat he received in Oskarshamn. He progressed thereafter from being a Street care worker to a municipal employee. Oskarshamn played a huge part in giving Floyd his dignity.
Oskarshamn has touched the lives of thousands, young and old, irrespective of profession or status. You facilitated a unique programme that treats ordinary people with respect and dignity and as equals. Never underestimate the contribution of the twinning towards bringing us as South Africans together.
MY WORK
Today, I speak to you as an ordinary SA citizen, a social worker who believes in human rights and continues to work at grassroots, within a non-governmental organisation, developing people first before buildings and structure. My work entails facilitating development, especially in deep rural areas, with the main objective of protecting children, women, senior citizens and giving people hope.
I work with about ten organisations under a national NGO called Child Welfare South Africa. All deal with the problems of the poor and vulnerable. Most are in rural areas, some more than 100 kilometres away from my home. Almost all the delegations from Sweden have been exposed to these areas. Many of these areas still do not have purified water or electricity and unemployment is more than 50 percent. This is where 80% of the people live. Over 50% are children and women. They are resilient – caring for families, extended families and attending to every day needs, from collecting firewood to water. Stefan Windh and Ted Linquist on the last visit were exposed to one of the areas. Stefan Windh has many ideas on how to improve basic living conditions.
GROWTH OF THE TWINNING PROGRAMME
In 1994, ABF sent a delegation to further explore cementing a future relationship. It so happened that I was given the task, after taking this delegation out over a few days, to co-ordinate a workshop. Not knowing what to do or what to expect, we watched an amateur video of a talk by Tormod Nesset motivating us to elect a committee and to begin this process. I was elected as chairperson and I am still here, in an executive position. His words then were, and right up to now still are – “let’s engage, create a dialogue and let’s see where it takes us.” The impact of the project did not make sense at that time. It does now.
Our first delegation of 8 persons in 1995 was really the most unique experience. Coming out from our separate lives under apartheid as blacks, whites and Indians was not an easy process. We laid the foundation for future delegations.We soon realised that Carl Bloom was right, as from the very beginning of our formal twinning structure, he emphasised the importance of us working jointly with the municipality. Today, we want to say thank you to Ted Lindquist who, from the first delegation and over the 16 years, ensured that the first day is a welcome and presentation by the municipality. This has got us to also engage with our municipality. Oskarshamn commune has taught us about the importance of co-operation with our govt structures, and OSAK taught us to co-operate with municipalities to have a dialogue to communicate to resolve challenges and to engage constructively.
We had twice-a-year delegations for 10 years. In evaluating this, it was necessary to have gone through this process. Much interest was created and many leaders developed, one being Peggy Nkonyeni – a past delegate – now a health minister. We had people like Floyd taking on leadership roles in various structures, being it govt, civil society or urban development committees. There are many others who in their own daily life are making a difference and involved in various community structures. We need this capacity. The impact is huge on our self-worth as individuals.
But very important, we had literally thousands of children writing letters and making friends across the sea — Oskarsgymnasium, Parkskolan, Kristeneberg, Norraskolan, Komvux. There were a lot of letters with every delegation. One could carry only limited personal items and clothes as half the weight was reserved for letters and presents.
The one outstanding, common statement from the Swedish delegates is the appreciation of their life back home, of the food, after the exposure in this twin programme.
All these delegates and children writing letters were soon young adults. The one place they know overseas is Oskarshamn. They are the leaders of tomorrow and who knows, amongst them there could be a president. Future co-operation has been cemented. With every delegation to you or back home, there is exposure: in the newspapers, school magazine, delegates families, in ones profession, in sport, at municipal level – at every level possible — be it rural or urban. I am sure that the same interest is generated here.
FORMAL AGREEMENT
We have seen the formal twin town agreement signed in 1999 and again in 2007, when I was appointed the Ambassador of your Town. I am convinced that our programme and projects have had a major impact in both our towns. One needs to just look at the media interest and coverage, probably over one hundred articles, to realize that the benefits were two-fold:
you were promoting international solidarity and development and
marketing your town and country.
No funder can continue funding for such a long time unless real value was being generated. I believe we succeeded in doing so, but it could not go on forever.With the discontinuation of funding via OSAK by Olof Palme International Centre, our chairman Tormod Nesset, would not accept this and he continued to lobby for further projects. He has been the backbone of the twinning and has linked us all. He continued Olof Palme’s passion , we thank him for all his efforts.
At this point, I want to pay tribute to another person who has never failed us and was kind and gentle and took good care of every delegation - that is Sven-Ake Johansson. We thank him for his continued commitment.
SPECIAL PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH TWINNING
GLOBAL SCHOOL JOURNEY
The first major project was the Global School Journey – a mammoth undertaking. We have now had 4 successful projects, in years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and planning has begun for 2009. It takes over 120 people in our community to put together this project on our side- entire communities are involved from the police, politicians, twinning members to host families in rural areas. Through my work and link in these communities, including that of Pauline’s, over 24 educators and politicians in each journey experience the humble life in rural areas. They live in the rural villages, and experience actual rural life.
We have appointed co-ordinators from these communities, have empowered them, and they are fully involved in the entire project planning jointly with our co-ordinator Pauline Duncan. It takes a year to plan this two-week programme. The positive impact of this project in these communities cannot be expressed in a word or two. It has given these communities hope, acceptance, dignity and a feeling of self-worth. They start appreciating their humble life.
The participants of Global school journey are from throughout Sweden. We are now linked to 37 municipalities in Sweden.
