Sivuselela Isizwe-Rebuilding Society programme

Over the past 10 years we have made interventions at the level of school children in the cohort grade 6-8 to promote Gandhian values of nonviolence, nonracism, awareness of HIV/AIDS and broadly how to protect oneself from the violence perpetrated within our communities. During 2016 we evaluated the work and it was felt that we needed to introduce some skills training into this programme. A curriculum was accordingly developed.

Objectives of the lesson plan are:

• To make a focused intervention into the existing school curriculum.
• To supplement and support schools in equipping
learners with skills and knowledge as stipulated in the CAPS document on:
– Effective communication techniques.
– How to identify and resolve conflict non-violently.
– Creating awareness on HIV/AIDS.
– The effects of violence and the relationship
between substance abuse and violence.
– Provide information on existing community resources.

Learners focus on the following areas:

• Conflict identification, management and
peaceful resolution.
• Communication.
• HIV/AIDS Education.
• Violence prevention.

Content

The programme was carried out during the Life Orientation period in each school. The 13 lessons (each an hour long) contained in our training manual are sequenced to build and reinforce conflict management skills.
We use experiential methodology through which we are also able to gauge the outcomes of our training.

We found that learners are :

1) Able to build stronger inter personal relationships.
2) Able to deal with issues of conflict.
3) Communicate more effectively.
4) Able to relate to people from different backgrounds and ethnic groups.
5) More Informed about HIV/AIDS and able to discard
the myths that surround the pandemic.

Educators have welcomed the intervention. They indicated that the programme adds value to the lives of the learners and they see it yielding positive results.

Learner’s Testimonials

Sindi Chenge from Kasturba Gandhi Primary:
Ngifunde ukuthi kumele ngihloniphe bonke abantu ngaphandle kokubheka iminyaka, ibala kanye nobuzwe.

Ncumisa Zwane from Kasturba Gandhi Primary:
The sessions we had with Mr Zwane were encouraging to change some of our bad behaviours such as lack of forgiving, respect, and love. Having been part of this training I was encouraged to recognise and appreciate the different races we have in this country. Lastly, I learnt that conflict is not always a bad thing but I can draw positives from it.

Jasmine Leigh Barath from Ferndale Combined:
These lessons were very helpful and I learnt a lot. I learnt about the benefits of active listening as well and consequences of passive listening.  I must say that this is something I knew but never gave it much thinking regarding their outcomes.

Amahle Gumede from Kasturba Gandhi Primary:
These lessons with Mr Zwane have helped me understand best ways to communicate and how to try and resolve a conflict between myself and friends. The information I gained I will use in my school and my community.

Halima Hoosen from Ferndale Primary:
I was shocked at the wrong knowledge I had on HIV/AIDS. First of all I did not know the difference between someone who is HIV positive and someone who has AIDS. I was not aware that a person living with HIV cannot be identified by a naked eye. Mr Zwane explained in length and detail to us that only a nurse or doctor can find this out only after running tests on this person. I thought all HIV positive people were sick and frail. Mr Zwane explained that this was not the case but some HIV positive people are strong as an Ox especially those who are on antiretroviral treatment. They can also live for many years as long as this person eats healthy, exercises and uses a condom