SPES was honoured to have been invited by COMMACT to participate at the 5WCW – Conference on the theme “LOCAL ACTION – GLOBAL CONTEXT – Networking for the New Millennium” which was held in South Africa 19 – 23 April 1999 in the beautiful peaceful Stutterheim town.
There were over 120 participants mostly educators who engage in people centred development. Some participants made enriching presentation of their activities and Helena Langlois enjoyed sharing coloured overhead projections related to the SPES Mauritian Vocational/Crafts work. We hope by next month to have received authorisation to upload a spiritual song from one of famous Stutterheim dancing choir: EVERINCREASING FAITH
Permission has now been granted by the choir , internauts will be able to hear one of the spiritual songs on this site. The song is about 3min55.
Read on to learn more about this model town and to see the virtual presentation SPES has made to show off some of their African beadwork.
The Mayor of Stutterheim welcome message
The Mayor and the other Conference Organisers were also participants as well as other village community members who kindly also provided abundant delicious local meals.
Excerpts from the welcome message to the COMMACT participants from the Mayor of Stutterheim his Worship Chris Magwangqana:
……. “The story of Stutterheim’s reconciliation, reconstruction and development goes back almost 10 years. Much bridge-building had to be done in a divided community and we are proud that as leaders we not only managed to build these bridges, but we walked across them and joined hands as the people of the town.
We made a conscious and realistic choice to focus on development. Our discussions never became a talk shop, they were focused – we took decisions and implement them. As a result there is an improved quality of life for all in our town and our area.
Local Economic Development in Stutterheim is part and parcel of the process of community building. We hold monthly community meetings which includes the whole spectrum of local organisations – both government and civil society The process is inclusive. We seek a common vision and work towards that.
Development is about people more than things and must occur at local level. As small towns and communities take charge of their own development, this enables them to contribute fully to national progress.
Two years ago I, as Mayor and Nico Ferreira of the Stutterheim Development Foundation, had the privilege of addressing your confrence in Derry via satellite. We have taken courage from your deliberations and today we seek a common vision with friends from around the world. Your experiences will greatly add to our knowledge and ability to transform society We hope too, you will gain something from being in our town.”
Chris Magwangqana Stutterheim 1999
Young student handing in her uniform dimensions to the electronic minded village seamstress. Small businesses are successfully run in this Eastern Cape village.
Above modern machine work below crafted traditional bead work.
