exchanging experiences

Hello,
I’m Christina and I’m working for Educo Germany for almost five years. Since the middle of the year 2007 I’m happy to work at Educo Germany in a fulltime job. My German colleagues and Educo Africa made it possible to stay at Educo Africa for six weeks and I'm very thankful to stay here. I arrived two weeks ago and the first course lies behind me.
You may ask yourself ‘Why is she in Africa and what is she doing there?’
One of the reasons is to share the experiences in our similar and different work with youth in the nature. Learning from and with others is one of the most beautiful kind to learn and understand. Except from all the work stuff there is also a private interest and a beautiful nearly unbelievable story. When I was three years old I got the chance getting to know a wonderful woman from Umlazi (near Durban). She visited our parish and stayed at our house for two weeks. I remember that we both weren't able to speak the same speech but we understand each other very well. She wanted to come again but this happened nearly twenty years later. It was amazing and the feeling isn't still describable. Since that time there seems to be a deep love and connection to the South African country and the people who are living there. This woman was one of the most important human in my live and maybe I'm able to give that love she gave me back to others - of course I'm still interested in getting to know more about the African culture.
The first course and the time together in the office of Educo Africa show me every day again how valuable and wonderful the work of Educo Africa is. It's great to be around those lovely persons, to work and laugh together.
I'm really looking forward to the next weeks and I would be happy to write about more stories from the courses or the office later.
Lovely greetings,
Christina

Stephan Is Leaving Footprints Behind (Size 10 and a half!)

Hi and Guten Tag. My name is Stephan Peter. Do I look like a South African? Certainly not. My plane from Germany arrived 2 months ago in Cape Town. Since August 13th I am on a personal mission in this renewed country. My goal is to get to know the African culture and nature and give my support to this friendly people. How do I do this? I don’t run around in flip-flops taking pictures like crazy. I chose to actually live and work in this country. Not in a shady and dusty factory but in the great wide open of the South African mountains. I chose to work for Educo Africa, learn from them and contribute my work experience from Germany. Why? Because I love to be in the outdoors and to enable young and old to experience the great potential that lies within nature and themselves.

I have worked for Educo Germany for half a year, delivered experiential courses for students at university and organized adventurous class trips with teachers. How great it is to help young people on their way to maturity and older people to discover the child in themselves again. I like the experiential way because it doesn’t give strict orders and punishment. It rather opens up a space for development for example through climbing a rock, solving a set up group-initiative or allowing each person to share their thoughts and feelings with the group.

I think that in a world of bits and pixels, screens and files, digital worlds and shopping it is crucial, to reconnect with the material natural environment again. In a world of fictive friends and heroes we should grasp the greatness of our own lives again. In a society that is impacted by isolation through fences, wires, computers, wealth it is essential to open a space for a togetherness.

A person is a person because of a person. I’ve experienced the truth behind these words over and over again in the Educo Africa courses. People cheering each other on at a rockclimbing site, carrying each others heavy backpacks and sharing deep personal experience and wisdom with the group. People from different religions and racial backrounds celebrating and laughing together, reaching for one goal, being deeply moved by the time in the mountains. I have seen people crying while they shared their personal story with the group for the first time in their life. I have seen people truly happy after struggling their way up a steep slope receiving honest applause on the summit.

It is a very grateful work leaving positive footprints in other people’s lives.

Thanks to all the Educo Africa staff.

Stephan Peter

Second Time Around...

Educo Africa has a past International Educo Intern (from Educo Germany) , Martina Wolf, return to volunteer her services. We are so delighted to have her back with us!

(see photo left: Martina in Cape Town, 2006)

Martina was so impacted by her time here in 2006, that she started working and saving money as soon as she returned to Germany in order that she could come back. This time, Martina intends spending almost nine months in Cape Town. She will be volunteering at Educo Africa, and St. Georges Girl's Home in Wynberg for the first few months before assisting at Red Cross Childrens' Hospital.

(see photo below: Wiebke, Tobias and Martina doing a "Traditional German Dance" representing Educo Germany (Erlebnistage) at the Educo International Gathering in South Africa in 2006.)

Martina is a lively, funny, loving and caring individual who is concerned about the welfare of young people. She feels at home in South Africa and loves the diversity of cultures and the spirit of Ubuntu.

We look forward to this next stage in her journey and discovering what valuable lessons will be shared and learnt.

Welcome back, Martina!