1. Preparation Session - Uxolo Malube Nani

Last Saturday the series of preparation workshops started for the SA Team. All canditates (including the back up team) met at Cape Windjammers offices in the morning. They got a short introduction in blog writing and as from now it will be their task to continue this blog reporting about the activities during the preparation sessions as well as when sailing aboard the Europa. Below find the first entry. Check it out and see how writing skills are improving.

Today we got to know a bit more about each others background. We discussed the differnet places where we live and what the history of these places is. We also did our planning for fundraising and we discussed how we are going to approach the people who will sponsor us and what we going to do in return for them. We got to know about the 8 different countries sailing with us, what their capitals are and what languages they speak. We got the chance to meet Mr. Ulf Kaschl (biology teacher) who is a visitor from Germany and is going to be with us for a couple of weeks and he gave us as homework to read a paper on the Cape's Marine Ecology.
"Uxolo Malube Nani" - (Peace be with you)

Belinda and Thandikhaya, 26.05.2007

Preparation Weekend for the 8 European Countries in Amsterdam

Not only the South African Team gets ready for the Cultural Exchange Program aboard the Dutch Barque Europa. Also the other teams of the 8 European countries - Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and UK - get ready for this exciting sail-training voyage in the Baltic Sea.

Last weekend (11th - 13th May) the representatives of the European countries met in Amsterdam to start their preparation. They had a tough program during these three days: Amongst others they played introduction games to get to know each other, they had an introduction into public realations by Gert Tetteroo, a journalist and they also got a presentation of trainees, who have sailed on the Barque Europa before. Furthermore all groups made a list of the preparations to be done per person and country.

5. Selection Workshop - Final Interview and Announcement of Team SA

Yesterday was the big day. After 6 weeks of assessment the 10 candidates had a final chance to prove themselves in a final interview as a worthy member of the team SA. What a difficult choice to make as all 10 candidates impressed us with their enthusiasm and commitment for this project! And what a spark in the air when the announcemnt was made. We have now a team of 4 with one reserve, and a back up team. All ten will now go through a preparation process with the back up team supporting the Team SA in all their efforts to proudly represent South Africa during the international youth exchange. The first project is fundraising to cover some of the remaining costs - watch this space!

The South Africa Team with the team of
Sail Training International South African Initiative

From left: Patrick Fraser (Chairman of the Sail Training International South African Initiative), Dennis Stevenson (President of Cape Windjammers Education Trust), Theo Braaf (Team SA), Daphné Jacobs (Team SA), Belinda Mabilwana (Team SA), Sarah-Leigh Enticott (SA reserve team member), Sakhekile Qoyi (Team SA), Antje Nahnsen (Program co-ordinator of Cape Windjammers Education Trust), Matthew Mentz (Managing Director of Izivunguvungu-MSC Foundation for youth), Anja Steting (Volunteer communication-program of Cape Windjammers Education Trust), Alexander Allavena (Volunteer-Program co-ordinator of Cape Windjammers Education Trust)