Port Shepstone Twinning Association
International Partnerships
PTSA & Oskarshamn
30 Years of Solidarity
Since 1994, Port Shepstone has shared a unique international partnership with the Swedish town of Oskarshamn. What began as a solidarity initiative during South Africa’s transition to democracy has grown into a 30-year collaboration rooted in heritage, education and community development.
Together, we’ve built bridges between cultures, connected schools, developed youth leadership, and celebrated our shared history through the Time Travel education programme.
What This Partnership Means
30+ years of mutual learning and exchange
Cultural and educational collaboration, including the award-winning Time Travel programme
Youth exchanges and delegations between South Africa and Sweden
Support for democracy, identity and reconciliation through community-based heritage
Sweden - South Africa Formal partnership
Read more on our historical partnership with Sweden in various programmes and projects .
Programme & Projects Through the Years
From 1994–2005, Port Shepstone’s link with Oskarshamn (Sweden) hosted around 120 delegates across education, youth, and civic programmes — and the collaboration has only deepened since. Flagship initiatives like the Global School Journey and the Global Profile Programme connected local schools and rural communities with Swedish counterparts, while recent exchanges (since 2022) continue across science, English, maths, culture, leadership, and sustainable development. Read the full story and see what’s next for our twinning work.
Want to Get Involved?
We welcome schools, community leaders, educators and volunteers to connect, contribute or learn more about this living partnership.