Port Shepstone Twinning Association
Time Travel and
Applied Heritage Programme
School Heritage Programme
The Association has participated in the Time Travel and Applied Heritage
Programme since 2008. We are members of Bridging Ages International, where 24
countries are working on this programme. The head office is based in Sweden: view
website: www.bridgingages.com. Honorary President Ebbe Westergren has been
mentoring and supporting our programmes since 2008.
Definition
The Time Travel Method is an educational method that uses local heritage in a learning process to create reflection on contemporary issues and provide tools for community building.
Goal
The goal is to promote learning, social cohesion, and contribute to community building.
Aim
The aim is to create community groups and support education in schools, as platforms for learning, dialogue
The five principles of the Time Travel Programme
- The use of local sites and stories
- Key Questions, connecting to contemporary issues with the past
- Working together with several stakeholders or partners
- Different perspectives of today and the past, mainly the bottom-up approach
- Different dialogue in the process and the event
Our Approach
In the South African context, following the principle of a bottom-up approach, a large part of people’s history is unrecorded.
The key to this programme is community research, which involves identifying a site and understanding how it relates to the laws at that time. Therefore, community narratives are essential. This also helps address gaps in local history.
Once documented, a scenario is created, and events are held at the actual site to support learning based on an experiential approach. The goals can be flexible; this is discussed with educators, and they jointly agree on what is to be achieved.
It can cover any subject or multiple subjects. In this way, we support the SCHOOL HERITAGE PROGRAMME using the Time Travel method. We also focus on contemporary issues and host public events to commemorate national days.
The Time Travel programme supports community building and social cohesion. initiatives, including using this method therapy for vulnerable children or catharsis for those who have experienced trauma, such as forceful removal or violence.
Time Travel, Tin Town, KwaGamalakhe, October 1969
Date: 22 August 2024
School: Buhlebezwe Primary School: grade 7
Goals of Time Travel event:
- Use the Time Travel method as way to support education
- Make learners understand the importance of local heritage site.
- Use the past and find the solutions to current challenges i.e electricity, water and crime. Importance of lifelong learning
Time Travel, Emseni Child and Youth Care Centre, 1993
Date: 28 August 2024
Goals:
- greater insight on children’s needs
- Adaptation to a new environment
- Future of the Centre
- greater insight on children’s needs
- Adaptation to a new environment
- Future of the Centre
Time Travel Betania Mission 1912
Date: 28 August 2024
School: Ezwelihle Combined Primary School
Goals:
- Use the Time Travel method as way to support education
- Make learners understand the importance of local heritage site.
- Use the past and find the solutions to current challenges i.e electricity, water and crime. Importance of lifelong learning
Time Travel, South Wharf 1905
Date: 17 August 2016
Theme:
- Commemoration of woman’s month
Port Shepstone Railway 1973 Movie
One day in 1973 Port Shepstone Railway.in a time of Inequality when apartheid ruled the land.
KING Shaka Time Travel 1828 Mthwalume
Slottskolan and Ingwemabala CHS International collaboration
Slottskolan and Ingwemabala CHS International collaboration
Event: Time Travel event Betania Mission 1912
Date: 07 February 2025
Goal: To encourage importance of lifelong learning
Aim: To foster a deeper understanding of diverse cultures and learning through Time Travel Programme
Slottskolan and Ingwemabala CHS International collaboration
Event: Time Travel Gamalakhe Tin Town 1969
Date: 26 March 2025
School: Olwandle High School-grade 9
Goals:
- Promote social Cohesion and Understanding
- Support grade 9 curriculum in history, geography and life Orientation.
- Commemorating Human Right Day
Time Travel Betania Mission 1912
Date: 30 January 2025
School: Inyandezulu Primary School-grade 7
Goal
- The importance of lifelong learning and sustainable development
- Importance of local heritage site
- To use past and find solutions to current situations
- Use the Time Travel method as a way to support education.
Recorded local Time Travel Sites:
- Port Shepstone Harbour 1905: just before the Bhambatha Rebellion. Violence or no violence? Loss of heritage?
- Court Martial in Umzumbe 1906: Reclaiming our heritage. Key questions on justice?
- Fort Nongqayi, Eshowe 1906: Keep our heritage. Rebellion or not?
- Tin Town, Gamalakhe 1968: Forced removals. How to live together and develop Gamalakhe?
- KwaMondi Mission, Eshowe 1876. Faith and Identity. Zulu traditions or Christian?
- Betania Mission, Nyandezulu 1912. Education. The best way of teaching?
- Old Prison, Pietermaritzburg 1910: The release of King Dinuzulu. Justice? Who is united by the creation of the Union of South Africa?
- Isivivane uShaka, Umzumbe 1828: King Shaka: War or peace?
- Port Shepstone Railway Station 1973: Discrimination, Black Consciousness, Means of Transport?
- Mpophomeni 1968: Forced removals.
- Emmaus Mission Station 1904. Ora et Labora, what is most important? The needs of the community.
- Lourdes Mission, Time Travel 1899. First black person to leave for training as a priest. Understand challenges in rural communities, traditions and identity and the relations to the mission station
- St. Martin’s Children Home, Oribi Gorge 1999. Work together with the communities so that children feel part of society
- Mtwalume Mission 1859. Impact of Christianity and the mission station?
- Emseni Children’s Home – 1993 Time Travel and Therapy. Adaptation to the new environment.