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It has become a custom to have a closing ceremony. This year, 2009, it was held on 4 December at Kroon Park. A lapa was hired and it proved very valuable as it sheltered us from the rain and it provided a good base for preparing the food, and for all kinds of entertainment. About 80 pitched up to say goodbye to each other, and the day was enjoyed by all.
WORKSHOPS:
We do not do workshops during exam time, but we did manage to do one workshop , a somewhat unusual workshop it must be said. Phomolong Primary School was celebrating the graduation of their Grade Sevens with a week-end at Aldam at the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve. AVP was invited to do two sessions with them, and hopefully they were fruitful sessions. About forty learners participated, and all seemed to enjoy the experience.
EXAM RESULTS
Quite a number of our facilitators wrote Matric. Most were successful and we congratulate them. We encourage those who were not successful not to lose heart. AVP will be there to support them as they try again. The same goes for those who wrote other exams.
MEETINGS AND GATHERINGS
Jerome is fortunate to have a community of Christian Brothers in Cape Town, and he was invited to spend the Christmas Holidays there. Included in the invitation were Sadrick and Karabo who spent a week with the Brothers and then returned by bus.
During that week we met with AVP Western Cape administration and had a very valuable discussion with them. We plan to keep in close touch and to share our ideas with each other.
A training session for facilitators was held at Motswela High School on Saturday 23 January 2010, and we had 33 people in attendance. We covered items such as Transforming Power, I Message, Listening Circles and Brocken Squires. We talked briefly about AVP Child Protection Policy and facilitators guidelines.
ADMINISTRATION
Nothing lasts forever. As the wisdom of the Universe has so often said to us: “This, too, will pass!” The time has come for Baba J to move on. He has been asked by his community, the Christian Brothers, to take up residence at the community in Boksburg. This is where he grew up, went to school, and where most of his relatives live. So from this point of view it will be good for him. But all his closest friends are here in Kroonstad, so the move will not be easy for him.
We would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to Baba J for the wonderful work he has done here in Kroonstad.
New administrative arrangements have been made. A meeting was held on 8 January and decisions were made. An executive committee has been established to see to the running of AVP. This committee will meet once a week. Baba J has been the coordinator of AVP, and his place will be taken by Sadrick Lottering, and he will be helped by Karabo Khanye who is a secretary of the executive committee. Malefetsane Nkaota will be chairman of the executive committee, and other members will be Peter Mofokeng who, as you may know, is chairman of the Board of Directors, and Chantal Kisimbila who will keep an eye on the AVP finances.
THE FUTURE
All the high schools where we work have been visited and we are trying to organize staff development days where AVP will present mini-workshops. Phephetso has given us a firm date, 18 March. The other schools will give us a date soon.
We would like to begin doing workshops, but funds are very low. We are making every effort to make a presentation to the education authorities to convince them that we are worth funding.