Impressions of Teachers Without Borders South Africa 2006

James Metz

A dozen years ago I saw a picture in a weekly news magazine that so captured my attention that I cut it from the magazine, had it laminated and taped it to my wall above my desk. I needed to have this in front of me, literally in my face. The picture showed a line of people snaking through a dusty clearing waiting to vote for the first time in their life, in South Africa. "Who are these people?," I wondered. Little did I realize then that I would be given an opportunity to get a glimpse of the spirit behind that wavy line and what drives those people to continue their quest for a life in a new democracy.

Teachers Without Borders South Africa has a seemingly simple task of conducting workshops for teachers who teach maths and science in some of the most rural and under-served areas of the country. I am privileged to have been a part of the teams that Yunus Peer has taken from Hawaii each of the past four years. I have learned much about the spirit of South Africa and the heart of her people. I sometimes browse the travel shelves of bookstores and marvel at the people and the wonders of nature that are so brilliantly captured in photographs in books on South Africa, but I secretly smile because I know a little more about the people in the photographs. I am so fortunate.

Some of the teachers in South Africa have attended our workshops for years and I am amazed when they tell me why they return and again give up a week of their vacation to be with us. They tell me that they are using ideas they learned in prior years and they want to learn more to take back to their learners. They say they enjoy the company of their colleagues, and they insist that we make them feel like they are our colleagues, too. We try to share what we know and we work together to solve common problems. Before the workshop ends, we are all friends.

During our first week a group of teachers invited me to a shebeen (a small restaurant/bar) in historic Sharpeville, where I observed aspects of township life. What struck me most was the large number of people of all ages constantly walking about with lots of chatter and laughter. "What a community!" I think this concept of community, of people looking each other in the eye and speaking with each other was one of the most powerful images I have of the people of South Africa. I can see the care, the concern and the connections that the teachers made in our brief time together. We all laughed often. In the workshops I was particularly impressed by how quickly the teachers bonded and how willing they were to share and participate. It was a teacher's dream!

On our last night in Umthata we were treated to an amazing display of joyful singing, generating feelings that are usually reserved for religious experiences. I thought, "This will not translate, cannot be captured in pictures or video or tape recorded, cannot be expressed in words. One simply must be here to truly understand and appreciate what is happening." Sorry to disappoint you if you were expecting me to explain the spirit of these wonderful people. I am a wealthy man because I have met some generous souls who were willing to open their hearts to some foreigners from Hawaii who mistakenly thought they were coming to give something to some poor teachers, when in fact we were the learners who were enriched by their gifts. It is a good thing that customs officials didn't ask for the value of the non-material goods when we returned to Hawaii or we would never have made it through. As the credit card commercial says, "Priceless." Priceless indeed.

I especially want to thank the Peer family for their financial support and warm hospitality. I also thank Yunus and Gora Peer and Thokozani for driving us safely around the country and for their infinite patience, good humor and incredible hard work in making the workshops so pleasant and productive for everyone. I thank all the people in Hawaii, in South Africa, and elsewhere who continue to assist in elevating the education system in South Africa and in Hawaii through their support of Teachers Without Borders South Africa.