The impact of climate change on our cultural and natural heritage sites is at the centre of this year’s Heritage Month Education Programme hosted by the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Management Department.
Under the theme “Heritage and Climate”, the programme will see over 1 900 participants contribute to the education initiative aimed at recognising and promoting the City’s heritage. Participants will include teachers, learners, community members, City staff and presenters.
Eddie Andrews, the City’s deputy mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning, says the educational programmes will go a long way in getting people to know their heritage.
“Knowing our heritage serves as a guidepost as it shows the connection between the past and the future. Knowledge also creates a sense of belonging and pride. I encourage residents and especially schools to please take advantage of this opportunity,” says Andrews.
A number of associated programmes will be offered and various sites will be visited as part of the programme. These sites include Langa, Athlone, Green Point Park, Groot Constantia Wine Estate, Lwandle, Simon’s Town, Bracken, and the Wolfgat and Blaauwberg Nature Reserves.
The Centre for Conservation Education (CCE) in Wynberg will be presenting the Groot Constantia Heritage Education Programme from Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 September.
The CCE is funded by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). The centre teaches a range of environmental and heritage education lessons to all the schools in the province. Lessons are linked to specific topics in the Caps curriculum to assist teachers and supplement classroom teaching.
Souad Abrahams and Mark van Rensburg of CCE will facilitate the programme at Groot Constantia.
Abrahams explains that about 130 Grade 7 learners from Somerset West Methodist Primary School will be attending the lesson on these dates. The lesson will be taught in English and Afrikaans on different days.
“The lesson covers Groot Constantia as a heritage site and its history of slavery in the early Cape Colony. We begin with the arrival of the Dutch East India Company (DEIC/VOC), unpacking the history of the farm and discussing what life was like during the 17th century for the owners and slaves who worked and lived on the farm,” says Abrahams.
She adds that they will also discuss the features of Cape Dutch architecture and examine the modes of transport they used during that time.
“Towards the end of the lesson, we tour the estate, visiting the Homestead Museum, Cloete Cellar and wagon house, as well as the San & Khoi art exhibition on display during September,” says Abrahams.
- The full programme with liaison details can be found at https://bit.ly/3cENWUl
