Tour of the Eastern Cape
Rural Education Development
Learnthings Africa
Rural South Africa
27 - 29 January 2010
Background
For nearly a month I traveled more than 7000 km through the Eastern Cape of South Africa (including the area previously known as the Transkei) to install Learnthings and Microsoft software content at poor rural schools on behalf of Learnthings Africa.
In this post, I cover Cradock, Tarkastad, and Grahamstown. I used Cradock as my base for 3 days and did content installations in the Cradock area, Tarkastad and Grahamstown.
I lodged at the historic Victoria manor hotel located in Cradock. The Victoria Manor is one of the oldest hotels in South Africa and was built in 1848.
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| Victoria Manor hotel - Cradock |
About the Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province.
Landing place and home of the 1820 settlers, the central and eastern part of the province is the traditional home of the Xhosa people.
This region is the birthplace of many prominent South African politicians, such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Chris Hani, Thabo Mbeki, Steve Biko, Bantu Holomisa and Charles Coghlan (Wikipedia).
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| Cradock street scene - taken from the Victoria Manor hotel |
About Cradock
Cradock, a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, is located in the upper valley of the Great Fish River, about 250 kilometers north-east of Port Elizabeth (Wikipedia).
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| The road between Cradock and Graaff-Reinet |
Cradock
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| Cradock - Eastern Cape |
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| Dining room of the Victoria Manor hotel - Cradock |
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| Victoria Manor hotel - Cradock |
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| View from my room |
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| Hotel sign |
Thursday 28 January
As arranged with Mr. Zizi and Bulelani yesterday, we met at my hotel this morning at 7:30 am and we drove to Nxuba Senior primary in Lingelihle Township in Cradock. We arrived around 8 am and met with the IT teacher. We installed primary content on all 19 lab pc’s.
We then departed for Amavundle Senior primary near Queenstown in Thornhill Township, about 110 km from Cradock. We passed through Tarkastad and stopped at the Tarkastad High school to arrange with the principal an installation at his school later in the afternoon. At Amavundle SPM we installed 18 pcs.
We then headed to Phumlani Senior Primary in Kwezi village about 40 km on a very bad dirt road. We arrived an hour later and together with the IT teacher Mr. Liwane, we installed primary content on 21 pcs.
We then went back to Tarkastad to install at Tarkastad High School. We installed secondary content on 24 pc’s. We finished around 5 pm and drove back to Cradock.
We then departed for Amavundle Senior primary near Queenstown in Thornhill Township, about 110 km from Cradock. We passed through Tarkastad and stopped at the Tarkastad High school to arrange with the principal an installation at his school later in the afternoon. At Amavundle SPM we installed 18 pcs.
We then headed to Phumlani Senior Primary in Kwezi village about 40 km on a very bad dirt road. We arrived an hour later and together with the IT teacher Mr. Liwane, we installed primary content on 21 pcs.
We then went back to Tarkastad to install at Tarkastad High School. We installed secondary content on 24 pc’s. We finished around 5 pm and drove back to Cradock.
We did 4 installations today. However, I would not have been able to do it all by myself and I’m indebted to Mr. Zizi and Bulelani who gave their time, energy and organizational skills to help me.
Tarkastad
About Tarkastad
Tarkastad is a small Karoo town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is located on a plain to the north of the Winterberg mountain range.
The name Tarkastad comes from the Khoi-Khoi word Traka (meaning women) and the Afrikaans word stad (meaning city).
It was established in 1862 as a church center and became a municipality in 1864 (Wkipedia).
The name Tarkastad comes from the Khoi-Khoi word Traka (meaning women) and the Afrikaans word stad (meaning city).
It was established in 1862 as a church center and became a municipality in 1864 (Wkipedia).
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| World War 1 memorial - Tarkastad |
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| Bakery - Tarkastad |
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| Sheep galore - near Tarkastad |
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| Old farmhouse - near Tarkastad |
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| Nature scenery - near Tarkastad |
Friday 29 January, 2010
I had breakfast at the Victoria Manor Hotel in Cradock.
I then departed for Grahamstown approximately 120 km from Cradock and arrived around 12 noon.
I went to Nombulelo secondary School in Grahamstown and met with the principal Mr. Koliti, who gave me permission to install content. I installed secondary content on all 32 available lab PCs and when Mr. Koliti introduced Mrs. Roxo, the IT teacher, I gave them a demonstration on how to use the content.
I was later joined by Grant, the district IT technician who helped me to install.
I later also got hold of Mrs Sotashe, who was attending a workshop in another town, and who advised me to stay the weekend in Port Alfred since the next school I had to do, Nompucuko Senior secondary school, was situated near Port Alfred.
I then departed for Grahamstown approximately 120 km from Cradock and arrived around 12 noon.
I went to Nombulelo secondary School in Grahamstown and met with the principal Mr. Koliti, who gave me permission to install content. I installed secondary content on all 32 available lab PCs and when Mr. Koliti introduced Mrs. Roxo, the IT teacher, I gave them a demonstration on how to use the content.
I was later joined by Grant, the district IT technician who helped me to install.
I later also got hold of Mrs Sotashe, who was attending a workshop in another town, and who advised me to stay the weekend in Port Alfred since the next school I had to do, Nompucuko Senior secondary school, was situated near Port Alfred.
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| Grahamstown - Eastern Cape |
About Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa of about 70,000 people. It is about 110 kilometres north-east of Port Elizabeth.
It hosts Rhodes University, the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, and 6 South African Infantry Battalion.
It hosts Rhodes University, the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, and 6 South African Infantry Battalion.
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| Grahamstown - Eastern Cape |
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| Grahamstown - Eastern Cape |
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| Grahamstown - Eastern Cape |
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