"It is important to involve kids when marking Heritage Day, because our children do not know much about our culture," says Amasango Career School arts and culture teacher Nomalungelo Shumane.
"It is important to involve kids when marking Heritage Day, because our children do not know much about our culture," says Amasango Career School arts and culture teacher Nomalungelo Shumane.
This is what school staff and members of the community did for Amasango's heritage celebrations at the Albany Road recreational hall on Thursday 19 September.
Only Xhosa food was served at the event and staff dressed up in their traditional garb.
"This serves to conserve our culture and it is up to us as adults to display to them how meaningful our cultures and traditions are," Shumane said.
The day's entertainment included singing, marimba performances, gumboot and other dances and DJs. Some of the pupils also performed.
There was also a readathon, "because reading is important," said acting principal Linda Ngamlana.
The current school head also said they welcomed speakers from the community to expose the children to some "fresh voices" and teach them as much as possible.
"And we are happy that the community is behind us."
Community representative Nozama Nikelo and member of the school governing body, Mbuyiseli Badi, explained to the children how things were done in the old days.
After the speeches Nikelo said she wants to see more of these kinds of events, "so that our children can get to know and follow the olden days' ways of doing things".
Badi said it gave him great pleasure to be part of the event and help educate the kids about how to move forward as best they can in life.
"I hope the children not only find it entertaining and interesting, but useful as everyone is here to support [them]," said school cleaner Luvuyo Nikelo. "It shows that they are loved and given proper guidance."
Amasango was originally founded to cater for street children and was based on the need for an alternative system of schooling children sidelined by the social system.
It employs a form of accelerated bridging education, which enables learners to catch up on lost years so they can re-enter mainstream schooling at a more age appropriate level. They are classified as extrinsically disabled learners, meaning their need for an adapted approach to the curriculum and specialised intervention was not caused by a physical or mental disability.
