CALABASH TOURS
Tours in Port Elizabeth

One of our longest supporters and friends in the UK, Keith and Janice Griffin, who also manages the Rotary Club support in the UK (mentioned above) sent boxes with educational material and toys for the Pre-Grade R and Grade R classes at the school. Last but not least, with the support of the RWB Rotary Club this year, Linda Bartman, the parent assistant, will be opening a healthy tuckshop on the school premises, selling healthy meals (supplemented from the school garden that she manages) to the school and community. Then we still need to update you on the mural that was painted at the school by local artists, Sakhumzi and his brother. This is part of our mission to facilitate community members taking more ownership of their community’s school. In his sessions Xolisa has been working hard to foster an understanding between the role players; parents and students as to what role the parents and principal of their school are. Videos were compiled of the interpretations of parents and students on what a day as the principal entails, as well as what it takes to be a supportive parent. Practical environmental education taking place where learning resources are being developed based on a process of integrating local knowledge-what the children and community know already- with additional knowledge of permaculture consultant, Alhyrian Laue. We also had a showcase of the above works where other parents and community members were invited to attend. A great turnout with a lot of laughter and lessons. This is how Calabash Trust operates, in a reflective and adaptive manner, ensuring we remain relevant and useful for our community partners. Calabash Trust, the philanthropic arm of Calabash Tours, is a non-profit and public benefit organisation in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa, who has been working on various programmes in partnership with local schools and communities in the urban township areas for over 14 years. We facilitate community schools (that are willing partners) through parent and community engagement, using Asset Based Community-led Development (ABCD), story-telling, arts and permaculture design as tools. We help people acknowledge their own assets to use for social and economic upliftment. Vision: Empowered, confident and resilient communities taking charge of their own lives; utilising local resources; working together towards social, environmental and economic equality and justice. Local schools are participating in an international network of support and learning. Connecting schools and communities through international partnerships, volunteer placements and responsible tourism. Calabash is a self-sustaining, continuously adapting and reflective organization.