A few weeks ago, a group of learners from Soneike High School had an enriching experience abroad when they visited a partner school, Heinrich-Heine-Gesamtschule (HHG) in Aachen, Germany.
On Wednesday 19 March, the Mayor of Aachen, Sibylle Keupen, received a warm welcome at Soneike High School during her first-ever visit to Africa.
She was greeted by familiar faces and even enthusiastic shouts of “Öcher: Helau!”- a carnival greeting from her hometown.
Keupen, along with a delegation, was in Cape Town for the week to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Cape Town-Aachen Partnership. This agreement between the two cities focuses on cooperative exchange to promote sustainable development in line with the United Nations’ Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Soneike High’s principal, Ronel Baker, and deputy principal, Leon Hanslo, who had accompanied 10 learners on their recent trip to Germany, were also guests at the 25th-anniversary celebration last week Tuesday when German Consul General Tanja Werheit hosted Keupen and her delegation.
The school’s visit to Germany from 22 February to 9 March followed the first trip to HHG in June 2023, and a visit from HHG learners to Soneike last year.
This partnership between the schools stems from the Cape Town-Aachen Partnership.
Before the initial visit to HHG, Baker said the partnership is about building relationships and exchanging skills. The first group of eight Grade 11 agricultural science learners from Soneike helped establish a garden at HHG and partook in several creative projects during their two-week visit in the European summer of 2023. They were also treated to a reception at the Aachen Town Hall by Mayor Keupen.
On Wednesday, the German delegation and other guests first toured the school’s vegetable gardens before an official programme began in the library.
In her address, Keupen, who studied education, described her visit to Soneike High as the “most important” part of her trip to Cape Town.
She said, “I’m sure education is the crown of all.”
Keupen explained that the future requires investment in children, and teachers must help learners discover their talents and build resilience to equip them with “a good backpack for life”.
Keupen expressed her joy at celebrating the cities’ partnership, saying, “We have been strong together for 25 years, and we have many plans for the next 25 years. We will fill our backpacks with ideas and impressions from the wonderful people we’ve met.”
She also reflected on global challenges. “When the world is going crazy, it makes us a bit scared. We must stay close, and the partnership with you and the African continent is really strong. (We are) in the middle of the world. I believe the partnership between these two continents can keep the world together.”
“How we are together here, is a role model for (global) politics. We must come together, meet each other, because people who know each other, cannot go to war – they must keep the peace together,” Keupen concluded.
Experience
Two learners who visited Germany shared a message of “special thanks”.
“Through this partnership, we had a unique opportunity to delve into the rich history of Aachen, discover the city’s significance in European history, and explore the cultural heritage of its traditions,” said Caitlyn Blankenberg.
The learners enjoyed expanding their knowledge and forging new connections. “We shared our own culture and experiences with our Aachen friends, fostering mutual understanding and respect.”
Blankenberg praised the Germans’ generosity, hospitality, enthusiasm, and expertise, which made the experience unforgettable. “We learned that despite our differences we share a common humanity, and by working together, we can achieve great things.”
Masimbonge Mpunzisa said Aachen had left an indelible mark on their hearts and had far exceeded their expectations. “What truly made our trip unforgettable were the amazing carnival celebrations – the colourful parades, the lively music, and the infinite sweets we were given.”
The learners helped prepare their partner school’s garden for summer and built insect hotels. They also visited a food recycling company partnered with HHG.
Baker said highlights included a visit to the European Union Parliament in Brussels, a trip to Vogelsang (a museum that was a Nazi elite training center in the 1930s), visiting Cologne’s historic
cathedral, and the cultural “Karneval” festivities.
Presentation
During Wednesday’s programme, Hanslo presented a slide show showcasing Soneike High School’s achievements, highlighting the agricultural projects and vision toward food sovereignty. Aerial photos of the school grounds from 2017 and recently showed the impressive transformation from mainly barren sand to various vegetable gardens, growth tunnels, and water reservoirs.
“The school needs to reflect what kind of agriculture we can do in urban areas,” Hanslo said. ”
Even if we have smaller systems, when a child leaves here, you must understand how we can produce food, feed the world, and stimulate the look of our environment.”
Partners of Soneike High School, Judi Sandrock of MaxiQ.Space, Selwyn Willoughby of the Atlantis Special Economic Zone, and Quinton Adams, The Shackbuilder, also shared some insight on their work with the guests before the mayor and delegation’s visit concluded with lunch.
